Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “low-temperature combustion”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Study on ammonia and dimethyl ether oxidation and kinetic interaction up to 100 atm

NH 3 and DME dual fuel oxidation and kinetic coupling are experimentally studied by using a supercritical pressure jet-stirred reactor (SP-JSR) at 20 and 100 atm, over a temperature range of 500–900 K, and at fuel-lean and stoichiometric conditions with NH 3 to DME molar ratios of 4 and 0.62, respectively. An HP-Mech model for high-pressure NH3/DME oxidation is developed based on our previous studies and it shows generally better performance than other models in the literature on high-pressure oxidation experiments. Due to DME’s strong low-temperature reactivity, it dramatically enhances the oxidation of NH3 at low temperature. However, the effect of NH 3 on DME oxidation varies with temperature. At low temperatures, NH 3 inhibits low-temperature reactivity by consuming OH radicals. In addition, the NH 2 and NO x formation from NH 3 further suppresses the low-temperature DME reactivity by reducing alkylperoxyl and O 2 QOOH radicals via RO 2 + NH 2 = RO + H 2 NO, RO 2 + NO = RO + NO 2 and O 2 QOOH + NO = 2CH 2 O + HO 2 + NO 2 . At intermediate temperatures, due to enhanced kinetic coupling of NH 2 /NO x /HO 2 chemistry, DME oxidation is significantly promoted. It is found that there are two major NH 2 /NO x /HO 2 coupling pathways for OH radical production brought by NH 3 : (1) NH 2 + HO 2 = H 2 NO + OH and (2) NH 2 + NO 2 = H 2 NO + NO with NO + HO 2 = OH + NO 2 . Moreover, the resulting H 2 NO will further contribute to OH production via the H 2 NO/NO x /HONO coupling pathways: H 2 NO + NO 2 = HNO + HONO, HNO + NO 2 = HONO + NO, and HONO (+M) = OH + NO (+M). These new NH 2 /NO x /HO 2 and H 2 NO/NO x /HONO pathways play a critical role in promoting DME oxidation at intermediate temperatures. Novelty and Significance Statement: Blending NH 3 with DME can significantly enhance the reactivity of NH 3 and facilitate its practical application in advanced internal combustion engines. NH 3 /DME oxidation is studied in a novel supercritical pressure jet-stirred reactor up to 100 atm, a much higher pressure than previous studies. An interesting non-monotonic effect of NH3 addition on fuel oxidation has been found. Unique kinetic couplings of NH2/HO2/NOx and H2NO/NOx/HONO brough by NH3 and DME blending are identified to play important roles in radical generation and reactivity promotion. The valuable experimental data and key kinetics revealed in the current work can tremendously improve our understanding of NH 3 /DME oxidation via NO x /RO 2 and NH 2 / H 2 NO/HO 2 /NO x kinetic couplings at low to intermediate temperatures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Systematic exploration of the thermochemistry for a set of peroxy hydroperoxy-alkyl radicals

Here, the thermochemistry of peroxy hydroperoxy-alkyl ($\overline{O}$OQOOH) radicals has a significant influence on the reactivity of fuels and on the formation of highly oxygenated molecules (HOMs) in the atmosphere. Theoretical characterization of these radicals can be arduous due to their molecular size and complex fundamental interactions, such as hydrogen-bonding and torsional anharmonicity, and difficult to validate in the absence of any direct experimental thermochemical data. In this work, we systematically explore the thermochemistry of a set of $\overline{O}$OQOOH radicals with five increasingly affordable approaches with considerations for these interactions. In doing so, we present a novel conformer selection approach suited to predict properties at combustion temperatures. As a corollary, we also highlight the shortcomings in the standard choice of the ground conformer as the reference. The set of molecules is comprised of 149 C 2 -C 8 $\overline{O}$OQOOH radicals, selected to encompass a wide variety of branching and substitution patterns. Comparisons amongst the approaches help quantify the errors arising from various simplifying assumptions. For the largest of these radicals, and with the most affordable approach, final predictions of Gibbs energies are assigned a 2 σ uncertainty of 4 kcal mol -1 in the negative temperature coefficient region.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Flame stabilization in DME spray flames under engine-relevant conditions characterized by OH* chemiluminescence and formaldehyde laser-induced fluorescence

