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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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At least 1,009 records · Page 56
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Numerical Investigation of Film Coefficient Engineering Methodology for Dissociated, Chemically Reacting Boundary Layers

Aerothermal analysis of spacecraft planetary entry is heavily dependent on heritage engineering models. The film coefficient heat transfer model examined in this paper estimates the convective heating to the vehicle for a laminar, dissociated, chemically reacting boundary layer for an Earth atmosphere. This model requires information about the vehicle and flow field for a given trajectory point and estimates a proportional relationship between enthalpy potential and convective heat flux. In practice it is the aerothermal engineer who must decide which assumptions are appropriate for their application. This work looks at numerous CFD simulations for an arbitrary, axisymmetric flight vehicle to analyze the relative importance of both the mass and energy constraints imposed at the wall boundary, as well as the effect of various diffusion models. The sensitivity of the engineering model is assessed based on the impact of the CFD assumptions as an effort to make it available to design engineers across industry.

numerical boundary layer↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Assessment of Acoustic Behavior for Perforate-Over-Large-Cell Liners

This study explores the effects of increasing the cell size for large-cell acoustic liners. Tests are conducted in the NASA Langley Grazing Flow Impedance Tube to evaluate liners with increasingly larger cell dimensions (up to 2” x 4” cross-section). Conventional impedance eduction confirms that liners with 2” x 3” cells (or larger) must be evaluated using nonlocally reacting assumptions. In addition, due to the sound propagation within cavities, the liners must be modeled using higher fidelity techniques. Thus, grazing flow duct and acoustic liner are modeled simultaneously using finite element methods. The facesheet is modeled using a transfer impedance, while the rest of the domain is modeled using the convected Helmholtz equation. The acoustic pressures predicted are shown to compare favorably with those measured in the Grazing Flow Impedance Tube.

large diameter↗
NASA NTRS1989

Upwind-biased, point-implicit relaxation strategies for viscous, hypersonic flows

An upwind-biased point-implicit relaxation algorithm for obtaining the numerical solution to the governing equations for three-dimensional viscous hypersonic flows in chemical and thermal nonequilibrium is described. Details of the algorithm development, in the context of an 11-species two-temperature reacting gas model, are emphasized. Because of the point-implicit relaxation strategy, the algorithm remains stable at large Courant numbers without the necessity of solving large block-tridiagonal systems. Predictions for the hypersonic flow of air in chemical and thermal nonequilibrium (velocity = 8917 m/s, altitude = 78 km) over the Aeroassist Flight Experiment configuration, obtained on a multidomain grid, are discussed.

Gnoffo, Peter A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Computer user's guide for a chemically reacting viscous shock-layer program

A description is given of the computer code for predicting viscous shock-layer flows over nonanalytic blunt bodies (Program VISLNABB) for hypersonic, low Reynolds number flows. Four specific and one general body geometries are considered. In addition to sphere-cones, cylinder wedges and geometries defined in tabular form, options for hyperboloids and paraboloids are included. Details of the theory and results are included in a separate engineering report. The program, subroutines, variables in common, and input and output data are described. Listings of the program code, output data for a sample case, and the input data for this sample case are included.

Miner, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Laboratory Experiments on the Reactions of PAH Cations with Molecules and Atoms of Interstellar Interest

The C10H8(+) cation and its dehydrogenated derivatives, C10H7(+) and C10H6(+), have been studied using a selected ion flow tube (SIFT). Reactions with molecules and atoms of interstellar interest show that C10H8(+) reacts with N md O to give neutral products HCN and CO, respectively. C10H6(+) and C10H6(+) are moderately reactive and reactions proceed through association with molecules. The implications of these results for the depletion of C10H(n)(+) in the interstellar medium are briefly discussed.

LePage, V.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Lubrication System Failure Baseline Testing on an Aerospace Quality Gear Mesh

Aerospace drive systems are required to survive a loss-of-lubrication test for qualification. In many cases emergency lubrication systems need to be designed and utilized to permit the drive system to pass this difficult requirement. The weight of emergency systems can adversely affect the mission capabilities of the aircraft. The possibility to reduce the emergency system weight through the use of mist lubrication will be described. Mist lubrication involves the delivery of a minute amount of an organic liquid as a vapor or fine mist in flowing compressed air to rubbing surfaces. At the rubbing surface, the vapor or mist reacts to form a solid lubricating film. The aim of this study was to establish a baseline for gear behavior under oil depleted conditions. A reactive vapor-mist lubrication method is described and proposed as a candidate emergency lubrication system.

