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At least 1,153 records · Page 64

Pollution Reduction Technology Program for Small Jet Aircraft Engines, Phase 2

A series of iterative combustor pressure rig tests were conducted on two combustor concepts applied to the AiResearch TFE731-2 turbofan engine combustion system for the purpose of optimizing combustor performance and operating characteristics consistant with low emissions. The two concepts were an axial air-assisted airblast fuel injection configuration with variable-geometry air swirlers and a staged premix/prevaporization configuration. The iterative rig testing and modification sequence on both concepts was intended to provide operational compatibility with the engine and determine one concept for further evaluation in a TFE731-2 engine.

Bruce, T. W.↗

Remote estimation of surface temperature in pollution measurement experiments

The procedure described was developed for inferring the effective brightness temperature (EBT) of the underlying surface (at a given altitude) from the computed value of the radiance corresponding to a known surface temperature. A standard temperature correction to EBT (termed 'base correction') is first determined by using a 'base model atmosphere' for computing the upwelling radiance. Additional temperature corrections are then determined by considering several variations of the different surface and atmospheric parameters from their 'base model' values. Empirical relations are derived between the deviations of various surface and atmospheric parameters (from their base model values) and the additional corrections required for the EBT as a result of these variations. Use of such relations for large-scale data reduction, instead of radiative transfer calculations, is expected to result in drastic cost decrease.

Gupta, S. K.↗

Quantitative remote measurements of pollutants from stationary sources using Raman lidar

The several advantages of Raman lidar for remote measurements of stationary source emissions were quantitatively evaluated using a calibration tank at a distance of 300 m at night. Measurements of approximately 10 to the 3rd ppm SO2 with a 12% accuracy were demonstrated in an observation time of 15 min using a 1.5-J ruby laser at 30 pulses/min, 6-m range resolution, interference filters, photon counting detection, and a 20-cm receiver. Measurement accuracy was checked by measuring known concentrations of SO2 in the tank, by tuning the interference filters through the SO2 Raman line, and by varying the CO2 concentration to very high levels during the SO2 measurements. Evaluation of the seriousness of induced fluorescence from plume aerosols failed due to the inability to simulate the plume aerosols.

Poultney, S. K.↗

The production and treatment of gaseous pollutants in an electrostatic precipitator

The production of ozone and nitric oxides and the oxidation of two organic contaminants, methane and acetylene, were studied in the corona discharge of a model cylindrical electrostatic precipitator. Both air and oxygen streams were passed through the discharge while current, voltage, electrode/wall radius ratio, residence time and wall temperature were varied. Under all conditions using air, much more ozone was produced in the negative than in the positive corona, in agreement with qualitative data reported in the literature. However, using oxygen, as much as three to four times more ozone is produced by the positive corona. Over a wide range of conditions ozone production is proportional to current. Limited analyses of nitric oxides formation in air indicated that levels were higher in the negative than in the positive corona. In contrast to previous work using an RF discharge, methane contamination was not removed by the corona discharge. However, the oxidation of acetylene was affected by the discharge and could not be accounted for by homogeneous ozonation alone.

Flamm, D. L.↗

Reduction of aircraft gas turbine engine pollutant emissions - A status report

In mid-1971, NASA began a major program in emission reduction technology, which would consist of a continuing in-house effort on low emission combustor concepts and of contracted research programs with the major aircraft engine manufacturers. A description is presented of the design approaches taken by the manufacturers involved in the contracted programs. Current results are compared with EPA standards, and some of the engine related factors are briefly considered. In addition, some results from fundamental technology programs which indicate the emission levels which may be approached by advanced low emission combustors of the future are also discussed. It is found that special engine design features represent at least a partial solution to reducing aircraft emissions for engines of the future.