The transient and quasi-steady flame structures of Dimethyl Ether (DME) fuel sprays, produced by a single-hole injector (Spray D), were investigated using Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) and chemiluminescence imaging in a constant-volume chamber under Engine Combustion Network (ECN) Spray A conditions (900 K ambient temperature, 60 bar ambient pressure, 1500 bar injection pressure, and 22.8 kg/m 3 ambient density). Low-temperature chemical reaction zones were visualized using formaldehyde (CH 2 O) PLIF with 355 nm excitation, while high-temperature flame regions were captured via chemiluminescence imaging of excited-state hydroxyl radicals (OH*). Both transient and quasi-steady flame structures clearly show the transition from CH 2 O to OH*, highlighting the progression from low- to high-temperature combustion, while the position of the flame is displaced for DME compared to reference hydrocarbon n-dodecane. Homogeneous reactor calculations with detailed chemistry and using adiabatic mixing for initial temperature show that CH 2 O peaks are significantly higher for DME at the same equivalence ratio, with a higher heat-release during the cool-flame regime with respect to the fuel heating value. Thus, the cool-flame dynamic as a precursor to high-temperature combustion and flame stabilization exhibit distinct behavior for DME relative to conventional hydrocarbons, and these phenomena are effectively resolved through the soot-free nature of DME and the high-speed, time-resolved diagnostics.

CH2O laser-induced fluorescence↗
DOE OSTI2023

Insights into Constraining Rate Coefficients in Fuel Oxidation Mechanisms Using Genetic Algorithm Optimization

Accurate fuel oxidation mechanisms can enable predictive capabilities that aid in advancing combustion technologies. High-level computational kinetics can yield reasonable rate coefficients with uncertainties, in some cases, below a factor of 2. Computed rate coefficients can be constrained further by optimizing against experimental data. Here, we explore the application of genetic algorithm (GA) optimization to constrain computed rate coefficients in complex fuel oxidation mechanisms in conjunction with temperature-dependent species mole fractions from jet-stirred reactor (JSR) measurements. Cyclohexane is a model candidate for understanding the reactivity of cyclic fuels. In this work, we optimize the rate coefficients of the most recent literature cyclohexane mechanism, which incorporates theoretically computed rate coefficients for the reaction networks stemming from the first and second O 2 addition pathways, against the experimental results of two separate literature JSR studies. Optimization consistency is evaluated by carrying out three GA optimizations: fitting to the temperature-dependent species mole fractions in each JSR experiment separately and simultaneously fitting the species mole fractions in both experiments. Local sensitivity analyses are used to identify five influential low-temperature oxidation reactions for optimization. Although the three optimizations do not yield identical rate coefficients, the direction of change in all five rate coefficients is consistent among the three optimizations. Performance of the models from the three optimizations is assessed against literature ignition delay times with differences in the level of agreement observed among the different optimizations. In conclusion, comparisons are made with our recent optimization work of a cyclopentane oxidation master-equation model against time-resolved species concentrations, and insights and improvements of the strategy for constraining rate coefficients using GA optimization are discussed.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Time-resolved quantification of key species and mechanistic insights in low-temperature tetrahydrofuran oxidation

