Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “energy intermediate”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

Interpretation of the silver L X-ray spectrum

Analysis of the Ag L-series X-ray spectrum has been performed, based on relaxed-orbital relativistic transition-energy calculations. Satellite energies were computed in intermediate coupling. It is found that satellites arising from LN double-hole states generally fall within the natural width of the parent diagram lines. Contrary to previous assumption, the observed high-energy satellites are due to LM double-hole states produced by L1-L3M4,5 Coster-Kronig transitions and by shakeoff. The observed peak structure in the satellite spectrum is due to multiplet splitting of the initial and final double-hole states. Theoretical L1-L3M4,5 transition rates based on the Coster-Kronig energies computed by Chen et al. (1977) are closer to experiment than previous results, but still are too large by a factor of about 2, indicating an as-yet undetected flaw in the theory.

Chen, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Ion-Molecule Reactions and Ion Kinetics in DC Townsend Discharges in Dielectric Gases

In gas discharges the identify, transport, relative intensities, and kinetic energy distributions (KEDs) of ions may be dominated by ion-molecule reactions. In order to understand these discharges, there is a need for cross section data for various ion-molecule reactions, including symmetric and asymmetric charge-transfer, collisional detachment, and ion conversion reactions, especially for low to intermediate ion-impact energies. In view of the importance of dielectric gases, we have recently measured the KEDs of various positive and negative ions produced in DC Townsend discharges in SF6, CF4, CHF3, O2, and CO2. The relative abundance and mean energies of ions are obtained from the measured KEDs. The effective cross sections (Qeff) describing the KEDs of various ions can be derived by using the mean ion energies and the electric field-to-gas density ratios (E/N). In the case of SF6 and O2 discharges, the determined cross sections (Qeff) for the negative-ion molecule reactions are consistent with previously measured cross section data obtained by crossed-beam experiment. The availability of these cross section values enabled us to understand the ion data reasonably well. However, the lack of adequate cross section data for positive ions in all of the above gases is a major obstacle in understanding ion transport in these gas discharges.

Rao, M. V. V. S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Impacts in Ice: Commissions of Solar System Crater Populations

The classical phases of cratering are compression, excavation, and modification. Recent theory, however, supports and alternative sequence of physical events: (1) coupling - energy and momentum are transferred, and the cratering flow field is set up; (2) power-law-growth the flow field expands, with transient cavity dimensions expressible as a simple power law function of time; and (3) late phase - some combination of gravity, strength, and viscosity limits cavity growth, initially causing a deviation from power-law behavior and eventually determining the size and shape of the final (transient) crater. The dominant mechanism that limits cavity growth defines a cratering regime and a single variable, the coupling parameter, determines the scaling laws in the various regimes. The coupling parameter is intermediate in dimensionality between energy and momentum and its exact form is determined. For simple materials with rate and scale independent strength, the transition crater diameter between the strength and gravity regimes is, within reasonable bounds, independent of velocity. Even the smallest craters observed by Voyager appear to be gravity dominated.

Mckinnon, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Electron-capture cross-sections for some astrophysical processes

Electron-capture cross sections are calculated and compared with existing experimental data. It is noted that the good agreement of the results with experimental data for the oxygen process suggests that the method given here can be successfully used for multielectron shell capture processes for intermediate and large incident energies. An explanation is given for the departure of the calculated cross sections from the experimental results for one of the processes at low relative energies. The theoretical results are seen as providing reasonably accurate cross sections for detailed modeling of Io's atmosphere.

Kunc, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A study of aircraft cruise

The long range aircraft cruise problem is analyzed using a model intermediate in complexity between energy model and point mass model. It is shown that this formulation imbeds the classical steady state cruise as the central member along with several other oscillatory extremals. The oscillatory cruise trajectories are shown to exist if the Hessian of the function QD/VT with respect to altitude and airspeed is positive definite. An expression for predicting the frequency of oscillation is developed. Qualitative effects of increasing the vehicle thrust and improving the L/D are discussed. Numerical results for two fighter aircraft and a transport aircraft are given. While oscillatory cruise mode exists for the two fighter aircraft, steady state cruise at full throttle is found to be optimal for the transport aircraft. A second variation analysis to bring out the reason for fuel savings is developed. It is shown that whenever the Hessian of the function QD/VT is positive definite, the second variation will be zero along the classical steady state cruise arc, indicating that a neighboring extremal is competitive. Comparisons with the previous point mass and energy modeled results are given.

