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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
DOE OSTI2014

Mass densification and defect restoration in chemical vapor deposition silicon dioxide film using Ar plasma excited by microwave

Silicon dioxide (SiO{sub 2}) films formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) have been treated with Ar plasma excited by microwave. The changes of the mass densities, carrier trap densities, and thicknesses of the CVD-SiO{sub 2} films with the Ar plasma treatments were investigated. The mass density depth profiles were estimated with X-Ray Reflectivity (XRR) analysis using synchrotron radiation. The densities of carrier trap centers due to defects of Si-O bond network were estimated with X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) time-dependent measurement. The changes of the thicknesses due to the oxidation of Si substrates were estimated with the XRR and XPS. The mass densities of the CVD-SiO{sub 2} films are increased by the Ar plasma treatments. The carrier trap densities of the films are decreased by the treatments. The thicknesses of the films are not changed by the treatments. It has been clarified that the mass densification and defect restoration in the CVD-SiO{sub 2} films are caused by the Ar plasma treatments without the oxidation of the Si substrates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2011

Experimental Evidence of Super Densification of Adsorbed Hydrogen by in-situ Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS)

Entrapping hydrogen molecules within the nanopores of solid adsorbents serves a unique alternative for on-board storing of hydrogen for transportation purposes. The key advantage of utilizing the physisorption process for hydrogen storage is the higher density values achieved with the adsorbed gas, compared to that of the compressed phase, translating into higher storage capacities at lower pressures. The necessary condition for superior adsorption is the presence of nanopores (< 7 ) which serves the most suitable environment of hydrogen adsorption. Despite numerous theoretical calculations or indirect experimental findings, there was no direct experimental result that measured the density of adsorbed hydrogen or compared the same with varying pore sizes. In the present study, we employed in-situ small angle neutron scattering (SANS) on adsorbed hydrogen over polyfurfuryl alcohol-derived activated carbon (PFAC), at room temperature and pressures up to ~200 bar, with an aim to provide for the first time direct experimental measurements of the effect of pore size and pressure on the density of the adsorbed hydrogen. SANS studies were carried out at the General-Purpose Small-Angle Neutron Scattering spectrometer, at the High Flux Isotope Reactor, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The measurements covered the Q-range from 0.01 to 0.8 -1, covering to pores in the range of 9 to 34 of the PFAC material. Initial studies suggested that the density of adsorbed hydrogen is higher than the bulk phase and increases with decrease in pore size. The calculated densification is higher at the lower pressure level.

Saha, Dipendu↗
DOE OSTI2011

Enhanced Densification of SDC Barrier Layers

This technical report explores the Enhanced Densification of SCD Barrier Layers A samaria-doped ceria (SDC) barrier layer separates the lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF) cathode from the yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) to prevent the formation of electrically resistive interfacial SrZrO 3 layers that arise from the reaction of Sr from the LSCF with Zr from the YSZ. However, the sintering temperature of this SDC layer must be limited to 1200°C to avoid extensive interdiffusion between SDC and YSZ to form a resistive CeO 2 -ZrO 2 solid solution. Therefore, the conventional SDC layer is often porous and therefore not as impervious to Sr-diffusion as would be desired. In the pursuit of improved SOFC performance, efforts have been directed toward increasing the density of the SDC barrier layer without increasing the sintering temperature. The density of the SDC barrier layer can be greatly increased through small amounts of Cu-doping of the SDC powder together with increased solids loading and use of an appropriate binder system in the screen print ink. However, the resulting performance of cells with these barrier layers did not exhibit the expected increase in accordance with that achieved with the prototypical PLD SDC layer. It was determined by XRD that increased sinterability of the SDC also results in increased interdiffusivity between the SDC and YSZ, resulting in formation of a highly resistive solid solution.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2018

Pressure Induced Densification and Compression in a Reprocessed Borosilicate Glass

Pressure induced densification and compression of a reprocessed sample of borosilicate glass has been studied by X-ray radiography and energy dispersive X-ray diffraction using a Paris-Edinburgh (PE) press at a synchrotron X-ray source. The reprocessing of a commercial borosilicate glass was carried out by cyclical melting and cooling. Gold foil pressure markers were used to obtain the sample pressure by X-ray diffraction using its known equation of state, while X-ray radiography provided a direct measure of the sample volume at high pressure. The X-ray radiography method for volume measurements at high pressures was validated for a known sample of pure α-Iron to 6.3 GPa. A sample of reprocessed borosilicate glass was compressed to 11.4 GPa using the PE cell, and the flotation density of pressure recovered sample was measured to be 2.755 gm/cc, showing an increase in density of 24%, as compared to the starting sample. The initial compression of the reprocessed borosilicate glass measured by X-ray radiography resulted in a bulk modulus of 30.3 GPa in good agreement with the 32.9 GPa value derived from the known elastic constants. This method can be applied to variety of amorphous materials under high pressures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Zirconium Carbide Produced by Spark Plasma Sintering and Hot Pressing: Densification Kinetics, Grain Growth, and Thermal Properties

