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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Radiometer features two optical arrangements: easy-to-aline pointing optical system that is boresighted to second radiometric optical system which utilizes four filters to select wavelengths. Four channel device uses Sun as background source and measures attenuation of solar radiation through plume.
Solar absorption radiometry has been investigated as a method of measuring stackplume effluents. A simple and inexpensive instrument was constructed for observing the sun at four wavelengths: 800, 600, 400, and 310 nm. Higher wavelength channels measured the effect of the particulates and NO2, and an ultraviolet channel measured the contribution of SO2 to the attenuation. Stack-plume measurements of opacity and concentration of NO2 and SO2 were in basic agreement with in-stack measurements. The major limitation on the use of the radiometer is the requirement for an accessible viewing position which allows the sun-plume-observer relationship to be attained. It was concluded that the solar radiometer offers an inexpensive method for monitoring plume effluents when the viewing position is not restricted.
Eighteen-pound unit gives real-time onsite sample analysis. Mass range is twelve to two hundred atomic mass units with resolution of two hundred. Device has biomedical application possibilities, such as determination of alcohol and gas content of blood and breath.
Multilevel upwardly expandable scaffold accommodates up to four workers. Device consists of base, tower sections, and gangway which are stacked to required height and bolted together for vertical stability. Hollow central rectangular column affords convenient place to store tools and equipment. Maintenance requirements reduced through elimination of hydraulic devices to lift structure.
Device makes real-time, precise measurements of aerosols of small particle size. Measurement combines laser velocimetry and light scattering. Technique offers advantages over currently practiced techniques: by measuring aerosol size in real-time, measuring size precisely, and having high sensitivity in size range of greatest biological concern.
The design and development of a prototype carbon dioxide absorber using potassium carbonate (K2CO3) is described. Absorbers are constructed of thin, porous sheets of supported K2CO3 that are spirally wound to form a cylindrical reactor. Axial gas passages are formed between the porous sheets by corrugated screen material. Carbon dioxide and water in an enclosed life support system atmosphere react with potassium carbonate to form potassium bicarbonate. The potassium carbonate is regenerated by heating the potassium bicarbonate to 150 C at ambient pressure. The extravehicular mission design conditions are for one man for 8 h. Results are shown for a subunit test module investigating the effects of heat release, length-to-diameter ratio, and active cooling upon performance. The most important effect upon carbon dioxide removal is the temperature of the potassium carbonate.
Hand-held device blocks ambient light from inspection area and can be used to examine sections of large objects without requiring objects to be moved or placed in darkroom. Bellows-type flexible shield has foam ends that seal surface to be inspected. Ultraviolet lamp and magnifier mounted in bellows permit localization of light. Rigid eyeshield hood allows in situ inspection.
Silicon-cell insolometer automatically measures and totals amount of energy available in sunlight falling on the earth at specific location over selected period of time. Device incorporates single silicon solar cell as sensing element and relies on principle that short-circuit current from solar cell is directly proportional to amount of light that shines on cell.
Compact system for data recording, manipulation, and transmission uses readily available components. Data system originally designed for high-altitude research is used with appropriate sensors to monitor transportation systems, biomedical data, weather stations, mineral exploration equipment, and various other tasks.
A solar heat collection system is provided by utilizing a line-focusing device that is effectively a cylindrically curved concentrator within a protected environment formed by a transparent inflatable casing. A target, such as a fluid or gas carrying conduit is positioned within or near the casing containing the concentrator, at the line focus of the concentrator. The casing can be inflated at the site of use by a low pressure air supply to form a unitary light weight structure. The collector, including casing, concentrator and target, is readily transportable and can be used either at ground level or on rooftops. The inflatable concentrator can be replaced with a rigid metal or other concentrator while maintaining the novel advantages of the whole solar heat collection system.
An electrophoresis unit for use in conducting electrophoretic analysis of specimens is described. The unit includes a sealable container in which a substrate mounted specimen is suspended in an electrolytic vapor. A heating unit is employed to heat a supply of electrolyte to produce the vapor. The substrate is suspended within the container by being attached between a pair of clips which also serve as electrodes to which a direct current power source may be connected.
The design and performance characteristics of an electrochemical NO2 sensor selected by NASA for the space shuttle program is described. The instrument consists of a sample pump, an electrochemical cell, and control and display electronics. The pump pushes the sample through the electrochemical cell where the vapors are analyzed and an output proportional to the NO2 concentration is produced. The output is displayed on a panel meter, and is also available at a recorder jack. The electrochemical cell is made up of a polypropylene chamber covered with teflon membrane faceplates. Plantinum electrodes are bonded to the faceplates, and the sensing and counter electrodes are potentiostatically controlled at -200 mV with respect to the reference electrode. The cell is filled with electrolyte, consisting of 13.5 cc of 23% solution of KOH.
A semiclosed-loop rebreathing system is discussed for use in a hostile environment. A packed bed regenerative heat exchanger providing two distinct temperature humidity zones of breathing gas with one zone providing cool, relatively dry air and the second zone providing hot, moist air is described.
A container is provided which can be designed to heat its outer surface to sterilize it, or to heat its inner surface and any contents therewithin. In a container that self sterilizes its outer surface, the container includes a combustible layer of thermite-type pyrotechnic material which can be ignited to generate considerable heat, and a thin casing around the combustible layer which is of highly thermally conductive materials such as aluminum which can be heated to a high temperature by the ignited combustible layer. A buffer layer which may be of metal, lies within the combustible layer, and a layer of insulation such as Teflon lies within the buffer layer to insulate the contents of the container from the heat.
A high-resolution 0.4-m monochromator is described for use in wavelength diagnosis of tunable pulsed and CW laser sources in the 3000-10,000-A region. The f/20 design uses an echelle grating in an over-and-under Ebert configuration with a scanned photodiode array to provide a real-time multichannel display of spectral output. Absolute wavelength may be determined to 0.1 A with the monochromator, and a Fabry-Perot interferometer attachment extends linewidth measurement capability to 0.01 A or better. Spectra are displayed on a storage oscilloscope, and calculation of laser parameters is explained. The instrument measures 70 cm long x 15 cm wide x 20 cm high.
Three-band hand-held spectral radiometer measures electromagnetic energy reflected from plant canopies in the visible and infrared portions of the spectrum. It is mobile and easy to use for rapid, repeated measurements. Radiometer probe is held level over plant canopy, readout range switches are set and measurements are recorded. Chlorophyll content, leaf area index and leaf water content can be quickly and easily measured.
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Hand-held optical instrument aids in identifying minerals in field. Can be used in exploration for minerals on foot or by aircraft. The radiometer is especially suitable for identifying clay and carbonate minerals. Radiometer measures reflectances of mineral at two wavelengths, computes ratio of reflectances, and displays ratio to user.