Diehl, L. A.↗

HCMM energy budget data as a model input for assessing regions of high potential groundwater pollution

The author has identified the following significant results. In early April 1978, heavy spring runoff from snowmelt caused significant flooding along a portion of the Big Sioux River Basin in southeastern South Dakota. The flooded area was visible from surrounding areas on a May 15 HCMM IR test image. On May 15, the flood waters had receded but an area of anomalous residual high soil moisture remained. The high soil moisture area was not visible on a HCMM day visible test image of the same scene, or on LANDSAT imagery. To evaluate the effect of water table depth on surface temperatures, thermal scanner data collected on September 5 and 6, 1978 at approximate HCMM overpass times at an altitude of 3650 m were analyzed. Apparent surface temperatures measured by the scanner included emittance contributions from soil surface and the land cover. Results indicated that the shallow water tables produced a damping of the amplitude of the diurnal surface temperature wave.

Moore, D. G.↗

Application of interferential correlation of spectrum to the detection of atmospheric pollutants

The general correlation principles for spectra and spectra derivatives are studied by using the Fourier transform of the spectral distribution of energy from a source illuminating a double beam interferometer with transverse splitting by dividing luminance. In this correlation technique, the use of such an interferometer has the advantage of greater luminosity as compared with a slit spectrometer. However, the correlation example indicates that it is necessary to adapt the correlator to the particular case considered, in order to obtain the best gain in the signal to noise ratio. In the case of sulfur dioxide detection, a very simple mounting which could be used in some interesting industrial applications was developed. This mounting can be used each time that the substance to be analyzed has a quasi-periodic absorption spectrum: in particular this is often the case with absorption spectra of gases, and a mounting identical to the one described for sulfur dioxide proved to be effective in the detection of nitrogen oxides.

Fortunato, G.↗

Aerial photographic water color variations from pollution in the James River

A photographic flight was made over the James River on May 17, 1977. The data show that, in general, James River water has very high sunlight reflectance. In the Bailey Bay area this reflectance is drastically reduced. Also shown is a technique for normalizing off-axis variations in radiance film exposure from camera falloff and uneven sunlight conditions to the nadir value. After data normalization, a spectral analysis is performed that identifies Bailey Creek water in James River water. The spectral results when compared with laboratory spectrometer data indicate that reflectance from James River water is dominated by suspended matter, while the substance most likely responsible for reduced reflectance in Bailey Creek water is dissolved organic carbon.

Bressette, W. 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.↗

Remote sensing of environmental particulate pollutants - Optical methods for determinations of size distribution and complex refractive index

A unifying approach, based on a generalization of Pearson's differential equation of statistical theory, is proposed for both the representation of particulate size distribution and the interpretation of radiometric measurements in terms of this parameter. A single-parameter gamma-type distribution is introduced, and it is shown that inversion can only provide the dimensionless parameter, r/ab (where r = particle radius, a = effective radius, b = effective variance), at least when the distribution vanishes at both ends. The basic inversion problem in reconstructing the particle size distribution is analyzed, and the existing methods are reviewed (with emphasis on their capabilities) and classified. A two-step strategy is proposed for simultaneously determining the complex refractive index and reconstructing the size distribution of atmospheric particulates.

Fymat, A. L.↗

An experimental study of the flow field and pollutant formation in a two dimensional premixed, turbulent flame

Spark shadowgraphs, high-speed schlieren movies, and the tracing of individual eddies were used to study a turbulent reacting shear layer in a premixed propane/air flow. The flow took place in a two-dimensional combustor, and the flame was stabilized behind a rearward facing streamlined step. The data show that in the velocity range 7.5 to 22.5 m/sec the mixing layer is dominated by Brown-Roshko type large coherent structures in both reacting and nonreacting flows. Information on the eddies, the flame, and the distribution of gas concentrations is presented.

Ganji, A. R.↗

Estimation of surface temperature in remote pollution measurement experiments

A simple algorithm has been developed for estimating the actual surface temperature by applying corrections to the effective brightness temperature measured by radiometers mounted on remote sensing platforms. Corrections to effective brightness temperature are computed using an accurate radiative transfer model for the 'basic atmosphere' and several modifications of this caused by deviations of the various atmospheric and surface parameters from their base model values. Model calculations are employed to establish simple analytical relations between the deviations of these parameters and the additional temperature corrections required to compensate for them. Effects of simultaneous variation of two parameters are also examined. Use of these analytical relations instead of detailed radiative transfer calculations for routine data analysis results in a severalfold reduction in computation costs.

Gupta, S. K.↗