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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 1,261 records · Page 70
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

The effect on an acoustic wave as it traverses an unsteady expansion

The shift in fundamental frequency that occurs in acoustic waves is obtained for waves traversing an unsteady expansion. It is shown analytically that downstream of the unsteady expansion all frequencies approach one of an infinite number of discrete frequencies independent of the frequency upstream of the unsteady expansion. This theoretical analysis is used to accurately predict the period of noise observed in an expansion tube when operated at low enthalpies.

Paull, A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Two-dimensional model of a Space Station Freedom thermal energy storage canister

The Solar Dynamic Power Module being developed for Space Station Freedom uses a eutectic mixture of LiF-CaF2 phase change salt contained in toroidal canisters for thermal energy storage. Results are presented from heat transfer analyses of the phase-change salt containment canister. A 2-D, axisymmetric finite-difference computer program which models the canister walls, salt, void, and heat engine working fluid coolant was developed. Analyses included effects of conduction in canister walls and solid salt, conduction and free convection in liquid salt, conduction and radiation across salt vapor filled void regions, and forced convection in the heat engine working fluid. Void shape, location, and growth or shrinkage (due to density difference between the solid and liquid salt phases) were prescribed based on engineering judgement. The salt phase change process was modeled using the enthalpy method. Discussion of results focuses on the role of free-convection in the liquid salt on canister heat transfer performance. This role is shown to be important for interpreting the relationship between groundbased canister performance (in 1-g) and expected on-orbit performance (in micro-g). Attention is also focused on the influence of void heat transfer on canister wall temperature distributions. The large thermal resistance of void regions is shown to accentuate canister hot spots and temperature gradients.

Kerslake, Thomas W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Keyhole and weld shapes for plasma arc welding under normal and zero gravity

A first order study of the interfacial (keyhole) shape between a penetrating argon plasma arc jet and a stationary liquid metal weld pool is presented. The interface is determined using the Young-Laplace equation by assuming that the plasma jet behaves as a one-dimensional ideal gas flow and by neglecting flow within the weld pool. The solution for the keyhole shape allows an approximate determination of the liquid-solid metal phase boundary location based on the assumption that the liquid melt is a stagnant thermal boundary layer. Parametric studies examine the effect of plasma mass flow rate, initial plasma enthalpy, liquid metal surface tension, and jet shear on weldment shape under both normal and zero gravity. Among the more important findings of this study is that keyhole and weld geometries are minimally affected by gravity, suggesting that data gathered under gravity can be used in planning in-space welding.

Keanini, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

An apparatus for the specific heat measurement of undercooled liquids

This paper describes a drop calorimeter with an electromagnetic levitator that was specifically built for enthalpy measurements of undercooled liquids, including high-melting-point metals. Design diagrams of this device and of a furnace for making a suspended drop are presented together with results of measurements on an aluminum sample.

Ohsaka, K.↗
NASA NTRS1990

New generation of free-piston shock tunnels

Consideration is given to three free-piston driven hypersonic tunnels under construction that will greatly enhance existing test capabilities. The tunnel being built at Caltech will feature energy capabilities about 40 percent higher than those of the world's largest operational free-piston tunnel to date. The second tunnel under construction will allow full-size engine hardware at near-orbital speeds. The third facility is a high-performance expansion tube that will be capable of generating high enthalpy flows at speeds of up to 9 km/sec. It will provide flows with dissociation levels much lower than are attainable with a reflected shock tunnel, approaching actual flight conditions. A table shows the tunnels' characteristics.

Morrison, W. R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Finite-rate chemistry effects in a Mach 2 reacting flow

UV spontaneous vibrational Raman scattering and laser-induced predissociative fluorescence (LIPF) are combined and applied to a supersonic flame. For the first time, simultaneous measurements of temperature, major species (H2, O2, N2, H2O), and minor species (OH) concentrations are obtained with a 'single' excimer laser in a supersonic-lifted hydrogen-air diffusion flame. In the supersonic flame, a small amount of reaction occurs upstream of the lifted flame base, due to shock wave interactions and mixing with hot vitiated air. The strong turbulent mixing and high total enthalpy fluctuations lead to nonequilibrium values of temperature, and major and minor species concentrations. Combustion occurs farther downstream of the lifted region where slow three-body recombination reactions result in superequilibrium OH concentrations that depress the temperatures below their equilibrium values. Farther downstream, ambient air entrainment contaminates flame properties.

Cheng, T. S.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Mass and energy flow in prominences

Mass and energy flow in quiescent prominences is considered based on the hypothesis that active region prominences have a different structure and thus different mass and energy flow characteristics. Several important physical parameters have been plotted using the computational model, representing the evolutionary process after the prominence formation. The temperature, velocity, conductive flux, and enthalpy flux are plotted against distance from the highest point in the loop to the coolest part of the prominence. It is shown that the maximum velocity is only about 5 km/s. The model calculations indicate that the transition region of prominences is dominated by complex processes. It is necessary to take into account mass flow at temperatures below 200,000 K, and both mass flow and optical depth effects in hydrogen at temperatures below 30,000 K. Both of these effects lead to a less steep temperature gradient through the prominence corona interface than can be obtained from the conduction alone.

