Large-area radiation counters for low-level detection
Technology of multiwire proportional radiation counters is adapted to detection of low-level beta and X ray emitters such as in tracers and leak detection systems.
Parnell, T. A.↗
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Results for “emittance”
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.
Cryogenic Hydrogen/helium Storage and Supply System, Phase 1
An existing cryogenic tank was refurbished, microspheres were installed in the tank annulus, and the thermal performance of the unit was tested. The performance data was compared with NRC-2 multilayer insulation and low emittance aluminized surfaces installed in tanks of the same basic design. The cryogenic tank modified during the program was originally designed for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) Program, and subsequently modified by vacuum-depositing aluminum on all annulus surfaces and leaving out the NRC-2 multilayer insulation. It is concluded that the application of aluminized-microsphere insulation is not yet very predictable for tank design purposes, especially at LH2 temperature and in the presence of a vapor-cooled shield.
Norman, R. H.↗
Optical properties of ion beam textured metals
Copper, silicon, aluminum, titanium and 316 stainless steel were textured by 1000 eV xenon ions from an 8 cm diameter electron bombardment ion source. Simultaneously sputter-deposited tantalum was used to facilitate the development of the surface microstructure. Scanning electron microscopy of the ion textured surfaces revealed two types of microstructure. Copper, silicon, and aluminum developed a cone structure with an average peak-to-peak distance ranging from 1 micron for silicon to 6 microns for aluminum. Titanium and 316 stainless steel developed a serpentine ridge structure. The average peak-to-peak distance for both of these materials was 0.5 micron. Spectral reflectance was measured using an integrating sphere and a holraum reflectometer. Total reflectance for air mass 0 and 2, solar absorptance and total emittance normalized for a 425 K black body were calculated from the reflectance measurements.
Hudson, W. R.↗
Nuclear thermionic converter
Efficient nuclear reactor thermionic converter units are described which can be constructed at low cost and assembled in a reactor which requires a minimum of fuel. Each converter unit utilizes an emitter rod with a fluted exterior, several fuel passages located in the bulges that are formed in the rod between the flutes, and a collector receiving passage formed through the center of the rod. An array of rods is closely packed in an interfitting arrangement, with the bulges of the rods received in the recesses formed between the bulges of other rods, thereby closely packing the nuclear fuel. The rods are constructed of a mixture of tungsten and thorium oxide to provide high power output, high efficiency, high strength, and good machinability.
Phillips, W. M.↗
Techniques for obtaining regional radiation budgets from satellite radiometer observations, phase 4 and phase 5
A scheme was developed which divides the earth-atmosphere system into 2060 elemental areas. The regions previously described are defined in terms of these elemental areas which are fixed in size and position as the satellite moves. One method, termed the instantaneous technique, yields values of the radiant emittance (We) and the radiant reflectance (Wr) which the regions have during the time interval of a single satellite pass. The number of observations matches the number of regions under study and a unique solution is obtained using matrix inversion. The other method (termed the best fit technique), yields time averages of We and Wr for large time intervals (e.g., months, seasons). The number of observations in this technique is much greater than the number of regions considered, and an approximate solution is obtained by the method of least squares.
Pina, J. F.↗
The NASA thermionic-conversion (TEC-ART) program
The current emphasis is on out-of-core thermionic conversion (TEC). The additional degrees of freedom offer new potentialities, but high-temperature material effects determine the level and lifetime of TEC performance: New electrodes not only raise power outputs but also maintain them regardless of emitter-vapor deposition on collectors. In addition, effective electrodes serve compatibly with hot-shell alloys. Space TEC withstands external and internal high-temperature vaporization problems, and terrestrial TEC tolerates hot corrosive atmospheres outside and near-vacuum inside. Finally, reduction of losses between converter electrodes is essential even though rather demanding geometries appear to be required for some modes of enhanced operation.
Morris, J. F.↗
Three phase full wave dc motor decoder
A three phase decoder for dc motors is disclosed which employs an extremely simple six transistor circuit to derive six properly phased output signals for fullwave operation of dc motors. Six decoding transistors are coupled at their base-emitter junctions across a resistor network arranged in a delta configuration. Each point of the delta configuration is coupled to one of three position sensors which sense the rotational position of the motor. A second embodiment of the invention is disclosed in which photo-optical isolators are used in place of the decoding transistors.
Studer, P. A.↗
Analytical study of effects of surface and environmental thermal properties on moisture in composites
The influence of surface and environmental thermal properties on the moisture absorption in fiber-reinforced polymeric-resin-matrix composite materials which have been subjected to convection and solar radiation was studied. Predicted moisture contents based on the conditions at the heated surface and in the ambient air were compared for both short term and long term exposures over a wide range of values for emittance, solar absorptance, convective heat transfer coefficient, solar radiation, ambient temperature, and orientation of the surface with respect to the sun. The calculations showed that absorptance and heat transfer coefficient have significant effects on the moisture content.
Tompkins, S. S.↗
High efficiency thermionic converter studies
Research in thermionic energy conversion technology is reported. The objectives were to produce converters suitable for use in out of core space reactors, radioisotope generators, and solar satellites. The development of emitter electrodes that operate at low cesium pressure, stable low work function collector electrodes, and more efficient means of space charge neutralization were investigated to improve thermionic converter performance. Potential improvements in collector properties were noted with evaporated thin film barium oxide coatings. Experiments with cesium carbonate suggest this substance may provide optimum combinations of cesium and oxygen for thermionic conversion.
