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At least 1,117 records · Page 62

The erosion/corrosion of small superalloy turbine rotors operating in the effluent of a PFB coal combustor

Superalloy turbine rotors in a single stage turbine with 6 percent partial admittance were operated in the effluent of a pressurized fluidized bed coal combustor for up to 164 hours. Total mass flow was 300 kg/hr and average particulate loadings ranged from 600 to 2800 ppm for several coal/sorbent combinations. A 5.5 atm turbine inlet gas pressure and inlet gas temperatures from 700 to 800 C yielded absolute gas velocities at the stator exit of about 500 m/s. The angular rotation speed (40,000 rpm) of the six inch diameter rotors was equivalent to a tip speed of about 300 m/s, and average gas velocities relative to the rotating surface ranged from 260 to 330 m/s at mean radius. The rotor erosion pattern reflects heavy particle separation with severe (5 to 500 cm/yr) erosion at the leading edge, pressure side center, and suction side trailing edge at the tip. The erosion distribution pattern provides a spectrum of erosion/oxidation/deposition as a function of blade position. This spectrum includes enhanced oxidation (10 to 100 x air), mixed oxides in exposed depletion zones, sulfur rich oxides in deposition zones, and rugged areas of erosive oxide removal.

Zellars, G. R.↗

The chemistry of sodium chloride involvement in processes related to hot corrosion

Thermodynamic and mass transport calculations, and laboratory experiments elucidating the behavior of sodium chloride in combustion environments, in the deposition process, and in reactions with certain oxides on the surfaces of superalloys are summarized. It was found that some of the ingested salt is separated out of the air stream by the compressor. However, sodium chloride does pass from the compressor to the combustor where numerous chemical reactions take place. Here some of the salt is vaporized to yield gaseous sodium chloride molecules. Hydrogen and oxygen atoms present in the combustion products react with some sodium chloride to yield other gaseous species such as sodium, and a fraction of the salt remains as particulates. Both the gas phase and condensed sodium chloride can lead to sodium sulfate formation by various routes, all of which involve reaction with sulfur oxides and oxygen. In addition to contributing to the formation of sodium sulfate, the sodium chloride can contribute to corrosion directly.

Stearns, C. A.↗

Radiation damage in high-voltage silicon solar cells

Three types of open circuit high voltage solar cells were tested to determine their performance after exposure to 1 MeV electron irradiations. The cells with a relatively deep n-type emitter were more susceptible to radiation damage than other high open circuit high voltage cells. The use of diffused or ion implanted junctions leads to open circuit high voltage cell designs that are less susceptible to radiation damage. These latter two types of cells show degradations that are typical of the 0.1 ohm-cm material from which they are fabricated. Furthermore, exposure to ionizing radiation causes oxide degradation and decreased cell performance in cells that depend on a charged oxide to achieve significant cell properties. Hence, the combination of a charged oxide and a relatively deep n-type emitter is not recommended for incorporation into a cell designed for use in the particulate radiation environment of space.

Weinberg, I.↗

Microbiological evaluation of the mobile biological isolator system

Evaluations on critical components of the mobile biological isolation system were performed. High efficiency particulate air filter efficiency and suit integrity were found to withstand repeated ethylene oxide (ETO) sterilizations. The minimum ETO sterilization time required to inactivate all contaminant organisms was established at four hours. Two days of aerating at 120 F was found to dissipate all harmful ETO residuals from the suit. Donning and doffing procedures were clarified and written specifically for isolation rooms.

Taylor, D. M.↗

Optical polarimetry: Instrumentation and applications; Proceedings of the Seminar, San Diego, Calif., August 23, 24, 1977

Instrumentation used in optical polarimetry is discussed with reference to high-resolution spectropolarimetry, an orbiter cloud photopolarimeter, X-ray polarimeters, and the design of a self-nulling ellipsometer. Consideration is given to surface and thin-film ellipsometry noting studies of electrochemical surface layers, surface anisotropy, polish layers on infrared window materials, and anodic films. Papers on biological, chemical, and physical polarimetry are presented including birefringence in biological materials, vibrational optical activity, and the optical determination of the thermodynamic phase diagram of a metamagnet. Remote sensing is discussed in terms of polarization imagery, the optical polarimetry of particulate surfaces, and techniques and applications of elliptical polarimetry in astronomy and atmospheric studies.