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) has been employed to consolidate a micron-sized zirconium carbide (ZrC) powder. ZrC pellets with a variety of relative densities are obtained under different processing parameters. The densification kinetics of ZrC powders subjected to conventional hot pressing and SPS are comparatively studied by applying similar heating and loading profiles. Due to the lack of electric current assistance, the conventional hot pressing appears to impose lower strain rate sensitivity and higher activation energy values than those which correspond to the SPS processing. A finite element simulation is used to analyze the temperature evolution within the volume of ZrC specimens subjected to SPS. The control mechanism for grain growth during the final SPS stage is studied via a recently modified model, in which the grain growth rate dependence on porosity is incorporated. Finally, the constant pressure specific heat and thermal conductivity of the SPS-processed ZrC are determined to be higher than those reported for the hot-pressed ZrC and the benefits of applying SPS are indicated accordingly.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1972

Lunar control densification with panoramic space photography.

A system of panoramic control densification is being developed to optimize production of lunar charts using Apollo 15 panoramic photography. It has been determined that such control developments may be combined with procedures for setting up stereo models for compilation on the AS-11 Analytical Stereoplotter. The procedure minimizes the number of analytically derived control points from metric photography required for model orientation and improves model-to-model fit for the compilation.

Alderman, P. K.↗
NASA NTRS1975

LIBRA: An inexpensive geodetic network densification system

A description is given of the Libra (Locations Interposed by Ranging Aircraft) system, by which geodesy and earth strain measurements can be performed rapidly and inexpensively to several hundred auxiliary points with respect to a few fundamental control points established by any other technique, such as radio interferometry or satellite ranging. This low-cost means of extending the accuracy of space age geodesy to local surveys provides speed and spatial resolution useful, for example, for earthquake hazards estimation. Libra may be combined with an existing system, Aries (Astronomical Radio Interferometric Earth Surveying) to provide a balanced system adequate to meet the geophysical needs, and applicable to conventional surveying. The basic hardware design was outlined and specifications were defined. Then need for network densification was described. The following activities required to implement the proposed Libra system are also described: hardware development, data reduction, tropospheric calibrations, schedule of development and estimated costs.

Fliegel, H. F.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Tile densification with TEOS

Densification process uses brushed or sprayed coating of tetraethyl orthosilicate. Liquid is applied and cured in three steps; tile weight increase averages 0.15 g per square centimeter. TEOS liquid is prepared by mixing TEOS with hydrochloric acid and adding marking dye. TEOS application provides variable stiffness, strength, and penetration. Surface of tile shows no buidup and is more durable for additional coatings.

Ecord, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The effect of volume phase changes, mass transport, sunlight penetration, and densification on the thermal regime of icy regoliths

The present quantitative modeling of convective, condensational, and sublimational effects on porous ice crust volumes subjected to solar radiation encompasses the effect of such insolation's penetration of visible bandpass-translucent light, but opaque to the IR bandpass. Quasi-steady-state temperatures, H2O mass fluxes, and ice mass-density change rates are computed as functions of time of day and ice depth. When the effects of latent heat and mass transport are included in the model, the enhancement of near-surface temperature due to the 'solid-state greenhouse effect' is substantially diminished. When latent heat, mass transport, and densification effects are considered, however, a significant solid-state greenhouse effect is shown to be compatible with both morphological evidence for high crust strengths and icy shell decoupling from the lithosphere.

Fanale, Fraser P.↗
NASA NTRS1994

STS propellant densification feasibility study data book

The feasibility of using densification or subcooling with respect to standard temperature propellants on the Space Transportation System (STS) in order to achieve a payload gain is discussed in this report. The objective is to determine the magnitude of the payload gain and to identify any system impacts to the space shuttle on either flight systems or ground systems. Results show that a payload benefit can be obtained by subcooling the liquid hydrogen (LH2) from a nominal temperature of 36.4 R to 28.5 R and by subcooling the liquid oxygen (LO2) from a nominal temperature of 164 R to either 132.1 R or 141.4 R. When the propellants are subcooled to 28.5 R and 132.1 R for the LH2 and LO2, respectively, a maximum payload gain of 7,324 lb can be achieved, and when the propellants are subcooled to 28.5 R and 141.5 R for the LH2 and LO2, respectively, a maximum payload gain of 6,841 lb can be achieved. If the LH2 is subcooled to 28.5 R while the LH2 and LO2 remains at the nominal conditions, a maximum payload gain of 1,303 lb can be achieved.

