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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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Analysis of advanced optical glass and systems

Optical lens systems performance utilizing optical materials comprising reluctant glass forming compositions was studied. Such special glasses are being explored by NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) researchers utilizing techniques such as containerless processing in space on the MSFC Acoustic Levitation Furnace and on the High Temperature Acoustic Levitation Furnace in the conceptual design phase for the United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML) series of shuttle flights. The application of high refractive index and low dispersive power glasses in optical lens design was investigated. The potential benefits and the impacts to the optical lens design performance were evaluated. The results of the studies revealed that the use of these extraordinary glasses can result in significant optical performance improvements. Recommendations of proposed optical properties for potential new glasses were also made. Applications of these new glasses are discussed, including the impact of high refractive index and low dispersive power, improvements of the system performance by using glasses which are located outside of traditional glass map, and considerations in establishing glass properties beyond conventional glass map limits.

Johnson, R. Barry↗
NASA NTRS1986

Containerless processing technology

Ground- and space-based containerless processing levitation devices are described. Experiments performed in the MSFC drop tube, the JPL drag-free drop facilities, a single-axis tuned cavity acoustic levitator furnace on TEXUS-I, and a three-axis acoustic levitator and furnace on the STS-11 mission are discussed. Neither acoustic interference nor aerodynamic levitation trials have yielded promising results in sounding rocket and STS based experiments. An electrostatic levitator has furnished a high degree of positioning control with multiple objects in a terrestrial laboratory.

Naumann, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Ground Based Studies of Thermocapillary Flows in Levitated Drops: Analytical Part

The main objectives of the analytical part of this investigation are to study the fluid flow phenomena together with the thermal effects on drops levitated in an acoustic field. To a large extent, experimentation on ground requires a strong acoustic field that has a significant interference with other thermal-fluid effects. While most of the work has been directed towards particles in strong acoustic fields to overcome gravity, some results for microgravity have been obtained. One of the objectives was to obtain the thermocapillary flow in a spot-heated drop, and set up a model for the prediction of thermophysical properties. In addition, for acoustically levitated particles, a clear understanding of the underlying fluid mechanics was required. Also, the interaction of acoustics with steady and pulsating thermal stimuli was required to be analyzed. The experimental part of the work was funded through JPL, and has been reported separately.

Sadhal, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Applying Uniform Polymer Coatings To Microspheres

Acoustic levitation yields even coating on glass microsphres. Automatic Coating Apparatus injects polymer into acoustic levitator, moves glass sphere into polymer, dries polymer, and removes coated sphere. Apparatus injects more polymer for coating another sphere, and cycle repeats.

Lee, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The Japanese containerless experiments

There are three sets of Japanese containerless experiments. The first is Drop dynamics research. It consists of acoustic levitation and large amplitude drop oscillation. The second is Optical materials processing in an acoustic levitation furnace. And the third is Electrostatic levitator development by two different Japanese companies.

Azuma, Hisao↗
DOE OSTI2022

SULI Research Report

Acoustic levitation allows for the containerless manipulation of small samples limited by density, size, and shape. Modern acoustic levitators are either constructed with Langevin horns, which need to be machined to high tolerance and require at least 100V, or ultrasonic transducers, which are robust to changes in temperature and require low voltage. We investigated the ability of the TinyLev, a commercially available single axis levitator, and prototyped a two-axis levitator. Both the TinyLev and our two-axis levitator employ phased arrays of transducers and operate at 40 kHz. Models produced with the Python toolbox Levitate showed the characteristic nodes of the TinyLev and found two previously unpublished “traps” (stable local pressure minima) of the twoaxis levitator. We plan to use these levitators at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) to study a variety of samples, via white beam diffraction and high speed imaging. It is our goal to calculate the radial distribution function with respect to temperature across phase transitions.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1996