Handschuh, Robert F.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Experimental and Simulation Analysis of Binary Mixtures of Biomass and Inert Material

A literature review was conducted to identify experiments on various scales of biomass combustion specific to circulating fluidized bed (CFB) combustors. Typical feedstock and inert bed material characteristics for biomass combustion in a CFB were gathered. This information was used to design laboratory-scale, non-reacting experiments on biomass-inert bed material mixtures in a 1-in. cylindrical test rig in the Multiphase Flow Analysis Laboratory (MFAL) in Morgantown, WV. The biomass chosen was a hardwood. Pellets from the hardwood were milled and sieved to obtain three size ranges—small, medium, and large. Three mass loadings of each of the biomass samples were fluidized with glass beads as the inert bed material to study the mixing characteristics under varying fluidizing gas velocities. Hydrodynamic data including pressure drop measurements at select vertical locations and video recordings of the mixture behavior were generated in this effort.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
NASA NTRS2021

A Study into Validating a Coupled Method of Characteristics and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method Against Empirical Data

The following will outline the methodology and results of validating a coupled Method of Characteristics (MOC) and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. This research focused specifically on modeling plume impingement, induced by Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters that flew on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) space shuttle Discovery. For each simulation, the continuum portion of the RCS thruster was simulated using MOC for solving hyperbolic Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) and computed with the NASA code, Reacting and Multi-phase Program (RAMP). The solution was then implemented as a starting condition into the NASA DSMC code, Direct Simulation and Monte Carlo Analysis Code (DAC). Typically, DSMC models rely on code-to-code validation for fidelity. The significance of this research is in its ability to validate its models against empirical data. Prior to computing solutions for these simulations, the mesh size and structure were optimized and many variants of DSMC input parameters were iterated on in order to acquire a reliable, mesh-independent, fully optimized numerical solution. This research will discuss the mathematical formulation of MOC for nozzle flow and DSMC for rarefied gases. Additionally, it will provide an explanation of how to implement these mathematical concepts into the two solvers: RAMP and DAC. Ultimately, this research will demonstrate that the overall process illustrated produces results in good agreement with empirical data. As a consequence, the methodology presented is granted an increased level of confidence and will greatly contribute to the aerospace industry and its effort in understanding and predicting rarefied flow fields.

Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Analysis Code↗
NASA NTRS1978

Combustion of hydrogen in a two-dimensional duct with step fuel injectors

An investigation of the combustion of hydrogen perpendicularly injected from step fuel injectors into a Mach 2.72, 2100 K vitiated test gas was conducted. The model simulated the flow between the center and side struts of an integrated scramjet module at Mach 7 flight and an altitude of 29 km. Parametric variation included equivalence ratio, fuel dynamic pressure ratio, and area distribution of the model. The overall area ratio of the model was held constant at 2.87. The data analysis indicated that no measurable improvement in mixing or combustion efficiency was obtained by varying the fuel dynamic pressure ratio from 0.79 to 2.45. Computations indicated approximately 80 percent of the fuel was mixed so that it could react; however, only approximately 50 percent of the mixed fuel actually reacted in two test configurations, and 74 percent in later tests where less area expansion of the flow occurred.

Eggers, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A study of reacting free and ducted hydrogen/air jets

The mixing and reaction of a supersonic jet of hydrogen in coaxial free and ducted high temperature test gases were investigated. The importance of chemical kinetics on computed results, and the utilization of free-jet theoretical approaches to compute enclosed flow fields were studied. Measured pitot pressure profiles were correlated by use of a parabolic mixing analysis employing an eddy viscosity model. All computations, including free, ducted, reacting, and nonreacting cases, use the same value of the empirical constant in the viscosity model. Equilibrium and finite rate chemistry models were utilized. The finite rate assumption allowed prediction of observed ignition delay, but the equilibrium model gave the best correlations downstream from the ignition location. Ducted calculations were made with finite rate chemistry; correlations were, in general, as good as the free-jet results until problems with the boundary conditions were encountered.

