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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 NTRS1974

Systems design of long-life systems

A long-life system is defined as a system which cannot be life-tested in its operational environment. Another restriction is that preventive maintenance and repair shall be either impossible or economically disadvantageous. Examples of such systems include planetary spacecraft, communication satellites, undersea telephone cables, and nuclear power plants. The questions discussed are related to the implementation of system functions, approaches to determine the required level of system reliability, and aspects of tradeoffs between requirements and reliability.

Miles, R. F., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Environmental parameters of the Tennessee River in Alabama. 1: Thermal stratification

Thermal stratification data of a transect across Wheeler Reservoir are correlated with the climatological data at the time of sampling. This portion of the Tennessee River is used as a heat sink for the effluent from the three reactor Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant. The transect sampling line is 1.3 miles below this point of effluence. Data are presented by weekly samplings for one year prior to plant operations. Post-operational data are presented with one reactor in operation and with two reactors in partial operation. Data gathering was terminated when the plant ceased operations. The results indicate that the effluent for partial plant operation were inconclusive. As a result, recommendations include continuing the sampling when the plant resumes operation at full capacity. Recommendations also include developing math models with the presented thermal and climatological data to be used for predicting the effluent impact in the river with varying climatological conditions and also to predict the effectiveness of the cooling towers.

Rosing, L. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Thermodynamic cycle analysis

An analysis was made of Rankine cycle efficiency in nuclear power plants with and without reheat capabilities. In addition, temperatures and pressures at certain selected locations were carried out to optimize plant efficiency. It was determined that plant efficiency without reheat was 39.03%, with reheat, a maximum efficiency of 4.44% was obtained at a pressure of 435.12 psia. Data also indicate efficiency appears to increase for pressures greater than 720 psia. However, higher pressures cannot be used because calculations indicate these pressure reheat temperatures exceed 1650 R, which is not allowed due to material limitations.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1975

A preliminary systems-engineering study of an advanced nuclear-electrolytic hydrogen-production facility

An advanced nuclear-electrolytic hydrogen-production facility concept was synthesized at a conceptual level with the objective of minimizing estimated hydrogen-production costs. The concept is a closely-integrated, fully-dedicated (only hydrogen energy is produced) system whose components and subsystems are predicted on ''1985 technology.'' The principal components are: (1) a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) operating a helium-Brayton/ammonia-Rankine binary cycle with a helium reactor-core exit temperature of 980 C, (2) acyclic d-c generators, (3) high-pressure, high-current-density electrolyzers based on solid-polymer electrolyte technology. Based on an assumed 3,000 MWt HTGR the facility is capable of producing 8.7 million std cu m/day of hydrogen at pipeline conditions, 6,900 kPa. Coproduct oxygen is also available at pipeline conditions at one-half this volume. It has further been shown that the incorporation of advanced technology provides an overall efficiency of about 43 percent, as compared with 25 percent for a contemporary nuclear-electric plant powering close-coupled contemporary industrial electrolyzers.

Escher, W. J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Radionuclides in Chesapeake Bay sediments

Natural and manmade gamma-ray emitting radionuclides were measured in Chesapeake Bay sediments taken near the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant site. Samples represented several water depths, at six locations, for five dates encompassing a complete seasonal cycle. Radionuclide contents of dry sediments ranged as follows: Tl-208, 40 to 400 pCi/kg; Bi-214, 200 to 800 pCi/kg; K, 0.04 to 2.1 percent; Cs-137 5 to 1900 pCi/kg; Ru106, 40 to 1000 pCikg Co60, 1 to 27 pCi/kg. In general, radionuclide contents were positively correlated with each other and negatively correlated with sediment grain size.

