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At least 955 records · Page 53

Solid state d.c. power controller design philosophies and their evaluation.

Evaluation of remote power controllers (RPC), which has enhanced knowledge of the capabilities of various design philosophies and has indicated certain limitations that RPC's exhibit. Additionally, this activity has clearly emphasized that certain RPC design parameters merit further consideration in development. The major design parameters to be analyzed in more detail are the rates of change of the rise and fall times of the output current. The major reason why transient voltages and currents should be reduced is the minimization of the reverse collector-to-emitter voltage. The requirement for higher bus voltage coupled with the present problem of improving the efficiency of power control points out the urgent need for improvement and advancement of higher current, voltage, and gain power semiconductors.

Maus, L. G.↗

Temperature compensation of light emitting diodes and photodiodes.

Improved temperature compensation of the output from a GaAs LED can be obtained by connecting the diode in series with the emitter of an n-p-n transistor whose base circuit incorporates a high-gain operational amplifier and a parallel thermistor-resistor network. The temperature dependence of several photodiodes is also reported along with a practical temperature compensation scheme. Finally, the temperature compensation of a photon coupled pair consisting of a GaAs LED and a silicon photodiode is described. The combination provides a stability, linearity, and repeatability of about 1% over the upper 60% of the LED forward current range in the temperature interval from 15 to 45 C.

Burrous, C. N.↗

Thermal characteristics of the lunar surface layer.

The thermophysical properties of the fines from the Apollo 12 landing site have been determined as a function of their relevant parameters. These properties include the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, directional reflectance and emittance. The density used was the same as that observed from the returned core-tube samples and so should be close to the true density of the surface layer at the Apollo 12 site. The measured properties are used to calculate the diurnal temperature variation of the moon's surface as well as for several depths below the surface. The maximum surface of 389 K is obtained at lunar noon while the minimum temperature of 86.1 K is obtained at sunrise. It is shown that the most significant effects on temperature, as compared with previous calculations, are caused by using the directional reflectance which controls the amount of solar energy absorption during the day in place of a constant hemispherical reflectance. The results are compared with previous analyses and remote measurements.

Cremers, C. J.↗

Evaluations of uranium-nitride fueled converters.

Evaluation of two uranium-nitride (UN) fueled converters was initiated at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to investigate the effect of fuel on the converter performance while being operated out-of-core. The initial tests were performed with the dynamic data acquisition system that was developed at the Laboratory. Parametric tests of these converters were to obtain: (1) static volt-ampere curves, (2) dynamic volt-ampere curves, and (3) the electrode work functions. The power outputs were 9.3 W/sq cm for the rhenium converter and 3.8 W/sq cm for the tungsten converter at 0.6 V when the emitter surface temperature was 2000 K, according to the static volt-ampere curves.

Shimada, K.↗

Material development for thermionic fuel-cladding systems.

Fuel-cladding systems capable of maintaining stable dimension and electron emission characteristics at high temperatures under irradiation are essential to the successful operation of nuclear thermionic power sources. Studies regarding two possible systems, involving tungsten clad uranium carbide and uranium oxide, are considered. Out-of-pile developmental efforts and the in-pile evaluation results for the two systems are described. Prototypical emitters have been tested for 8000 hours for the carbide system and 4000 hours for the oxide system.

Yang, L.↗

The prospects for mineral analysis by remote infrared spectroscopy.

An investigation of the effects of physical parameters on the spectra of minerals has been carried out, and an attempt made to develop a comprehensive theory of the reflectance (or emittance) spectra of particulate surfaces. The theory involves the effects of particle size, surface roughness, porosity, and mixing ratios on the spectra of mineralogical assemblages. The true spectral information is represented by the refractive indices and absorption coefficients of the constituent minerals. The present theory and the Mie theory for a cloud of well separated quartz particles are compared, as well as theoretical and experimental reflectances of quartz powders, glass beads, and corundum powders. Experimental results of abrading sapphire are presented.

Aronson, J. R.↗

GaAs transistors formed by Be or Mg ion implantation

N-p-n transistor structures have been formed in GaAs by implanting n-type substrates with Be ions to form base regions and then implanting them with 20-keV Si ions to form emitters. P-type layers have been produced in GaAs by implantation of either Mg or Be ions, with substrate at room temperature, followed by annealing at higher temperatures.

Hunsperger, R. G.↗

Selective coating for collecting solar energy on aluminum

Presently used coatings, which were originally developed for brass, copper, and steel substrates, yield relatively low absorptance/emittance ratios when applied to aluminum. Efficient, black-nickel plating applied to aluminum substrate enhances solar absorptance to 93% and reduces emittance to 6%.