Azzam, R. M. A.↗

Orbiter Cloud Photopolarimeter for the Pioneer Venus mission

The Orbiter Cloud Photopolarimeter (OCPP) to be flown aboard the Pioneer Venus Orbiter spacecraft is described. This instrument, while in orbit about the planet Venus, will perform polarimetric and radiometric mapping of the Venus atmosphere in four spectral bands centered in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared regions. Additionally, the instrument is equipped to provide moderate resolution imaging of the time varying cloud patterns in the near ultraviolet. In another mode of operation the instrument is capable of profiling the atmosphere at the limb of the planet to measure the particulate layering. Information resulting from these measurements is intended to provide an understanding of the global cloud dynamics and the atmospheric structure and composition on Venus. The basic operation and functional elements of the instrument are discussed. The optical configuration incorporating a polarization analyzing technique with improved accuracy is described. Long-term and short-term calibration techniques along with expected instrument performance characteristics are summarized.

Russell, E. E.↗

Pattern recognition methods and air pollution source identification

Directional air samplers, used for resolving suspended particulate matter on the basis of time and wind direction were used to assess the feasibility of characterizing and identifying emission source types in urban multisource environments. Filters were evaluated for 16 elements and X-ray fluorescence methods yielded elemental concentrations for direction, day, and the interaction of direction and day. Large numbers of samples are necessary to compensate for large day-to-day variations caused by wind perturbations and/or source changes.

Leibecki, H. F.↗

Properties of the stratospheric aerosol layer studied with a one-dimensional computer model

Aerosol particle effects are often neglected in theoretical studies of stratospheric phenomena. In reality, the particulate matter normally found above the tropopause may influence the terrestrial radiation balance, catalyze heterogeneous chemical interactions, and serve as a tracer of atmospheric motions. The paper proposes a one-dimensional model of the stratospheric aerosol layer, and it is used to compare aerosol theory with observational data. The model considers gaseous sulfur photochemistry and the physical aerosol processes of nucleation, coagulation, sedimentation, and diffusion. Calculations of the effects on the aerosol layer of stratospheric injections of aluminum oxide particles by Space Shuttle engines and of sulfur dioxide molecules by volcanic activity are performed. The relation between measured aerosol variability and changes in stratospheric air temperatures and vertical transport rates are discussed.

Turco, R. P.↗

Rocket effluent size distributions made with a cascade quartz crystal microbalance

Airborne particulate size distribution measurements were made in the stabilized ground cloud from a Titan III C rocket just after launch from the Kennedy Space Center on May 12, 1977. The measurements were made from aboard a small twin engine aircraft instrumented with particle and gas sensors. The plume was followed for about 1 hour while making multiple passes through the cloud at varying altitudes. The results obtained with a ten-stage cascade quartz crystal microbalance impactor show that the mass concentration as a function of particle diameter is bimodal with the first maximum between 0.05 micrometers and 0.1 micrometers and the second maximum between 0.8 and 1.0 micrometer. Scanning electron microscope analysis were performed on the material collected and show distinctly different kinds of particles in the two modes.

Woods, D. C.↗

Radiative transfer model for remote sensing of suspended sediments in water

A Monte Carlo simulation model of radiative transfer in turbid water is discussed. The model can be used to calculate characteristics of the backscattered signal from an illuminated body of water as a function of the turbidity level and spectral properties of the suspended particulates. The dependence of remote sensing applications on the concentration and spectral properties of sediments in the environmental waters is considered in terms of the model. Attention is directed to the effects of various inputs for the volume-scattering function on backscattered radiance from natural waters. The wavelength dependence of single scattering albedo is investigated.

Ghovanlou, A. H.↗

Aerosol size distributions obtained by inversion of spectral optical depth measurements

Columnar aerosol size distributions have been inferred by numerically inverting particulate optical depth measurements as a function of wavelength. An inversion formula which explicitly includes the magnitude of the measurement variances is derived and applied to optical depth measurements obtained in Tucson with a solar radiometer. It is found that the individual size distributions of the aerosol particles (assumed spherical), at least for radii greater than or approximately equal to 0.1 micron, fall into one of three distinctly different categories. Approximately 50% of all distributions examined thus far can best be represented as a composite of a Junge distribution plus a distribution of relatively monodispersed larger particles centered at a radius of about 0.5 micron. Scarcely 20% of the distributions yielded Junge size distributions, while 30% yielded relatively monodispersed distributions of the log-normal or gamma distribution types. A representative selection of each of these types will be presented and discussed. The sensitivity of spectral attenuation measurements to the radii limits and refractive index assumed in the numerical inversion will also be addressed.