Cressy, P. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Environmental parameters of the Tennessee River in Alabama. 2: Physical, chemical, and biological parameters

Physical, chemical and biological water quality data from five sites in the Tennessee River, two in Guntersville Reservoir and three in Wheeler Reservoir were correlated with climatological data for three annual cycles. Two of the annual cycles are for the years prior to the Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant operations and one is for the first 14 months of Plant operations. A comparison of the results of the annual cycles indicates that two distinct physical conditions in the reservoirs occur, one during the warm months when the reservoirs are at capacity and one during the colder winter months when the reservoirs have been drawn-down for water storage during the rainy months and for weed control. The wide variations of physical and chemical parameters to which the biological organisms are subjected on an annual basis control the biological organisms and their population levels. A comparison of the parameters of the site below the Power plant indicates that the heated effluent from the plant operating with two of the three reactors has not had any effect on the organisms at this site. Recommendations given include the development of prediction mathematical models (statistical analysis) for the physical and chemical parameters under specific climatological conditions which affect biological organisms. Tabulated data of chemical analysis of water and organism populations studied is given.

Rosing, L. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Don't waste waterweeds

Experiments carried out at the NASA National Space Technology Laboratories indicate that water hyacinths can absorb organic chemicals, heavy metals, nutrients, and other materials from waste water while producing large quantities of biomass, which can be used to produce a gas containing 60-80% methane. When grown in sewage free of toxic materials, the biomass can be used as a potential source of fertilizer or animal feed supplements. The use of hot water from nuclear power plants to grow water hyacinths during the winter months is particularly attractive, since the hyacinths could act as an added safety filtration system for the removal of radioactive elements.

Wolverton, B.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Space and energy

Potential contributions of space to energy-related activities are discussed. Advanced concepts presented include worldwide energy distribution to substation-sized users using low-altitude space reflectors; powering large numbers of large aircraft worldwide using laser beams reflected from space mirror complexes; providing night illumination via sunlight-reflecting space mirrors; fine-scale power programming and monitoring in transmission networks by monitoring millions of network points from space; prevention of undetected hijacking of nuclear reactor fuels by space tracking of signals from tagging transmitters on all such materials; and disposal of nuclear power plant radioactive wastes in space.

Bekey, I.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Space station systems analysis study. Part 1, volume 1: Executive study

Potential space station system options were examined for a permanent, manned, orbital space facility and to provide data to NASA program planners and decision makers for their use in future program planning. There were ten space station system objectives identified. These were categorized into five major objectives and five supporting objectives. The major objectives were to support the development of: (1) satellite power systems, (2) nuclear energy plants in space, (3) space processing, (4) earth services, and (5) space cosmological research and development. The five supporting objectives, to define space facilities which would be basic building blocks for future systems, were: (1) a multidiscipline science laboratory, (2) an orbital depot to maintain, fuel, and service orbital transfer vehicles, (3) cluster support systems to provide power and data processing for multiple orbital elements, (4) a sensor development facility, and (5) the facilities necessary to enhance man's living and working in space.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1976

Hydrogen production by water decomposition using a combined electrolytic-thermochemical cycle

A proposed dual-purpose power plant generating nuclear power to provide energy for driving a water decomposition system is described. The entire system, dubbed Sulfur Cycle Water Decomposition System, works on sulfur compounds (sulfuric acid feedstock, sulfur oxides) in a hybrid electrolytic-thermochemical cycle; performance superior to either all-electrolysis systems or presently known all-thermochemical systems is claimed. The 3345 MW(th) graphite-moderated helium-cooled reactor (VHTR - Very High Temperature Reactor) generates both high-temperature heat and electric power for the process; the gas stream at core exit is heated to 1850 F. Reactor operation is described and reactor innards are illustrated. A cost assessment for on-stream performance in the 1990's is optimistic.

Farbman, G. H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Great Bend tornadoes of August 30, 1974

Photogrammetric analyses of movies and still pictures taken of the Great Bend, Kansas Tornado series have been used to develop design specifications for nuclear power plants and facilities. A maximum tangential velocity of 57 m/sec and a maximum vertical velocity of 27 m/sec are determined for one suction vortex having a translational velocity of 32 m/sec. Three suction vortices with radii in the 20 to 30 m range are noted in the flow field of one tornado; these suction vortices apparently form a local convergence of inflow air inside the outer portion of the tornado core.