Poland, Arthur I.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Numerical modeling of solidification and convection in a viscous pure binary eutectic system

The solidification and convection of the pure binary eutectic silicate system diopside-anorthite (Di-An) is numerically modeled. A mass-weighted enthalpy of fusion is used to account for the second solid phase (An) which crystallizes at the solidus temperature. Variable under-relaxation is used to aid convergence of the momentum equations in the implementation of the SIMPLER algorithm used to solve the two-dimensional continuum conservation equations. Numerical experiments of the solidification of Di80 melt show that a large temperature drop occurs across the solid and mush regions which decreases convective vigor in the liquid. Interesting compositional segregation patterns are produced during the solidification of Di80.

Oldenburg, Curtis M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Solution and shock-induced exsolution of argon in vitreous carbon

To add to the knowledge of noble gas solution and exsolution in carbonaceus material, experiments were performed on vitreous carbon. Ar-rich vitreous carbon samples were prepared under vapor-saturated conditions using argon as the pressurizing medium. Solubility data were obtained for temperatures of 773 to 973 K and pressures of 250 to 1500 bars. Up to 7 wt pct Ar was dissolved in the carbon. The solubility data were compared to a thermodynamic model of argon atoms dissolving into a fixed population of 'holes' in the carbon. Two variations of the model yielded estimates of the enthalpy of solution of Ar in vitreous carbon equal to about -4700 cal/mole. Preliminary shock experiments showed that 28 percent of the total argon was released by driving 4 GPa shocks into the argon-rich carbon. It was demonstrated that shock-induced argon loss is not simply caused by the impact-induced diminution of grain size. The present value of shock pressure required for partial impact devolatilization of Ar from carbon is below the range (5-30 GPa) at which H2O is released from phyllosilicates.

Gazis, Carey↗
NASA NTRS1991

Energy deposition in low-power coaxial plasma thrusters

An experimental examination of energy deposition in self-field, coaxial plasma thrusters revealed that the thrust efficiency ranged from 2-9 percent and that the dominant losses resulted from electrode heating and propellant ionization. Sensible enthalpy and radiative losses were negligible. Thruster specific impulse increased with current, ranging from 550-1750 seconds. Spectroscopic studies of the plume plasma showed that the electron temperature ranged from 0.5-2.5 eV and that the dominant species were singly and doubly ionized argon. Attempts to raise thruster efficiency by increasing the chamber pressure resulted in reduced electrode losses and lowered I(sp), but the thrust efficiency decreased because of a current redistribution that lowered the thrust beyond expectations.

Myers, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Supersonic combustion with transverse, circular wall jets

A series of experiments are reported using inclined circular wall jets in rectangular scramjet combustion chambers configured as constant area ducts. A free piston shock tunnel was used to create inlet flow Mach numbers between 4.2 and 5.5, at enthalpies corresponding to flight speeds of between 3.5 and 5.3 km/s. Measurements of duct static pressure levels indicated that significant mixing and combustion was achieved. Using hydrogen as a fuel, it was found that multipoint injection from two sides of the duct gave a larger, and more rapid, pressure rise. In hypersonic flow, it was found that combustion only occurred for the same duct dimensions and operating conditions that supported combustion with central injection from a two-dimensional strut. Wall injection from discrete orifice circular jets was found to be more effective than two-dimensional wall injection across the whole width of the duct.

Morgan, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Calculations and curve fits of thermodynamic and transport properties for equilibrium air to 30000 K

A self-consistent set of equilibrium air values were computed for enthalpy, total specific heat at constant pressure, compressibility factor, viscosity, total thermal conductivity, and total Prandtl number from 500 to 30,000 K over a range of 10(exp -4) atm to 10(exp 2) atm. The mixture values are calculated from the transport and thermodynamic properties of the individual species provided in a recent study by the authors. The concentrations of the individual species, required in the mixture relations, are obtained from a free energy minimization calculation procedure. Present calculations are based on an 11-species air model. For pressures less than 10(exp -2) atm and temperatures of about 15,000 K and greater, the concentrations of N(++) and O(++) become important, and consequently, they are included in the calculations determining the various properties. The computed properties are curve fitted as a function of temperature at a constant value of pressure. These curve fits reproduce the computed values within 5 percent for the entire temperature range considered here at specific pressures and provide an efficient means for computing the flowfield properties of equilibrium air, provided the elemental composition remains constant at 0.24 for oxygen and 0.76 for nitrogen by mass.

Gupta, Roop N.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Thermal/structural analysis of a transpiration cooled nozzle

The 8-foot High Temperature Tunnel (HTT) at LaRC is a combustion driven, high enthalpy blow down wind tunnel. In Mar. 1991, during check out of the transpiration cooled nozzle, pieces of platelets were found in the tunnel test section. It was determined that incorrect tolerancing between the platelets and the housing was the primary cause of the platelet failure. An analysis was performed to determine the tolerance layout between the platelets and the housing to meet the structural and performance criteria under a range of thermal, pressure, and bolt preload conditions. Three recommendations resulted as a product of this analysis.

