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At least 1,261 records · Page 70

Study of exothermic processes in shock ignited gases by the use of laser shear interferometry

Report on measurements of maximum exothermic power pulses attainable from a given chemical system. Experimental tests involved the use of a shock tube technique whereby the exothermic process of combustion was controlled by reflected shock, so that it occurred under virtually inviscid flow conditions, while the measurements were performed at a resolution commensurate with the actual rate of chemical reaction. Experimental observations were made by means of a novel method of laser shear interferometry - a cross-breed between holography and the conventional means for measuring refractive index fields, in that, on one hand, it was based on the exploitation of the phase coherence of the laser light beam, recording first a diffraction image of the wave fronts which, for the desired final result, had to be optically reconstructed, and, on the other, it yielded eventually either two-dimensional interferograms or schlieren photographs of the observed phenomena.

Meyer, J. W.↗

Interaction of gases with ablative composites. II - Water

An investigation was conducted to study the sorption of water on two ablative composites and their components as a function of pressure and temperature. A pressure range from 0.001 to 10 torr and a temperature range from 25 to 35 C were considered in the investigation. It was found that the sorption of water vapor by the ablative composites and their components varied directly with pressure. The components of the ablative composites included phenolic spheres, cork, a carbon-glass fiber mixture, glass spheres, silica fibers, and a silicone elastomer.

Honeycutt, R. H., III↗

Spark Ignition of Flowing Gases. 2: Effect of Electrode Parameters on Energy Required to Ignite a Propane-Air Mixture

Research was conducted to determine the effect of the electrode parameters of spacing, configuration, and material' on the energy required for ignition of a flowing propane-air mixture. In addition, the data were used to indicate the energy distribution along the spark length and to confirm previous observations concerning the effect of spark duration on ignition energy requirements. The data were obtained with a mixture at a fuel-air ratio of 0.0835 (by weight), a pressure of 3 inches of mercury absolute, a temperature of 80 F, and a mixture velocity of 5 feet per second. Results showed that the energy required for ignition decreased as the electrode spacing was increased; a minimum energy occurred at. a spacing of 0.65 inch for large electrodes. For small electrodes, the spacing for minimum energy was not sharply defined. Small-diameter electrodes required less energy than large-diameter electrodes if the spacing was less than the optimum distance of 0.65 inch; at a spacing equal to the optimum distance, no difference was noted. Significant effects of electrode material on ignition energy were ascribed to differences in the type of spark discharges produced; glow discharges required higher energy than the arc-glow discharges. With pure glow discharges, the ignition energy was substantially constant for lead, cadmium, brass, aluminum, and tungsten electrodes. A method is described for determining the energy distribution along a glow discharge. It was found that one-third to one-half of the energy in the spark was concentrated in a small region near the cathode electrode, and the remainder was uniformly distributed across the spark gap. It was impossible to ascertain the dependence of ignition on. this distribution. It was also observed that long-duration (600 microsec) sparks required much less energy for ignition than did short-duration (1 microsec) sparks.

Swett, Clyde. C., Jr.↗

Pre-resonance Raman spectra of some simple gases

The pre-resonance Raman spectra of SO2, N2O, and H2S were investigated using the 4880 A, 4727 A, and 4579 A lines of the argon ion laser. Although these molecules have electronic absorption bands in the near ultraviolet, none exhibit any pre-resonance enhancement within our experimental error of + or - 10%. Possible explanations taking into account the current theories for resonance Raman are discussed.

Low, P. W.↗

Interaction of gases with lunar materials

The surface properties of lunar fines were investigated. Results indicate that, for the most part, these properties are independent of the chemical composition and location of the samples on the lunar surface. The leaching of channels and pores by adsorbed water vapor is a distinguishing feature of their surface chemistry. The elements of air, if adsorbed in conjunction with water vapor or liquid water, severely impedes the leaching process. In the absence of air, liquid water is more effective than water vapor in attacking the grains. The characteristics of Apollo 17 orange fines were evaluated and compared with those of other samples. The interconnecting channels produced by water vapor adsorption were found to be wider than usual for other types of fines. Damage tracks caused by heavy cosmic ray nuclei and an unusually high halogen content might provide for stronger etching conditions upon exposure to water vapor.

Holmes, H. F.↗

Primordial noble gases in separated meteoritic minerals. II

A stepwise heating technique was used to analyze eight silicate samples from the Orgueil carbonaceous chondrite for He, Ne, Ar, and Xe. Six samples, of which two were etched with NaOH, were density fractions. The other two samples were grain-size fractions separated according to their ability to form a colloid at pH 11.5. Results showed the LiCl separation procedure to be gentler than the NaOH procedure. All fractions were found to be deficient in cosmogenic neon. Above 950 C the fractions gave low 20Ne/22Ne ratios particularly in the low-density and noncolloidal fraction. Compared to the other fractions the fraction from 2.35 to 2.45 g/cu cm contained less Xe and released it more rapidly at low temperatures.

Herzog, G. F.↗

Effect of pollutant gases on ozone production by simulated solar radiation

The present investigation provides some information related to the problem of ozone destruction by nitric oxide emission from high flying vehicles. It is found that CO and H2O can counteract NO destruction of O3 in laboratory simulations. The addition of CO and H2O to aircraft exhausts could be a practical means of reducing the damage of the UV-filtering ozone layer. It is also discovered that NO is not regenerated as it destroys ozone, except at low stratospheric pressures. It is believed that the presence of H2O and CO gives rise to a series of reactions which provide a kinetically competitive pathway for the NO, causing it to go into NO2 production via these substrates rather than via O3.