Lowery, J. R.↗

Doppler frequency in interplanetary radar and general relativity

The change of frequency of an interplanetary radar signal sent from the earth to another planet or to a space probe is worked out according to general relativity. The Schwarzschild spacetime is employed and its null geodesics control the motion of the signals. Exact Doppler frequency formulas are derived for one-way and two-way radar in terms of an arbitrary Schwarzschild radial coordinate. A reduction to the special relativity case is used to interpret the formulas in terms of the relative radial velocity of emitter and target. The general relativity corrections are worked out approximately for each of three possible Schwarzschild radial coordinates, and a numerical example is given. The amount of the correction is different according as one or the other of the Schwarzschild coordinates is identified with the radius vector deduced from classical celestial mechanics. The identification problem is discussed.

Mcvittie, G. C.↗

Measurements of the energy exchange between earth and space from satellites during the 1960's

The net radiation budget of the earth-atmosphere system can be obtained from satellite measurements of the infrared radiant emittance and reflected and scattered solar radiation along with a knowledge of the solar constant. During the 1960's experimental and operational meteorological satellites carrying thermistor bolometer sensors were in orbit for about 60 months. Results from these measurements are given including: a global planetary albedo of 30%, long-term global radiation balance within measurement accuracy (2-3%), the net equator-to-pole radiation gradients that drive our atmospheric and oceanic circulations, as well as selected measurements of radiation budget terms over particular geographical areas.

Vonderhaar, T. H.↗

Phototransistor

A phototransistor is described in which there is included as a part of its integral structure an auxiliary diode in the form of an added base-collector junction. This junction is formed in the surface of the base element and thus out of the direct path between the emitter and collector regions of the phototransistor.

Mccann, D. H.↗

Remote detection of aerosol pollution by ERTS

The author has identified the following significant results. Photogrammetric and densitometric examination of ERTS-1 MSS imagery of eastern Virginia coupled with extensive ground truth air quality and meteorological data has shown that the identification and surveying of fixed particulate emitters (smoke plumes) is feasible. A description of the ground truth network is included. The quantitative monitoring of smoke stacks from orbital altitudes over state-size regions appears possible when tied to realistic plume models and minimal ground truth. Contrast reductions over urban areas can possibly be utilized to produce isopleths of particulates when supplemented by local measurements.

Copeland, G. E.↗

Uranium nitride behavior at thermionic temperatures

The feasibility of using uranium nitride for in-core thermionic applications was evaluated in electrically heated thermal gradient tests and in flat plate thermionic converters. These tests indicated that grain boundary penetration of uranium nitride into both tungsten and rhenium will occur under thermal gradient conditions. In the case of the tungsten thermionic converter, this led to grain boundary rupture of the emitter and almost total loss of electrical output from the converter. It appears that uranium nitride is unsuitable for thermionic applications at the 2000 K temperatures used in these tests.

Phillips, W. M.↗

Postoperational examination of an externally configured thermionic converter

An externally configured thermionic converter was operated for 200 h. The converter was disassembled and examined to determine internal changes as a result of operation. The metal/ceramic seals and all joints were unaffected by operation. Converter output voltage and operational time were sufficient to produce electrolysis of stabilized zirconia spacers used in the converter. Surface analysis of the electrode surfaces indicated the presence on the tungsten emitter of only oxygen, carbon, and silicon. The niobium collector was, however, 25 to 40% covered with other elements. This coverage represented all elements present within the converter as construction materials other than silicon and tungsten, which were not detected on the collector, and carbon, which was detected only in small amounts.

Phillips, W. M.↗

S8DR shield examination

The SNAP 8 developmental reactor lithium hydride shield was examined after being irradiated for over 7000 hours at relatively low temperature. A crack was located in the seam weld of the containment vessel, probably the result of hot short cracking under thermal stress. The LiH was visually examined at two locations and its appearance was typical of low temperature irradiated LiH. The adherence of the chrome oxide emittance coating was found to be excellent.

Mason, D. G.↗

Irradiation test of tungsten clad uranium carbide-zirconium carbide ((U,Zr)C) specimens for thermionic reactor application at conditions conductive to long-term performance

Uranium carbide fueled, thermionic emitter configurations were encapsulated and irradiated. One capsule contained a specimen clad with fluoride derived chemically vapor deposited (CVD) tungsten. The other capsule used a duplex clad specimen consisting of chloride derived on floride derived CVD tungsten. Both fuel pins were 16 millimeters in diameter and contained a 45.7-millimeter length of fuel.

Creagh, J. W. R.↗

Remote detection of aerosol pollution by ERTS

Photogrammetric and densitometric examination of ERTS-1 MSS imagery of Eastern Virginia coupled with extensive ground truth air quality and meteorological data has shown that the identification and surveying of fixed particulate emitters (smoke plumes) is feasible. A description of the ground truth network is included. The quantitative monitoring of smoke stacks from orbital altitudes over state size regions appears possible when tied to realistic plume models and minimal ground truth. Contrast reductions over urban areas can possibly be utilized to produce isopleths of particulates when supplemented by local measurements.

Copeland, G. E.↗