Here, we investigate the kinetics and report the time-resolved concentrations of key chemical species in the oxidation of tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 7500 torr and 450–675 K. Experiments are carried out using high-pressure multiplexed photoionization mass spectrometry (MPIMS) combined with tunable vacuum ultraviolet radiation from the Berkely Lab Advanced Light Source. Intermediates and products are quantified using reference photoionization (PI) cross sections, when available, and constrained by a global carbon balance tracking approach at all experimental temperatures simultaneously for the species without reference cross sections. From carbon balancing, we determine time-resolved concentrations for the ROO˙ and ˙OOQOOH radical intermediates, butanedial, and the combined concentration of ketohydroperoxide (KHP) and unsaturated hydroperoxide (UHP) products stemming from the ˙QOOH + O 2 reaction. Furthermore, we quantify a product that we tentatively assign as fumaraldehyde, which arises from UHP decomposition via H 2 O or ˙OH + H loss. The experimentally derived species concentrations are compared with model predictions using the most recent literature THF oxidation mechanism of Fenard et al., (Combust. Flame, 2018, 191, 252–269). Our results indicate that the literature mechanism significantly overestimates THF consumption and the UHP + KHP concentration at our conditions. The model predictions are sensitive to the rate coefficient for the ROO˙ isomerization to ˙QOOH, which is the gateway for radical chain propagating and branching pathways. Comparisons with our recent results for cyclopentane (Demireva et al., Combust. Flame, 2023, 257, 112506) provide insights into the effect of the ether group on reactivity and highlight the need to determine accurate rate coefficients of ROO˙ isomerization and subsequent reactions.

Demireva, Maria↗
DOE OSTI2024

Exploring the chemical dynamics of phenanthrene (C 14 H 10 ) formation via the bimolecular gas-phase reaction of the phenylethynyl radical (C 6 H 5 CC) with benzene (C 6 H 6 )

The exploration of the fundamental formation mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is crucial for the understanding of molecular mass growth processes leading to two- and three-dimensional carbonaceous nanostructures (nanosheets, graphenes, nanotubes, buckyballs) in extraterrestrial environments (circumstellar envelopes, planetary nebulae, molecular clouds) and combustion systems. While key studies have been conducted exploiting traditional, high-temperature mechanisms such as the hydrogen abstraction–acetylene addition (HACA) and phenyl addition–dehydrocyclization (PAC) pathways, the complexity of extreme environments highlights the necessity of investigating chemically diverse mass growth reaction mechanisms leading to PAHs. Employing the crossed molecular beams technique coupled with electronic structure calculations, we report on the gas-phase synthesis of phenanthrene (C 14 H 10 )—a three-ring, 14π benzenoid PAH—via a phenylethynyl addition–cyclization–aromatization mechanism, featuring bimolecular reactions of the phenylethynyl radical (C 6 H 5 CC, X 2 A 1 ) with benzene (C 6 H 6 ) under single collision conditions. The dynamics involve a phenylethynyl radical addition to benzene without entrance barrier leading eventually to phenanthrene via indirect scattering dynamics through C 14 H 11 intermediates. The barrierless nature of reaction allows rapid access to phenanthrene in low-temperature environments such as cold molecular clouds which can reach temperatures as low as 10 K. Furthermore, this mechanism constitutes a unique, low-temperature framework for the formation of PAHs as building blocks in molecular mass growth processes to carbonaceous nanostructures in extraterrestrial environments thus affording critical insight into the low-temperature hydrocarbon chemistry in our universe.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ba 1−x Sr x FeO 3−δ as an improved oxygen storage material for chemical looping air separation: a computational and experimental study

Chemical looping air separation (CLAS) is a promising technology to generate oxygen-rich gas streams to enable efficient carbon dioxide capture during fossil fuel combustion or gasification. CLAS relies on the capture and release of oxygen from the atmosphere using the redox properties of an oxygen-selective solid oxide carrier. This study investigates the redox characteristics of Ba 1−x Sr x FeO 3−δ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.417, 0.0 ≤ δ ≤ 0.5) using a combination of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental verification using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and oxygen-temperature-programmed desorption. The DFT computed energies of the Ba 1−x Sr x FeO 3−δ perovskites reveal a composition-dependent transition from hexagonal to cubic phases as the Sr-concentration or oxygen vacancy concentration increases. Oxygen vacancy formation energies of the cubic perovskites are found to be lower than those of their hexagonal counterparts. A low oxygen diffusion barrier of ∼1 eV combined with the thermodynamic preference of Ba 1−x Sr x FeO 3−δ compositions that form in a cubic phase suggests them as promising candidates for oxygen storage applications. The experimental results corroborate this finding by identifying Ba 0.75 Sr 0.25 FeO 3−δ in the cubic phase as an optimal composition offering low-temperature oxygen storage capacities comparable to that of the state-of-the-art Sr 0.75 Ca 0.25 FeO 3−δ perovskite oxygen storage material at 325 °C and 350 °C.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Liquid Air Combined Cycle TM for Power and Storage