Wong, E. L.↗

A study of the effects on mice of smoke and gases from controlled fires in simulated aircraft cabins

Male Swiss albino mice were exposed to the pyrolysis products of two fire-retardant materials, a chlorinated aromatic polyamide and a copolymer of vinylidine fluoride and hexafluoropropene. Comparison tests were made with cotton and a 50/50 cotton-polyester composite. In addition, tests were conducted under the presence of CO, and mice were injected intraperitoneally or intramuscularly with aqueous solutions containing dissolved effluents from the pyrolysis of cotton or of chlorinated aromatic polyamide. Results indicate that unique thermodecomposition products of the polymeric materials are more toxic to mice than are other products from cotton under similar controlled conditions.

Moreci, A. P.↗

Raman spectra of gases. XVI - Torsional transitions in ethanol and ethanethiol

The Raman spectra of gaseous ethanol and ethanethiol have been investigated. Thiol torsional fundamentals for the gauche conformer of EtSH and EtSD have been observed and the asymmetric potential function for this vibration has been calculated. Methyl torsional transitions and overtones have also been observed for both of these molecules. Barriers to internal rotation for the methyl top are calculated to be 3.77 and 3.84 kcal/mol for the EtSH and EtSD compounds, respectively. Hydroxyl torsional fundamentals were observed at 207 and 170 per cm in the EtOH and EtOD spectra, respectively. Overtones of the methyl torsion in both molecules yield a barrier to internal rotation of 3.62 kcal/mol for the gauche conformer.

Durig, J. R.↗

Underground storage systems for high-pressure air and gases

This paper is a discussion of the safety and cost of underground high-pressure air and gas storage systems based on recent experience with a high-pressure air system installed at Moffett Field, California. The system described used threaded and coupled oil well casings installed vertically to a depth of 1200 ft. Maximum pressure was 3000 psi and capacity was 500,000 lb of air. A failure mode analysis is presented, and it is shown that underground storage offers advantages in avoiding catastrophic consequences from pressure vessel failure. Certain problems such as corrosion, fatigue, and electrolysis are discussed in terms of the economic life of such vessels. A cost analysis shows that where favorable drilling conditions exist, the cost of underground high-pressure storage is approximately one-quarter that of equivalent aboveground storage.

Beam, B. H.↗

Stagnation-point heat transfer correlation for ionized gases

Based on previous laminar boundary-layer solutions for argon, xenon, nitrogen, and air, it is shown that the effect of gas ionization on stagnation-point heat transfer can be correlated with the variation of the frozen Prandtl number across the boundary layer. A formula is obtained for stagnation-point heat transfer in a noble gas and is shown to be valid from the low-temperature range to the region of strong ionization. It is concluded that the considered effect can be well correlated by the 0.7 power of the Prandtl-number ratio across the boundary layer.

Bade, W. L.↗

Studies of discharge mechanisms in high pressure gases-applications to high efficiency high power lasers

By measuring the absorption and emission cantinua of various states in the cesium/xenon molecule, the collisional rates critical in populating the alkali/rare gas excimer levels have been estimated. Cs atomic states that are weakly optically connected to ground have been shown to form excimer levels that are attractive as potential dissociation lasers. In particular, the (Cs/7 2S/Xe) excited molecule appears promising as a source of high energy laser radiation due to its large dissociation energy, stimulated emission cross section, and small population inversion densities. Monitoring of the optically pumped Cs2 molecular absorption profile in the presence of xenon shows a drastic change with increasing xenon pressure for the Cs2C band. Dominant absorption at large xenon densities is centered around approximately 6380 A as opposed to 6300 A for lower perturber pressure.

Cherrington, B. E.↗

Equilibrium properties of chemically reacting gases

The equilibrium energy, enthalpy, entropy, specific heat at constant volume and constant pressure, and the equation of state of the gas are all derived for chemically reacting gas mixtures in terms of the compressibility, the mol fractions, the thermodynamic properties of the pure gas components, and the change in zero point energy due to reaction. Results are illustrated for a simple diatomic dissociation reaction and nitrogen is used as an example. Next, a gas mixture resulting from combined diatomic dissociation and atomic ionization reactions is treated and, again, nitrogen is used as an example. A short discussion is given of the additional complexities involved when precise solutions for high-temperature air are desired, including effects caused by NO produced in shuffle reactions and by other trace species formed from CO2, H2O and Ar found in normal air.

Source record↗

Nulling device for detection of trace gases by NDIR absorption

A nondispersive gas analyzing apparatus is described having a first chamber for containing a first gas, the density of which is determined. A source of radiant energy is provided for passing radiant energy through the first chamber. Modulation means are provided for modulating the radiant energy passing through the first chamber by modulating the volume of the chamber at the acoustic resonance frequency of the first gas and the chamber. Signal generating means, including a second chamber for containing a gas which is heated by radiant energy emerging from the first chamber and a microphonic means responsive to the resulting pressurization in the second chamber, is provided for generating a signal, having a frequency and amplitude corresponding to the modulation of the radiant energy in the first chamber.

Dimeff, J.↗