Fazah, M. M.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Recent Advancements in Propellant Densification

Next-generation launch vehicles demand several technological improvements to achieve lower cost and more reliable access to space. One technology area whose performance gains may far exceed others is densified propellants. The ideal rocket engine propellant is characterized by high specific impulse, high density, and low vapor pressure. A propellant combination of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen (LH2/LOX) is one of the highest performance propellants, but LH2 stored at standard conditions has a relatively low density and high vapor pressure. Propellant densification can significantly improve this propellant's properties relative to vehicle design and engine performance. Vehicle performance calculations based on an average of existing launch vehicles indicate that densified propellants may allow an increase in payload mass of up to 5 percent. Since the NASA Lewis Research Center became involved with the National Aerospace Plane program in the 1980's, it has been leading the way in making densified propellants a viable fuel for next-generation launch vehicles. Lewis researchers have been working to provide a method and critical data for continuous production of densified hydrogen and oxygen.

McNelis, Nancy B.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Experimental Studies of Liquefaction and Densification of Liquid Oxygen

The propellant combination that offers optimum performance is very reactive with a low average molecular weight of the resulting combustion products. Propellant combinations such as oxygen and hydrogen meet the above criteria, however, the propellants in gaseous form require large propellant tanks due to the low density of gas. Thus, rocketry employs cryogenic refrigeration to provide a more dense propellant stored as a liquid. In addition to propellant liquefaction, cryogenic refrigeration can also conserve propellant and provide propellant subcooling and propellant densification. Previous studies analyzed vapor conditioning of a cryogenic propellant, with the vapor conditioning by either a heat exchanger position in the vapor or by using the vapor in a refrigeration cycle as the working fluid. This study analyzes the effects of refrigeration heat exchanger located in the liquid of the common propellant oxidizer, liquid oxygen. This study predicted and determined the mass condensation rate and heat transfer coefficient for liquid oxygen.

Partridge, Jonathan Koert↗
NASA NTRS2012

Frost Growth and Densification on a Flat Surface in Laminar Flow with Variable Humidity

Experiments are performed concerning frost growth and densification in laminar flow over a flat surface under conditions of constant and variable humidity. The flat plate test specimen is made of aluminum-6031, and has dimensions of 0.3 mx0.3 mx6.35 mm. Results for the first variable humidity case are obtained for a plate temperature of 255.4 K, air velocity of 1.77 m/s, air temperature of 295.1 K, and a relative humidity continuously ranging from 81 to 54%. The second variable humidity test case corresponds to plate temperature of 255.4 K, air velocity of 2.44 m/s, air temperature of 291.8 K, and a relative humidity ranging from 66 to 59%. Results for the constant humidity case are obtained for a plate temperature of 263.7 K, air velocity of 1.7 m/s, air temperature of 295 K, and a relative humidity of 71.6 %. Comparisons of the data with the author's frost model extended to accommodate variable humidity suggest satisfactory agreement between the theory and the data for both constant and variable humidity.

Kandula, M.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Densification of Liquid Oxygen – A Comparison of Numerical and Experimental Results

The NASA Launch Services Program and the NASA Engineering Safety Center had a requirement to conduct large scale tests with densified liquid oxygen. A densification system was designed where two dewars were simultaneously filled with liquid oxygen and pumped down with an ejector using nitrogen as the motive gas to densify the liquid. The dewars were evacuated to a final pressure of 5.86 kPa. The temperature of the liquid was not measured. Three distinct numerical models were created and compared against the experimental results. While these models were able to predict the final pump down time to within 15%, the transient behavior agrees with the experimental results within 30%. The final predicted temperature could not be verified as this was not measured during the experiment.

J Sasson↗
NASA NTRS2018

Enhanced Firn Densification in High‐Accumulation Shear Margins of the NE Greenland Ice Stream

Firn thickness across the NE Greenland Ice Stream is a function of accumulated strain, with thinner firn in the high‐strain margins of the ice stream. We present a novel technique for extracting firn density from previously collected seismic reflection profiles and apply this technique across both shear margins of NE Greenland Ice Stream. Firn is up to 30 m thinner in the vicinity of the ice stream shear margins. Snow accumulation rates across the ice stream were calculated from airborne ice‐penetrating radar data, calibrated with ground‐based firn density measurements from a shallow core. We find that accumulation is ~20% higher in the shear margins compared to the surroundings. The higher density firn adjacent to shear margins is due to high along‐flow stresses that accelerate firn densification and develops despite the higher accumulation rate favoring lower density. These firn density variations influence subglacial hydropotential by changing the ice surface slope and overburden pressure and may influence subglacial water flow. These results demonstrate the importance of high‐resolution firn surveys in studies of shear‐margin dynamics.

ice stream↗
DOE OSTI2023

Solution-assisted densification of NaSICON ceramics

A sodium-ion conducting NaSICON ceramic can be densified via the addition of a solvent to a NaSICON powder and subsequent pressing under high pressure and mild heat. Densification to ˜90% relative density can be achieved, providing a path toward low-temperature fabrication of Na-ion conductors.

Bock, Jonathan Anton↗