Menon, P. K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Optical model methods of predicting nuclide production cross sections from heavy ion fragmentation

Quantum mechanical optical potential methods for calculating inclusive isotope and element production cross sections from the fragmenting of heavy nuclei by intermediate- and high-energy protons and heavy ions are presented based upon a modified abrasion-ablation-FSI (frictional spectator interaction) collision model. The abrasion stage is treated as a quantum mechanical knockout process that leaves the residual prefragment in an excited state. Prefragment excitation energies are estimated using a combined liquid drop and FSI method. In ablation the prefragment deexcites by particle and photon emission to produce the final fragment. Contributions from electromagnetic dissociation to single nucleon removal cross sections are incorporated using a Weiszacker-Williams theory that includes electric dipole and electric quadrupole interactions. Estimates of elemental and isotopic production cross sections are in good agreement with published cross section measurements for a variety of projectile-target-beam energy combinations.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗
NASA NTRS1993

Nutation and precession control of the High Energy Solar Physics (HESP) satellite

The High Energy Solar Physics (HESP) spacecraft is an intermediate class satellite proposed by NASA to study solar high-energy phenomena during the next cycle of high solar activity in the 1998 to 2005 time frame. The HESP spacecraft is a spinning satellite which points to the sun with stringent pointing requirements. The natural dynamics of a spinning satellite includes an undesirable effect: nutation, which is due to the presence of disturbances and offsets of the spin axis from the angular momentum vector. The proposed Attitude Control System (ACS) attenuates nutation with reaction wheels. Precessing the spacecraft to track the sun in the north-south and east-west directions is accomplished with the use of torques from magnetic torquer bars. In this paper, the basic dynamics of a spinning spacecraft are derived, control algorithms to meet HESP science requirements are discussed and simulation results to demonstrate feasibility of the ACS concept are presented.

Jayaraman, C. P.↗
NASA NTRS1983

ECUT: Energy Conversion and utilization Technologies program biocatalysis research activity. Generation of chemical intermediates by catalytic oxidative decarboxylation of dilute organic acids

A rhodium-based catalyst was prepared and preliminary experiments were completed where the catalyst appeared to decarboxylate dilute acids at concentrations of 1 to 10 vol%. Electron spin resonance spectroscoy was used to characterize the catalyst as a first step leading toward modeling and optimization of rhodium catalysts. Also, a hybrid chemical/biological process for the production of hydrocarbons has been assessed. These types of catalysts could greatly increase energy efficiency of this process.

Distefano, S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Biomass energy production. Citations from the International Aerospace Abstracts data base

These 210 citations from the international literature describe the production and/or utilization of most forms of biomass as a source of energy, fuel, food, and chemical intermediates or feedstocks. Biomass conversion by incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, hydrolysis, anaerobic digestion, or fermentation, as well as by catalytic, photosynthetic, chemosynthetic, and bio-electrochemical means are among the conversion processes considered. Discussions include biomass plantation and material productivity, transportation and equipment requirements, effects, comparisons of means and efficiencies of utilization and conversion, assessments of limitations, and evaluations of economic potential.

Moore, P. W.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Regenerative fuel cell systems for mid- to high-orbit satellites

An assessment of the present and projected capabilities of selected hydrogen-oxygen and hydrogen-halogen fuel cell and electrolyzer combinations for energy storage systems (ESS) in configurations useful for spacecraft missions operating in the 10- to 50-kW range for many years in midaltitude to geosynchronous orbits has recently been completed. Results of the study indicate that regenerative fuel cell ESS are feasible for the intended application. A computer model was used to provide tradeoff analyses for optimizing the various ESS fuel cell concepts. When appropriately configured to be compatible with the mission needs of the selected model spacecraft, the specific energy for these ESS are intermediate between that presently available for nickel-hydrogen batteries and that expected for the newly emerging sodium-sulfur technology.