King, M. D.↗

Advanced solar space missions

The space missions in solar physics planned for the next decade are similar in that they will have, for the most part, distinct, unifying science objectives in contrast to the more general 'exploratory' nature of the Orbiting Solar Observatory and Skylab/ATM missions of the 1960's and 70's. In particular, the strategy for advanced solar physics space missions will focus on the quantitative understanding of the physical processes that create and control the flow of electromagnetic and particulate energy from the sun and through interplanetary space at all phases of the current sunspot cycle No. 21. Attention is given to the Solar Maximum Mission, the International Solar Polar Mission, solar physics on an early Shuttle mission, principal investigator class experiments for future spacelabs, the Solar Optical Telescope, the Space Science Platform, the Solar Cycle and Dynamics Mission, and an attempt to send a spacecraft to within 4 solar radii of the sun's surface.

Bohlin, J. D.↗

Rate equation for desorbing particles

A rate equation describing the desorption of particles from substrates has been formulated using a simple classical model in terms of the particulate escape probabilities and escape velocities. Numerical results for desorption rates as a function of temperature using simple two-body potentials are calculated for various metallic systems. These results were obtained for the low coverage limits and are found to be in good agreement with experimental findings. The present formulation also provides an improved picture of the physical nature of the commonly discussed parameters, such as the frequency factor, desorption energy, and desorption temperature in relation to observed desorption phenomena.

Halicioglu, T.↗

The accretion of planets from planetesimals

Collisional accretion appears to be a viable, and seemingly unavoidable, mechanism for intermediate-stage from a swarm of planetesimals into a system containing a few discrete seed planets. Some other mechanism must be invoked to explain growth of condensate grains up to at least tens of meters. Gravitational instability in the particulate disk seems a plausible means of achieving that early-stage growth up to kilometer-scale bodies. The last stage of growth in which the seed planets accrete the remaining material now presents difficulties due to the isolated, circular orbits generated from the intermediate collisional stage.

Greenberg, R.↗

Applications of remote sensing for water quality and biological measurements in coastal waters

Potential applications of remote sensing technology to the study of coastal marine environments are reviewed, emphasizing water quality and biological measurements. Parameters measurable by airborne or spaceborne remote sensors include particulates, measured by visual or multispectral photography, chlorophyll a, measured by the Ocean Color Scanner or Coastal Zone Color Scanner, temperature distributions, by IR or microwave sensors, and salinity, by means of microwave radiometers. Research projects in which wide area synoptic or repetitive remote sensing can make a major contribution include the study of estuarine and continental shelf sediment transport dynamics, marine pollutant transport, marine phytoplankton dynamics and ocean fronts.

Johnson, R. W.↗

Diffusion approximation for large absorption in radiative transfer

A new diffusion model is developed for radiative transfer in particulate media. It includes the effects of higher Legendre moments while avoiding the mathematical complexities of solving multiple coupled differential moment equations and satisfying higher-order boundary conditions. The method accurately extrapolates the conventional Eddington approximation to problems involving large absorption. Although the simplifying assumptions limit the model to nonbeam incidence and spatial homogeneity of the scattering material, they are nonrestrictive with regard to the size and shape of the medium, the character of background reflections, and the type of phase function.

Meador, W. E.↗

Mid infrared spectra of lunar and analog soils

The mid infrared emittance spectrum contains compositional information about lunar soils. In order to be able to properly interpret remotely obtained data, it was necessary to develop a theoretical model of the emittance of particulate minerals. This theory was shown to simulate the spectra of analog lunar soils satisfactorily provided that good values of the optical constants of the component minerals were available. Optical constants have been obtained for dunite, bytownite, augite, ilmenite, and a mare glass analog during this work. Our first measurements on lunar soils indicated that 67711 is very immature (high contrast) and is dominated by feldspar; that 10084 shows very low contrast with some evidence of pyroxene and feldspar bands. 71061 is intermediate between the other two having a gross similarity to 10084 but with considerably more contrast.

Aronson, J. R.↗

Experimental studies of oblique impact

Meteoritic materials most probably impact planetary bodies along oblique trajectories inclined less than 45 deg above their surfaces. Laboratory studies of hypervelocity impacts against rock and particulate media are presented that indicate important effects of obliquity on crater size, shape, and ejecta distribution. The effects are particularly important to crater size-frequency analyses and geologic interpretations of crater formations. Impacts at shallow incidence, which are not uncommon, lead to ricochet of the impacting object accompanied with some entrained excavated materials at velocities only slightly reduced from the pre-impact value.

Gault, D. E.↗