Liquid Air Combined Cycle (LACC) is a hybrid liquid air energy storage (LAES) system combining energy storage with a combustion turbine to enable large-scale, long-duration energy storage (LDES) while reducing fuel intensity compared to the current state-of-the-art. The LACC technical approach employs proven equipment (cryogenic refrigeration, storage, tanks, pumps, gas turbines, exhaust heat recovery equipment, and turbines) to limit technical risk to a novel organic Rankine cycle (ORC), which was evaluated during this project and found to be feasible. Moreover, LACC storage is safe and relatively compact, to facilitate siting close to loads and within metropolitan regions. The air storage medium is freely available and eliminates supply chain constraints. LACC uses cryogenic air as a storage medium and a gas turbine as the source of heat to drive the discharge process. LACC is distinguished from other LAES technologies by several factors. The charge and discharge processes are decoupled so that cryogenic liquid air is the only storage medium. Other systems also store the higher temperature thermal energy from the liquefaction process in an additional medium. Subsequently, LACC focuses on maximization of the discharge energy and power. LACC also permits the use of commercially available cryogenic refrigeration and storage technologies to increase competition. This project identified product requirements to support market entry and commercialization of the LACC in modular units of approximately 117 MW, each drawing liquid air from customary cryogenic storage tanks capable of storing 75 GWh of dispatchable energy, more than pumped storage hydro or compressed air energy storage technologies. An economic analysis identified the specific liquid air consumption (quantity of liquid air per unit of discharge energy) as a critical parameter. Minimizing the air consumption reduces the specific capital cost ($\$ $/kW) for charging and discharging equipment by reducing the size of piping and turbomachinery. Likewise, the specific cost of energy capacity ($\$ $/kWh) is reduced by increasing the energy deliverable from a given size tank. The cycle was analyzed to identify the optimal equipment selection and operating conditions, which in turn were combined with quotes and cost estimates to calculate the cost of energy from an LACC system. A substantial effort was focused on the ORC, which draws low-temperature heat from the gas turbine exhaust and condenses at low temperature using the cryogenic liquid air as a heat sink. Alternative turbomachinery arrangements were evaluated for feasibility and cost. A technology maturation plan lays out a low-risk approach to development of the novel ORC components and demonstration of LACC technology at pilot scale.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Assessment of Nuclear Energy to Support Negative Emission Technologies

The feasibility and performance of nuclear energy coupled with Negative Emission Technology (NET) processes were investigated in this report. Three overarching questions from nuclear NET systems guided this research: which NET would be able to use heat and/or electricity from nuclear power plants (NPPs); what is the performance and cost of a nuclear NET system; and what would be the market outlook for this system? Among the various NETs that are actively being developed, several were found to potentially benefit from coupling with an NPP via (1) large amounts of decarbonized and constant-output electricity; (2) free waste heat or cheap low-temperature heat; or (3) high-temperature heat. NPPs were found to be compatible with Direct Air Capture (DAC) systems, and a detailed techno-economic analysis of coupled NPP&DAC systems was performed. Preliminary analysis also indicated that biomass and water-based NETs are potentially compatible with NPPs, but further work is needed to quantify the performance of these nuclear NET systems. Design and performance analyses were completed for both liquid solvent DAC (L-DAC) and solid sorbent DAC (S-DAC) technologies. A 1.0-GWth NPP coupled with L-DAC and S-DAC was found to be able to capture 12–15 Mt CO 2 /yr and 1.0–1.5 Mt CO 2 /yr, respectively. While the L-DAC process enables much greater CO 2 capture than the S-DAC process when both are sized with a 1 GWth NPP, the NPP&L-DAC system considered also requires >2 GWth natural gas oxy-combustion to reach adequate temperature in the calciner. CO 2 generated from natural gas combustion is also captured as part of the calcination process, in addition to the CO 2 captured from air, resulting in overall CO 2 sequestration of close to 30% more than what is captured from air. The cost of carbon capture calculated with the levelized cost of DAC (LCOD) had a range of $\$170–260$/tCO 2 for NPP&L-DAC systems and a range of $\$650–680$/tCO 2 for NPP&S-DAC systems. For both DAC systems, the NPP provides economic benefit when compared to previous National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) studies of non-nuclear DAC systems, leading to reduction of LCOD by 5–7% for L-DAC, and 8–13% for S-DAC. For the NPP&DAC systems, a preliminary market analysis reviewed potential CO 2 market prices and eligibility for incentives. The estimated potential revenues for CO 2 capture (coming from federal incentive, CO 2 commodity markets, or offset market) is in the range of $\$170–979$ tCO 2 , and the results show that because of lower LCOD, the NPP&L-DAC process would be more attractive to a market than the NPP&S-DAC process. The large investment needed for NPP&DAC processes would require long-term certainty of sufficient market size, CO 2 prices, and incentives. Enabling NPPs to ramp DAC operation up or down based on electricity market price is not expected to significantly increase revenues of the NPP&DAC system. This is because the revenues from CO 2 sequestration are required to be very high to justify the deployment and continuous operation of the very expensive DAC technologies. In this analysis, several new research questions were uncovered, and follow-up analyses are recommended for further investigation, including a detailed feasibility study of NPP coupled with other NET systems such as biomass pyrolysis and gasification with carbon capture and storage, and seawater carbon capture.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cold Climate Air-Source Heat Pump Demonstration and Analysis: Experimental Study on Cold Temperature Performance