Faraday Wave Turbulence on a Spherical Liquid Shell

Millimeter-radius liquid shells are acoustically levitated in an ultrasonic field. Capillary waves are observed on the shells. At low energies (minimal acoustic amplitude, thick shell) a resonance is observed between the symmetric and antisymmetric thin film oscillation modes.

capillary↗
NASA NTRS1983

System for controlled acoustic rotation of objects

A system is described for use with acoustically levitated objects, which enables close control of rotation of the object. One system includes transducers that propagate acoustic waves along the three dimensions (X, Y, Z) of a chamber of rectangular cross section. Each transducers generates one wave which is resonant to a corresponding chamber dimension to acoustically levitate an object, and additional higher frequency resonant wavelengths for controlling rotation of the object. The three chamber dimensions and the corresponding three levitation modes (resonant wavelengths) are all different, to avoid degeneracy, or interference, of waves with one another, that could have an effect on object rotation. Only the higher frequencies, with pairs of them having the same wavelength, are utilized to control rotation, so that rotation is controlled independently of levitation and about any arbitrarily chosen axis.

Barmatz, M. B.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Automating Bayesian inference and design to quantify acoustic particle levitation

Self-propulsion of micro- and nanoparticles powered by ultrasound provides an attractive strategy for the remote manipulation of colloidal matter using biocompatible energy inputs. Quantitative understanding of particle motion and its dependence on size, shape, and composition requires accurate characterization of the acoustic field, which depends sensitively on the experimental setup. Here, we show how automated experiments based on Bayesian inference and design can accurately and efficiently characterize the acoustic field within resonant chambers used to propel acoustic nanomotors. Repeated cycles of observation, inference, and design (OID) are guided by a physical model that describes the rate at which levitating particles approach the nodal plane. Using video microscopy, we observe the relaxation of tracer particles to this plane following the application of the acoustic field. We use sequential Monte Carlo methods to infer model parameters such as the amplitude and frequency of the resonant chamber while accounting for particle-level measurement noise and population-level heterogeneity in the field. Guided by simulated outcomes, we select the optimal design for the next experiment as to maximize the information gain in the relevant parameters. We show how this iterative process serves to discriminate between competing hypotheses and efficiently converges to accurate parameter estimates using only few automated experiments. We discuss the need for model criticism to ensure the validity of the guiding model throughout automated cycles of observation, inference, and design. Furthermore, this work demonstrates how Bayesian methods can learn the parameters of nonlinear, hierarchical models used to describe video microscopy data of active colloids.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1985

Containerless Manufacture of Glass Optical Fibers

Contamination and crystallization reduced in proposed process. Solid optical fiber drawn from an acoustically levitated lump of molten glass. New material added in solid form, melted and then moved into main body of molten glass. Single axis acoustic levitation furnances levitate glass melts at temperature up to about 700 degrees C. Processing in unit limited to low-melting temperature glasses.

Naumann, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Ground based studies of thermocapillary flows in levitated drops

Analytical studies along with ground-based experiments are presently being carried out in connection with thermocapillary phenomena associated with drops and bubbles in a containerless environment. The effort here focuses on the thermal and the fluid phenomena associated with the local heating of acoustically levitated drops, both at 1-g and at low-g. In particular, the Marangoni effect on drops under conditions of local spot-heating and other types of heating are being studied. With the experiments conducted to date, fairly stable acoustic levitation of drops has been achieved and successful flow visualization by light scattering from smoke particles has been carried out. The results include situations with and without heating. As a preliminary qualitative interpretation of these experimental results, we consider the external flow pattern as a superposition of three discrete circulation cells operating on different spatial scales. The observations of the flow fields also indicate the existence of a steady state torque induced by the streaming flows. The theoretical studies have been concentrated on the analysis of streaming flows in a gaseous medium with the presence of a spherical particle undergoing periodic heating. A matched asymptotic analysis was carried out for small parameters derived from approximations in the high frequency range. The heating frequency being 'in tune' with the acoustic frequency results in a nonzero time-averaged thermal field. This leads to a steady heat flow across the equatorial plane of the sphere.