Taenaka, R. K.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Observations of intermediate- and high-degree p-mode oscillations during sunspot cycles 21 and 22

Extensive time series of resolved solar images have been available for helioseismological investigations since the late 1970's. The paper presents examples of the frequencies, power levels, modal energies, and widths of solar intermediate-degree and high-degreee p-modes obtained at the Mt. Wilson Observatory's 60-Foot Solar Tower Telescope during the rising phase of the current sunspot cycle. It is shown that the inclusion of frequency splittings from the high-degree p-modes has made it possible to demonstrate that the sun's internal equatorial angular velocity is not constant with radius but varies systematically with radius throughout the solar convection zone and below.

Rhodes, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Flame Spray Strain Gages with Improved Durability and Lifetimes

The focus of this APP research program was to improve the bond coats used in the fabrication of flame sprayed instrumentation. Typically. a bond coat is applied to a superalloy surface prior to the application of a thin dielectric coating onto which instrumentation is placed. After affixing the instrumentation, a much thicker ceramic topcoat is typically applied to protect the instrumentation from harsh environments. The fatigue life of NiCoCrAlY coated superalloys was extended beyond current state-of-the-art by relatively simple and cost effective means. Heat treatment in reduced oxygen partial pressures at 1750 to 1800 F effectively doubled the fatigue life of NiCoCrAlY coated substrates relative to as-sprayed substrates and when used in conjunction with platinum diffusion barriers yielded a four fold increase in the fatigue life of NiCoCrAlY coated substrates. Further improvements in the fatigue life of thermally sprayed coatings were made by employing intermediate coatings, which minimized thermal expansion differences between the bond coat and top coat. Combinatorial chemistry experiments yielded an optimum composition for an intermediate TCE matching coating that showed considerable promise in extending the fatigue life of thermal spray instrumentation. The intermediate coating had two functions: to reduce the surface roughness of the peaks and valleys associated with the as-sprayed NiCoCrAlY bond coat, and to produce a thin layer of a mixture of Al2O3 and NiCoCrAlY that exhibited an intermediate TCE. The optimal composition of the intermediate coating consisted of 60 wt% Al2O3 and 40 wt% NiCoCrAlY, as determined by energy dispersive analysis of x-rays (EDS). Intermediate coatings having this composition were prepared by physical vapor deposition and the resulting coating systems are being evaluated in our test facility.

Fralick, Gustave↗
NASA NTRS1987

Localization, time histories, and energy spectra of a new type of recurrent high-energy transient source

The detection of a recurrent high-energy transient source which is neither a classical X-ray nor a gamma-ray burster, but whose properties are intermediate between the two, is reported. The energy spectra of 12 recurrent events are found to be soft, characterized by kT's of 34-56 keV. The time histories are short with rise and fall times as fast as about 10 ms. The source location is a 0.12 sq deg region about 10 deg from the Galactic center.

Atteia, J.-L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Z1/3/ contribution to the energy loss of heavy charged particles

The Z1(3) contribution of distant collisions to the average energy loss of heavy charged particles is obtained by extending Bethe's quantum-mechanical calculation to the next highest order in Z1. The second-order Born approximation for the inelastic-collision cross section is simplified by using two major approximations. The infinite summation over terms arising from the coupling to intermediate states of the target atom is approximated with the aid of a parameter and the closure relation. This parameter is proportional to the average excitation energy of the intermediate states as described in the literature. The atomic form factors are simplified through a dipole expansion. Results are obtained in terms of an average excitation energy of the medium. Exemplary results for stopping in Al are presented for estimated values of the average excitation energy of the intermediate states. These results approach the classical and experimental values as the velocity of the penetrating particle increases, agreeing within 20% at beta = 0.3.

Morgan, S. H., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Status and summary of laser energy conversion

This paper presents a survey of the status of laser energy converters. Since the inception of these devices in the early 1970's, significant advances have been made in understanding the basic conversion processes. Numerous theoretical and experimental studies have indicated that laser energy can be converted at wavelengths from the ultraviolet to the far-infrared. These converters can be classified into five general categories: photovoltaics, heat engines, thermoelectronic, optical diode, and photochemical. The conversion can be directly into electricity (such as the photovoltaic, thermoelectronic, and optical diode) or it can go through an intermediate stage of conversion to mechanical energy, as in the heat engines. The photochemical converters result in storable energy such as hydrogen. Projected conversion efficiencies range from about 30% for the photochemical to nearly 75% for the heat engines.

Lee, G.↗