Space heating energy is the largest end use for U.S. residential buildings, accounting for nearly 45% of residential building energy consumption nationwide, and approximately 51% of space heating energy is consumed on-site by combusting natural gas (EIA 2020a). In Colorado, approximately 53% of the statewide residential building energy consumption goes to space heating, 76% of which is provided by natural gas (EIA 2020a). Heat pumps are an efficient, electric alternative space heating technology and have been proven viable for decades. However, historically air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) have been limited to temperate climates because of (1) subpar performance at extremely cold outdoor air temperatures, (2) the need for air conditioning in summer months, and (3) the availability of natural gas in colder climates. Relatively recent advances to cold climate ASHP technology, which typically relies on inverter-driven, variable-speed compressors and variable-speed fans, have significantly improved low-temperature heat pump performance, enabling the technology to potentially save energy for many homes in cold climates.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

Effects of Gasoline Composition and Operating Parameters on the Response of End-Gas Autoignition to Nitric Oxide in a Lean-Burn DI-SI Engine

Lean operation of spark-ignition engines can lead to engine thermal efficiency gains and lower NOx emissions due to reduced combustion temperatures. Yet, lean operation could still face challenges in end-gas autoignition and knock generation due to higher intake pressures and trapped NO in the residual gas. Here, this study evaluates the impact of NO on end-gas autoignition for two gasoline fuels with similar octane rating but different composition: high cycloalkane fuel (HCA) and high olefin fuel (HO). Experiments were performed at stoichiometric and lean (λ = 2) conditions and at two engine speeds of 1400 rpm and 2000 rpm. Accompanying chemical kinetics simulations in CHEMKIN revealed that the mechanisms controlling the effect of NO on autoignition are similar λ = 2 and λ = 1, with NO + HO 2 = NO 2 + OH being the main pathway for enhancing reactivity by promoting low-temperature heat release (LTHR). The compositionally different fuels reacted differently to NO seeding and engine speed, and differences were augmented at λ = 2 compared to λ = 1 as the end-gas autoignition shifted to the low temperature regime. HO, which has inherent low temperature chemistry, was strongly impacted by engine speed at low NO seeding levels, with no noticeable peak of LTHR detected at 2000 rpm. On the other hand, LTHR of HCA was marginally affected by shortened residence time at higher engine speed as NO + HO 2 reaction was not greatly affected by shorter time scales, since HO 2 production was sustained even at 2000 rpm to support OH generation from NO + HO 2 . Contrary to HO, HCA exhibited greater sensitivity to NO seeding, as the increased OH production at higher NO concentrations offset the OH-quenching effect of cyclopentane, which accounts for 28.6% of HCA’s composition. Consequently, a sensitivity analysis revealed that fuels with weak inherent low-temperature chemistry, like HCA, are likely to be more sensitive to variations in NO concentration and charge temperature, whereas fuels with strong low temperature chemistry are more sensitive to variations in end-gas λ and intake pressure.