Sadhal, Satwindar Singh↗
NASA NTRS1991

Development of high temperature containerless processing equipment and the design and evaluation of associated systems required for microgravity materials processing and property measurements

The development of high temperature containerless processing equipment and the design and evaluation of associated systems required for microgravity materials processing and property measurements are discussed. Efforts were directed towards the following task areas: design and development of a High Temperature Acoustic Levitator (HAL) for containerless processing and property measurements at high temperatures; testing of the HAL module to establish this technology for use as a positioning device for microgravity uses; construction and evaluation of a brassboard hot wall Acoustic Levitation Furnace; construction and evaluation of a noncontact temperature measurement (NCTM) system based on AGEMA thermal imaging camera; construction of a prototype Division of Amplitude Polarimetric Pyrometer for NCTM of levitated specimens; evaluation of and recommendations for techniques to control contamination in containerless materials processing chambers; and evaluation of techniques for heating specimens to high temperatures for containerless materials experimentation.

Rey, Charles A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Containerless glass fiber processing

An acoustic levitation furnace system is described that was developed for testing the feasibility of containerless fiber pulling experiments. It is possible to levitate very dense materials such as platinum at room temperature. Levitation at elevated temperatures is much more difficult. Samples of dense heavy metal fluoride glass were levitated at 300 C. It is therefore possible that containerless fiber pulling experiments could be performed. Fiber pulling from the melt at 650 C is not possible at unit gravity but could be possible at reduced gravities. The Acoustic Levitation Furnace is described, including engineering parameters and processing information. It is illustrated that a shaped reflector greatly increases the levitation force aiding the levitation of more dense materials.

Ethridge, E. C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A novel sample-positioning system for microgravity application

This paper proposes a novel method for sample positioning in containerless processing at microgravity, using a system based on pulsed lasers. The method has two attributes. First, by generating beams that cancel out vectorially, the suspended material can be heated without being accelerated, a feature that can be used in melting and heat-treatment applications. Second, the specimen can be positioned within a fairly large work space. It is emphasized that this method can service a regime unfulfilled by the other levitation methods, such as electromagnetic levitation, active magnetic suspension, acoustic levitation, of electrostatic suspension.

Sridharan, G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Vibrating-chamber levitation systems

Systems are described for the acoustic levitation of objects, which enable the use of a sealed rigid chamber to avoid contamination of the levitated object. The apparatus includes a housing forming a substantially closed chamber, and means for vibrating the entire housing at a frequency that produces an acoustic standing wave pattern within the chamber.

Barmatz, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Acoustic suspension system

An acoustic levitation system is described, with single acoustic source and a small reflector to stably levitate a small object while the object is processed as by coating or heating it. The system includes a concave acoustic source which has locations on opposite sides of its axis that vibrate towards and away from a focal point to generate a converging acoustic field. A small reflector is located near the focal point, and preferably slightly beyond it, to create an intense acoustic field that stably supports a small object near the reflector. The reflector is located about one-half wavelength from the focal point and is concavely curved to a radius of curvature (L) of about one-half the wavelength, to stably support an object one-quarter wavelength (N) from the reflector.

Lee, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A technique for thick polymer coating of inertial-confinement-fusion targets

A technique to coat a stalk-mounted inertial-confinement fusion (ICF) target with a thick polymer layer has been successfully demonstrated. The polymer solution is first atomized, allowed to coalesce into a droplet, and positioned in a stable acoustic levitating field. The stalk-mounted ICF target is then moved into the acoustic field by manipulating a 3-D positioner to penetrate the surface membrane of the droplet, thus immersing the target in the levitated coating solution. The target inside the droplet is maintained at the center of the levitated liquid using the 3-D positional information provided by two orthogonally placed TV cameras until the drying process is completed. The basic components of the experimental apparatus, including an acoustic levitator, liquid sample deployment device, image acquisition instrumentation, and 3-D positioner, are briefly described.

Lee, M. C.↗