Beach, H. L., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Indicator providing continuous indication of the presence of a specific pollutant in air

A continuous HCl in-air indicator was developed which consists of a tube-like element with an inlet end through which a continuous stream of air containing HCl enters. The air flows downstream from the inlet end and exits the element's outlet end. Positioned between the element's inlet and outlet ends are first and second spaced apart photoelectric units, which are preferably positioned adjacent the inlet and outlet ends, respectively. Ammonia gas is injected into the air, flowing through the element, at a position between the two photoelectric units. The ammonia gas reacts with the HCl in the air to form ammonium chloride particles. The difference between the outputs of the two photoelectric units is an indication of the amount of HCl in the air stream.

Miller, C. G.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Development of a model and computer code to describe solar grade silicon production processes

Mathematical models, and computer codes based on these models were developed which allow prediction of the product distribution in chemical reactors in which gaseous silicon compounds are converted to condensed phase silicon. The reactors to be modeled are flow reactors in which silane or one of the halogenated silanes is thermally decomposed or reacted with an alkali metal, H2 or H atoms. Because the product of interest is particulate silicon, processes which must be modeled, in addition to mixing and reaction of gas-phase reactants, include the nucleation and growth of condensed Si via coagulation, condensation, and heterogeneous reaction.

Srivastava, R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Actinometric measurements and theoretical calculations of j/O3/, the rate of photolysis of ozone to O/1D/

The paper presents an experimental technique which measures j/O3-O(1-D)/, the rate of solar photolysis of ozone to singlet oxygen atoms. It is shown that a flow actinometer carries dilute O3 in N2O into direct sunlight where the O(1D) formed reacts with N2O to form NO which chemiluminescence detects, with a time resolution of about one minute. Measurements indicate a photolysis rate of 1.2 (+ or - .2) x 10 to the -5/s for a cloudless sky, 45 deg zenith angle, 0.345 cm ozone column and zero albedo. Finally, ground level results compare with theoretical calculations based on the UV actinic flux as a function of ozone column and solar zenith angle.

Dickerson, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Memory Metals

Under contract to NASA during preparations for the space station, Memry Technologies Inc. investigated shape memory effect (SME). SME is a characteristic of certain metal alloys that can change shape in response to temperature variations. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Memry used its NASA-acquired expertise to produce a line of home and industrial safety products, and refined the technology in the mid-1990s. Among the new products they developed are three MemrySafe units which prevent scalding from faucets. Each system contains a small valve that reacts to temperature, not pressure. When the water reaches dangerous temperatures, the unit reduces the flow to a trickle; when the scalding temperature subsides, the unit restores normal flow. Other products are the FIRECHEK 2 and 4, heat-activated shutoff valves for industrial process lines, which sense excessive heat and cut off pneumatic pressure. The newest of these products is Memry's Demand Management Water Heater which shifts the electricity requirement from peak to off-peak demands, conserving energy and money.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1989

Sphere based fluid systems

Systems are described for using multiple closely-packed spheres. In one system for passing fluid, a multiplicity of spheres lie within a container, with all of the spheres having the same outside diameter and with the spheres being closely nested in one another to create multiple interstitial passages of a known size and configuration and smooth walls. The container has an inlet and outlet for passing fluid through the interstitial passages formed between the nested spheres. The small interstitial passages can be used to filter out material, especially biological material such as cells in a fluid, where the cells can be easily destroyed if passed across sharp edges. The outer surface of the spheres can contain a material that absorbs a constitutent in the flowing fluid, such as a particular contamination gas, or can contain a catalyst to chemically react the fluid passing therethrough, the use of multiple small spheres assuring a large area of contact of these surfaces of the spheres with the fluid. In a system for storing and releasing a fluid such as hydrogen as a fuel, the spheres can include a hollow shell containing the fluid to be stored, and located within a compressable container that can be compressed to break the shells and release the stored fluid.

Elleman, Daniel D.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Controlled Nitric Oxide Production via O(1D) + N2O Reactions for Use in Oxidation Flow Reactor Studies