Energy↗
NASA NTRS1976

Energy Conversion Alternatives Study (ECAS), Westinghouse phase 1. Volume 3: Combustors, furnaces and low-BTU gasifiers

Information is presented on the design, performance, operating characteristics, cost, and development status of coal preparation equipment, combustion equipment, furnaces, low-Btu gasification processes, low-temperature carbonization processes, desulfurization processes, and pollution particulate removal equipment. The information was compiled for use by the various cycle concept leaders in determining the performance, capital costs, energy costs, and natural resource requirements of each of their system configurations.

Hamm, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Thermal measurements for jets in disturbed and undisturbed crosswind conditions

A direct comparison is made of the thermal field properties for a low-disturbance and a high-disturbance level condition affecting the low-temperature air jets introduced into gas turbine combustor aft sections in order both to cool the high-temperature gases and quench the combustion reactions. Sixty-four fast-response thermocouples were simultaneously sampled and corrected for their time constant effect at a downstream plane close to the jet exit. Histograms formed from independent samples were sufficiently smooth to approximate a pdf.

Wark, Candace E.↗
NASA NTRS1951

Ignition-delay Characteristics in Modified Open-cup Apparatus of Several Fuels with Nitric Acid Oxidants Within Temperature Range 70 to 105 Degrees F

Fluid properties and low-temperature ignition delays were obtained for approximately 90 fuel-oxidant combinations. A red fuming nitric acid containing approximately 3 percent water and 19 percent nitrogen tetroxide froze at approximately -87 degrees F and ignited several low-viscosity fuel blends of aromatic amines in triethylamine at -76 degrees F and lower. With this acid, the following average ignition delays were obtained with a blend of 30 percent o-toluidine in triethylamine: ...

FUEL SYSTEMS - ENGINES, ROCKET↗
NASA NTRS2002

Low-Temperature Hydrocarbon Photochemistry: CH3 + CH3 Recombination in Giant Planet Atmospheres

Planetary emissions of the methyl radical CH3 were observed for the first time in 1998 on Saturn and Neptune by the ISO (Infrared Space Observatory) mission satellite. CH3 is produced by VUV photolysis of CH4 and is the key photochemical intermediate leading complex organic molecules on the giant planets and moons. The CH3 emissions from Saturn were unexpectedly weak. A suggested remedy is to increase the rate of the recombination reaction CH3 + CH3 + H2 --> C2H6 + H2 at 140 K to a value at least 10 times that measured at room temperature in rare gases, but within the range of disagreeing theoretical expressions at low temperature. We are performing laboratory experiments at low temperature and very low pressure. The experiments are supported by RRKM theoretical modeling that is calibrated using the extensive combustion literature.

Smith, Gregory P.↗
NASA NTRS2008

NASA Tech Briefs, July 2008

Topics covered include: Torque Sensor Based on Tunnel-Diode Oscillator; Shaft-Angle Sensor Based on Tunnel-Diode Oscillator; Ground Facility for Vicarious Calibration of Skyborne Sensors; Optical Pressure-Temperature Sensor for a Combustion Chamber; Impact-Locator Sensor Panels; Low-Loss Waveguides for Terahertz Frequencies; MEMS/ECD Method for Making Bi(2-x)Sb(x)Te3 Thermoelectric Devices; Low-Temperature Supercapacitors; Making a Back-Illuminated Imager with Back-Side Contact and Alignment Markers; Compact, Single-Stage MMIC InP HEMT Amplifier; Nb(x)Ti(1-x)N Superconducting-Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors; Improved Sand-Compaction Method for Lost-Foam Metal Casting; Improved Probe for Evaluating Compaction of Mold Sand; Polymer-Based Composite Catholytes for Li Thin-Film Cells; Using ALD To Bond CNTs to Substrates and Matrices; Alternating-Composition Layered Ceramic Barrier Coatings; Variable-Structure Control of a Model Glider Airplane; Axial Halbach Magnetic Bearings; Compact, Non-Pneumatic Rock-Powder Samplers; Biochips Containing Arrays of Carbon-Nanotube Electrodes; Nb(x)Ti(1-x)N Superconducting-Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors; Neon as a Buffer Gas for a Mercury-Ion Clock; Miniature Incandescent Lamps as Fiber-Optic Light Sources; Bidirectional Pressure-Regulator System; and Prism Window for Optical Alignment. Single-Grid-Pair Fourier Telescope for Imaging in Hard-X Rays and gamma Rays Range-Gated Metrology with Compact Optical Head Lossless, Multi-Spectral Data Compressor for Improved Compression for Pushbroom-Typetruments.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2013