Gregory, Peyton B.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Development and application of computational aerothermodynamics flowfield computer codes

Presented is a collection of papers on research activities carried out during the funding period of October 1991 to March 1992. Topics covered include: blunt body flows in thermochemical equilibrium; thermochemical relaxation in high enthalpy nozzle flow; single expansion ramp nozzle simulations; lunar return aerobraking; line boundary problem for three dimensional grids; and unsteady shock induced combustion.

Venkatapathy, Ethiraj↗
NASA NTRS1992

Experimental investigation of nozzle/plume aerodynamics at hypersonic speeds

An extensive program to improve the operation of the Ames 16 Inch Shock Tunnel was carried out. This included reduction of driver slosh wave amplitudes and detonation risk by the use of premixed He/O2 gas, longer wait times between the last gas load and driver gas ignition, an improved gas loading sequence, the use of four instead of one ignition wire, and the use of lower ignition wire voltages. Successful operation of the tunnel at pressures of 2000-6000 psi and enthalpies up to 12,000 J/gm was achieved. A new diaphragm breaking technique, self break on the driver combustion pressure rise, was tested and found to produce clean breaks over the full pressure range of the tunnel. Improvements were made to the driver gas loading manifold and a preliminary design was made of a gas mixing system which mixes all three gases on the fly just before injection into the driver. Other improvements as well as tests are discussed.

Bogdanoff, David W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The Proteus Navier-Stokes code

An effort is currently underway at NASA Lewis to develop two and three dimensional Navier-Stokes codes, called Proteus, for aerospace propulsion applications. Proteus solves the Reynolds-averaged, unsteady, compressible Navier-Stokes equations in strong conservation law form. Turbulence is modeled using a Baldwin-Lomax based algebraic eddy viscosity model. In addition, options are available to solve thin layer or Euler equations, and to eliminate the energy equation by assuming constant stagnation enthalpy. An extensive series of validation cases have been run, primarily using the two dimensional planar/axisymmetric version of the code. Several flows were computed that have exact solution such as: fully developed channel and pipe flow; Couette flow with and without pressure gradients; unsteady Couette flow formation; flow near a suddenly accelerated flat plate; flow between concentric rotating cylinders; and flow near a rotating disk. The two dimensional version of the Proteus code has been released, and the three dimensional code is scheduled for release in late 1991.

Towne, Charles E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Numerical Formulation for the Prediction of Solid/Liquid Change of a Binary Alloy

A computational model is presented for the prediction of solid/liquid phase change energy transport including the influence of free convection fluid flow in the liquid phase region. The computational model considers the velocity components of all non-liquid phase change material control volumes to be zero but fully solves the coupled mass-momentum problem within the liquid region. The thermal energy model includes the entire domain and uses an enthalpy like model and a recently developed method for handling the phase change interface nonlinearity. Convergence studies are performed and comparisons made with experimental data for two different problem specifications. The convergence studies indicate that grid independence was achieved and the comparison with experimental data indicates excellent quantitative prediction of the melt fraction evolution. Qualitative data is also provided in the form of velocity vector diagrams and isotherm plots for selected times in the evolution of both problems. The computational costs incurred are quite low by comparison with previous efforts on solving these problems.

Schneider, G. E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Perspectives on hypersonic viscous and nonequilibrium flow research

An attempt is made to reflect on current focuses in certain areas of hypersonic flow research by examining recent works and their issues. Aspects of viscous interaction, flow instability, and nonequilibrium aerothermodynamics pertaining to theoretical interest are focused upon. The field is a diverse one, and many exciting works may have either escaped the writer's notice or been abandoned for the sake of space. Students of hypersonic viscous flow must face the transition problems towards the two opposite ends of the Reynolds or Knudsen number range, which represents two regimes where unresolved fluid/gas dynamic problems abound. Central to the hypersonic flow studies is high-temperature physical gas dynamics; here, a number of issues on modelling the intermolecular potentials and inelastic collisions remain the obstacles to quantitative predictions. Research in combustion and scramjet propulsion will certainly be benefitted by advances in turbulent mixing and new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) strategies on multi-scaled complex reactions. Even for the sake of theoretical development, the lack of pertinent experimental data in the right energy and density ranges is believed to be among the major obstacles to progress in aerothermodynamic research for hypersonic flight. To enable laboratory simulation of nonequilibrium effects anticipated for transatmospheric flight, facilities capable of generating high enthalpy flow at density levels higher than in existing laboratories are needed (Hornung 1988). A new free-piston shock tunnel capable of realizing a test-section stagnation temperature of 10(exp 5) at Reynolds number 50 x 10(exp 6)/cm is being completed and preliminary tests has begun (H. Hornung et al. 1992). Another laboratory study worthy of note as well as theoretical support is the nonequilibrium flow experiment of iodine vapor which has low activation energies for vibrational excitation and dissociation, and can be studied in a laboratory with modest resources (Pham-Van-Diep et al. 1992).

Cheng, H. K.↗