Umenhofer, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Needs and trends in structural dynamics

The paper discusses dynamic analyses and testing of aerospace vehicles and the application of such analyses and testing to nonaerospace fields. Items covered in the section on dynamic analyses of aerospace vehicles include self-induced and forced oscillatory loads, approaches to dynamic modeling and analysis, nonlinear analyses, and integrated dynamics design and optimization. Items covered in the section on the dynamic testing of aerospace vehicles include integrated test philosophy, test facilities, and ways of improving performance and reducing costs. The nonaerospace applications that are discussed include ground and water transportation, medicine, and nuclear power plants.

Morosow, G.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Irradiation pretreatment for coal desulfurization

Process using highly-penetrating nuclear radiation (Beta and Gamma radiation) from nuclear power plant radioactive waste to irradiate coal prior to conventional desulfurization procedures increases total extraction of sulfur.

Hsu, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Improved particulate-sampling filter

Small surface indentations entrain larger and more representative sampling than conventional petri-dish smeared with smooth layer adhesive. Filter is assembled from perforated disk and flat backing plate with sticky surface. Due to design-created currents, particulates come in contact with surface for longer time and have greater probability of being trapped. Filter is useful in air-quality monitoring at industrial sites, in mines, and in and around nuclear power plants.

Hoffman, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

An enhancement of NASTRAN for the seismic analysis of structures

New modules, bulk data cards and DMAP sequence were added to NASTRAN to aid in the seismic analysis of nuclear power plant structures. These allow input consisting of acceleration time histories and result in the generation of acceleration floor response spectra. The resulting system contains numerous user convenience features, as well as being reasonably efficient.

Burroughs, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM) thermal surface water mapping and its correlation to LANDSAT

Graphics are presented which show HCMM mapped water-surface temperature in Lake Anna, a 13,000 dendrically-shaped lake which provides cooling for a nuclear power plant in Virginia. The HCMM digital data, produced by NASA were processed by NOAA/NESS into image and line-printer form. A LANDSAT image of the lake illustrates the relationship between MSS band 7 data and the HCMM data as processed by the NASA image processing facility which transforms the data to the same distortion-free hotline oblique Mercator projection. Spatial correlation of the two images is relatively simple by either digital or analog means and the HCMM image has a potential accuracy approaching the 80 m of the original LANDSAT data. While it is difficult to get readings that are not diluted by radiation from cooler adjacent land areas in narrow portions of the lake, digital data indicated by the line-printer display five different temperatures for open-water areas. Where the water surface response was not diluted by land areas, the temperature difference recorded by HCMM corresponds to in situ readings with rsme on the order of 1 C.

Colvocoresses, A. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Deposition and dose from the 18 May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens

The downwind deposition and radiation doses was calculated for the tropospheric part of the ash cloud from the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, by using a large cloud diffusion model. The naturally occurring radionnuclides of radium and thorium, whose radon daughters normally seep very slowly from the rocks and soil, were violently released to the atmosphere. The largest dose to an individual from these nuclides is small, but the population dose to those affected by the radioactivity in the ash is about 100 person rem. This population dose from Mount St. Helens is much greater than the annual person rem routinely released by a typical large nuclear power plant. It is estimated that subsequent eruptions of Mount St. Helens have doubled or tripled the person rem calculated from the initial large eruption. The long range global ash deposition of the May 18 eruption is estimated through 1984, by use of a global deposition model. The maximum deposition is nearly 1000 kg square km and occurs in the spring of 1981 over middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

Peterson, K. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Ground Truth Sampling and LANDSAT Accuracy Assessment

It is noted that the key factor in any accuracy assessment of remote sensing data is the method used for determining the ground truth, independent of the remote sensing data itself. The sampling and accuracy procedures developed for nuclear power plant siting study are described. The purpose of the sampling procedure was to provide data for developing supervised classifications for two study sites and for assessing the accuracy of that and the other procedures used. The purpose of the accuracy assessment was to allow the comparison of the cost and accuracy of various classification procedures as applied to various data types.

Robinson, J. W.↗