Oxidation flow reactors that use low-pressure mercury lamps to produce hydroxyl (OH) radicals are an emerging technique for studying the oxidative aging of organic aerosols. Here, ozone (O3) is photolyzed at 254 nm to produce O(1D) radicals, which react with water vapor to produce OH. However, the need to use parts-per-million levels of O3 hinders the ability of oxidation flow reactors to simulate NOx-dependent secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation pathways. Simple addition of nitric oxide (NO) results in fast conversion of NOx (NO+NO2) to nitric acid (HNO3), making it impossible to sustain NOx at levels that are sufficient to compete with hydroperoxy (HO2) radicals as a sink for organic peroxy (RO2) radicals. We developed a new method that is well suited to the characterization of NOx-dependent SOA formation pathways in oxidation flow reactors. NO and NO2 are produced via the reaction O(1D)+N2O->2NO, followed by the reaction NO+O3->NO2+O2. Laboratory measurements coupled with photochemical model simulations suggest that O(1D)+N2O reactions can be used to systematically vary the relative branching ratio of RO2 +NO reactions relative to RO2 +HO2 and/or RO2+RO2 reactions over a range of conditions relevant to atmospheric SOA formation. We demonstrate proof of concept using high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-CIMS) measurements with nitrate (NO-3 ) reagent ion to detect gas-phase oxidation products of isoprene and -pinene previously observed in NOx-influenced environments and in laboratory chamber experiments.

Lambe, Andrew↗
NASA NTRS2019

Experimental Measurements of the High-Temperature Oxidation of Carbon Fibers

We carried out laboratory experiments to study the decomposition of carbon fibers at high temperature and studied the material used in charring carbon phenolic ablators for planetary probe heatshields. Porous plug samples were exposed to controlled rates of molecular oxygen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide at furnace-heated flow-tube reactor temperatures between 700 and 1500 K and pressures between 2000 and 6200 Pa. We used calibrated mass spectroscopy to make time-resolved quantitative measurements of decomposition products of the gases downstream of the test sample. Absolute and differential pressure measurements were used to determine the high-temperature permeability of the material and to monitor changes during material decomposition, and we characterized the microstructure of the porous sample using scanning electron microscopy. We found substantial carbon fiber oxidation for O2 flows, resulting in increasing CO/CO2 production ratios with increasing temperature. The CO2 was shown to react with carbon fibers following a Boudouard reaction at temperatures above 1200 K.

Francesco Panerai↗
NASA NTRS2013

Hydrogen-Enhanced Lunar Oxygen Extraction and Storage Using Only Solar Power

The innovation consists of a thermodynamic system for extracting in situ oxygen vapor from lunar regolith using a solar photovoltaic power source in a reactor, a method for thermally insulating the reactor, a method for protecting the reactor internal components from oxidation by the extracted oxygen, a method for removing unwanted chemical species produced in the reactor from the oxygen vapor, a method for passively storing the oxygen, and a method for releasing high-purity oxygen from storage for lunar use. Lunar oxygen exists in various types of minerals, mostly silicates. The energy required to extract the oxygen from the minerals is 30 to 60 MJ/kg O. Using simple heating, the extraction rate depends on temperature. The minimum temperature is approximately 2,500 K, which is at the upper end of available oven temperatures. The oxygen is released from storage in a purified state, as needed, especially if for human consumption. This method extracts oxygen from regolith by treating the problem as a closed batch cycle system. The innovation works equally well in Earth or Lunar gravity fields, at low partial pressure of oxygen, and makes use of in situ regolith for system insulation. The innovation extracts oxygen from lunar regolith using a method similar to vacuum pyrolysis, but with hydrogen cover gas added stoichiometrically to react with the oxygen as it is produced by radiatively heating regolith to 2,500 K. The hydrogen flows over and through the heating element (HE), protecting it from released oxygen. The H2 O2 heat of reaction is regeneratively recovered to assist the heating process. Lunar regolith is loaded into a large-diameter, low-height pancake reactor powered by photovoltaic cells. The reactor lid contains a 2,500 K HE that radiates downward onto the regolith to heat it and extract oxygen, and is shielded above by a multi-layer tungsten radiation shield. Hydrogen cover gas percolates through the perforated tungsten shielding and HE, preventing oxidation of the shielding and HE, and reacting with the oxygen to form water vapor. The water vapor is filtered through solid regolith to remove unwanted extraction byproducts, and then condensed to a liquid state and stored at 300 to 325 K. Conversion to usable oxygen is achieved by pumping liquid water into a high-pressure electrolyzer, storing the gaseous oxygen at high pressure for use, and diverting the hydrogen back to the reactor or to storage. The results from this design effort show that this oxygen-generating concept can be developed in an efficient system with low specific mass. Advantages include use of regolith as an oxygen source, filter, and thermal insulator. The system can be tested in Earth gravity and can be expected to operate similarly in lunar gravity. The system is scalable, either by increasing the power level and output of a standard module, or by employing multiple modules.

Burton, rodney↗