Huffman, F. N.↗
Single scattering solution for radiative transfer through Rayleigh and aerosol atmosphere
A solution is presented to the radiative transfer of the solar irradiation through a turbid atmosphere, based on the single-scattering approximation, i.e., an assumption that a photon that underwent scattering either leaves the top of the atmosphere or strikes the surface. The solution depends on a special idealization of the scattering phase function of the aerosols. The equations developed are subsequently applied to analyze quantitatively the enhancement of the surface irradiation and the enhancement of the scattered radiant emittance as seen from above the atmosphere, caused by the surface reflectance and atmospheric back scattering. An order of magnitude error analysis is presented.
Otterman, J.↗
Active experiments in modifying spacecraft potential: Results from ATS-5 and ATS-6
Instruments on ATS-5 and ATS-6 were operated to study the phenomena of spacecraft charging. The ion engine neutralizers were operated in attempts to modify the spacecraft potentials. The neutralizer on ATS-5 is a hot filament emitting electrons, while the neutralizer on ATS-6 is a low energy plasma bridge. The diagnostics used were particle detectors, counting electrons and protons as a function of energy. Operations were conducted in daylight and eclipse. This report describes the processing data from these and other operations. Only preliminary analysis of some of this data has been carried out, with the following results: (1) electron emission does not perturb the status of a low potential satellite by more than 50 volts, (2) emission of a low energy plasma does not change low potentials by more than a few volts, (3) when ATS-6 enters eclipse in the presence of a high energy plasma, the neutralizer suppresses any rise in (within a few volts resolution), (4) when the electron emitter on ATS-5 is operated, it serves to discharge negative potentials from thousands to hundreds of volts.
Olsen, R.↗
Active control of spacecraft potentials at geosynchronous orbit
Tests have been conducted concerning the active control of the potentials of the geosynchronous satellites ATS-5 and ATS-6. The ATS-5 tests show that a simple electron emitter can be used to reduce the magnitude of the potential of a spacecraft which has been charged negatively by the environment. The ATS-6 ion thruster had also a pronounced effect on the potential barrier. In this case, the flux of high-energy primary ions and of low-charge exchange ions produces a space-charge neutralization effect which the electron gun alone cannot achieve.
Goldstein, R.↗
The Stanford-Ames portable echocardioscope - A case study in technology transfer
The paper describes a lightweight portable battery-powered echocardioscope fabricated largely from readily available components. The transducer contains a piezoelectric crystal which acts as both an ultrasound pulse emitter and echo receiver, and the oscilloscope is of modular construction. The oscilloscope display can be produced in any of three different modes: A-mode, B-mode, and M-mode (time-motion) by sweeping the intensified points of light of the B-mode display vertically along the oscilloscope face. The resulting display can be photographed in a time exposure, thus providing a hardcopy record for the patient's chart or physician's records. The device is clinically validated on both normal subjects and patients by experienced echocardiographers.
Schmidt, G.↗
Effects of the atmosphere on remote sensing
The interaction between electromagnetic radiation and the earth's atmosphere is considered, taking into account windows in the electromagnetic spectrum, solar and terrestrial radiation, physical properties of the atmosphere, and clouds. The characteristics of upwelling radiation in the visible wavelengths are discussed along with infrared radiation and microwaves. Attention is given to radiant emittance, radiance, contrast, effects of atmospheric turbulence, ocean color, and questions concerning the classification of surface features with the aid of computers.
Fraser, R. S.↗
Chemiluminescent reactions of sulfur /3P2/ atoms in cryogenic matrices - S + O2 yields SO2 /a3 B1/
Results are reported for thermoluminescence studies of reactions of sulfur atoms in cryogenically deposited solid argon through in situ photolysis of OCS. Analysis of the thermoluminescence spectrum that resulted from photolysis and heating of matrices in which O2 was codeposited with an OCS/Ar mixture shows that the emitter contained oxygen derived from the added O2 and that little SO2 accumulated during photolysis. The observed absence of thermoluminescence or fluorescence in either of the allowed transitions of excited SO2 is taken as definitive evidence that ground-state sulfur atoms can insert into the oxygen molecule with effectively zero activation energy.
Long, S. R.↗
Improved black nickel coatings for flat plate solar collectors
A new black nickel formula was developed which had a solar absorptance of 0.92 and an infrared emittance (at 100 C) of less than 0.10 after 14 days at 38 C and 95 percent relative humidity. The electroplating bath and conditions were changed to obtain the more stable coating configuration. The effect of bath composition, temperature, pH, and plating current density and time on the coating composition, optical properties and durability were investigated.
Lin, J. H.↗
New infrared-CO source in M8
A far-infrared map of the M8 region at 69 microns with a 1-arcmin resolution shows an unresolved source 19 arcmin east of the main component. This source is a strong near-infrared emitter, with K = 4.8 and K - L = 2.6 mag. An intense peak in (C-12)O emission (brightness temperature about 36 K) coincides with the new infrared source. Comparison of millimeter-wave and infrared observations suggest that this source is an extremely young compact H II region. Evidence for a depletion of dust opacity inside the H II region is also found.
Wright, E. L.↗
Gate assisted turn-off thyristor with cathode shunts and dynamic gate
A 1,000-V, 200-A gate-assisted turn-off thyristor (GATT) is described, whose design features include an interdigitated shunted cathode, a dynamic gate, a means for optimizing the carrier lifetime level, and a bypass diode. The device physics of gate-assisted turn-off are reviewed. Based on this, improvements in the design are described. It is shown that a prime failure mode can be eliminated and that the gate-assist signal voltage can be substantially decreased by employing a shunted cathode emitter. The test data show excellent turn-on characteristics due to the dynamic gate and the long perimeter of the edge of the main cathode. Turn-off times as short as 3 microsec are obtained. The combination of controlling the carrier lifetime with a precisely controlled and easily variable irradiation dose of high energy electrons with gate assist current provides for simple, precision tailoring of the device characteristics to the intended application.
Schlegel, E. S.↗