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing for Low-Cost, High-Performance Liquid Rocket Combustion Chambers

A document describes the low-cost manufacturing of C103 niobium alloy combustion chambers, and the use of a high-temperature, oxidation-resistant coating that is superior to the standard silicide coating. The manufacturing process involved low-temperature spray deposition of C103 on removable plastic mandrels produced by rapid prototyping. Thin, vapor-deposited platinum-indium coatings were shown to substantially improve oxidation resistance relative to the standard silicide coating. Development of different low-cost plastic thrust chamber mandrel materials and prototyping processes (selective laser sintering and stereolithography) yielded mandrels with good dimensional accuracy (within a couple of mils) for this stage of development. The feasibility of using the kinetic metallization cold-spray process for fabrication of free-standing C1O3 thrusters on removable plastic mandrels was also demonstrated. The ambient and elevated temperature mechanical properties of the material were shown to be reasonably good relative to conventionally processed C103, but the greatest potential benefit is that coldsprayed chambers require minimal post-process machining, resulting in substantially lower machining and material costs. The platinum-iridium coating was shown to provide greatly increased oxidation resistance over the silicide when evaluated through oxyacetylene torch testing to as high as 300 F (= 150 C). The iridium component minimizes reaction with the niobium alloy chamber at high temperatures, and provides the high-temperature oxidation resistance needed at the throat.

Williams, Brian E.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Three Stage Cool Flame Droplet Burning Behavior of n-Alkane Droplets at Elevated Pressure Conditions: Hot, Warm and Cool Flame

Transient, isolated n-alkane droplet combustion is simulated at elevated pressure for helium-diluent substituted-air mixtures. We report the presence of unique quasi-steady, three-stage burning behavior of large sphero-symmetric n-alkane droplets at these elevated pressures and helium substituted ambient fractions. Upon initiation of reaction, hot-flame diffusive burning of large droplets is initiated that radiatively extinguishes to establish cool flame burning conditions in nitrogen/oxygen “air” at atmospheric and elevated pressures. However, at elevated pressure and moderate helium substitution for nitrogen ( X He > 20%), the initiated cool flame burning proceeds through two distinct, quasi-steady-state, cool flame burning conditions. The classical “Hot flame ” ( ∼1500 K) radiatively extinguishes into a “Warm flame ” burning mode at a moderate maximum reaction zone temperature ( ∼ 970 K), followed by a transition to a lower temperature ( ∼765 K), quasi-steady “Cool flame ” burning condition. The reaction zone (“flame”) temperatures are associated with distinctly different yields in intermediate reaction products within the reaction zones and surrounding near-field, and the flame-standoff ratios characterizing each burning mode progressively decrease. The presence of all three stages first appears with helium substitution near 20%, and the duration of each stage is observed to be strongly dependent on helium substitutions level between 20–60%. For helium substitution greater than 60%, the hot flame extinction is followed by only the lower temperature cool flame burning mode. In addition to the strong coupling between the diffusive loss of both energy and species and the slowly evolving degenerate branching in the low and negative temperature coefficient (NTC) kinetic regimes, the competition between the low-temperature chain branching and intermediate-temperature chain termination reactions control the “Warm” and “Cool ” flame quasi-steady conditions and transitioning dynamics.

Droplet Combustion↗