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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 1,513 records · Page 84

Electrostatic measurement system

A system for and method of contact-electrifying a dielectric to determine its electrostatic properties is described. The dielectric is placed in contact with a contact plate means, and connected to a voltage source means to charge the contact plate and to contact-electrify the dielectric. The contact plate means is disconnected from the voltage source and a charge sensor means monitors the rate of decay of the charge on the dielectric. If a conductive path from the contact plate to ground is desired, a lead may be connected between the conductor and ground. Automatic timing and charge monitoring are preferred for maximum accuracy, especially where dielectrics treated with antistatic agents are tested.

Johnston, J. E.↗

Cables and connectors: A compilation

A technological compilation on devices and techniques for various types of electrical cables and connections is presented. Data are reported under three sections: flat conductor cable technology, newly developed electrical connectors, and miscellaneous articles and information on cables and connector techniques.

Source record↗

Study of ceramic products and processing techniques in space

An analysis of the solidification kinetics of beta alumina in a zero-gravity environment was carried out, using computer-simulation techniques, in order to assess the feasibility of producing high-quality single crystals of this material in space. The two coupled transport processes included were movement of the solid-liquid interface and diffusion of sodium atoms in the melt. Results of the simulation indicate that appreciable crystal-growth rates can be attained in space. Considerations were also made of the advantages offered by high-quality single crystals of beta alumina for use as a solid electrolyte; these clearly indicate that space-grown materials are superior in many respects to analogous terrestrially-grown crystals. Likewise, economic considerations, based on the rapidly expanding technological applications for beta alumina and related fast ionic conductors, reveal that the many superior qualities of space-grown material justify the added expense and experimental detail associated with space processing.

Markworth, A. J.↗

Heat operated cryogenic electrical generator

An electrical generator useful for providing electrical power in deep space, is disclosed. The electrical generator utilizes the unusual hydrodynamic property exhibited by liquid helium as it is converted to and from a superfluid state to cause opposite directions of rotary motion for a rotor cell thereof. The physical motion of the rotor cell was employed to move a magnetic field provided by a charged superconductive coil mounted on the exterior of the cell. An electrical conductor was placed in surrounding proximity to the cell to interact with the moving magnetic field provided by the superconductive coil and thereby generate electrical energy. A heat control arrangement was provided for the purpose of causing the liquid helium to be partially converted to and from a superfluid state by being cooled and heated, respectively.

Wang, T. G.↗

Study of the performance of antennas in magnetized plasmas

The antenna studies were performed in a large magnetized plasma source, a schematic drawing of which is shown. The plasma diagnostics consist of a 70 GHz (4 mm) microwave interferometer for density measurements and of various Langmuir probes for spatially resolved measurements of t sub e, n sub e and the shape of the electron distribution function. All diagnostic data are time-resolved by sample-and-hold techniques so as to yield information about the plasma build-up, the steady-state discharge, and the plasma decay in the afterglow. Whistler waves are excited and detected with various antennas which are inserted into the center of the plasma column through one axial and two orthogonal radial ports. The antennas were tested for their proper dipole response and then calibrated in a known field geometry in air. For the electric dipole, a parallel plate capacitor field was used; the magnetic loop is calibrated in the near-zone field of a long linear conductor of known radio frequency current distribution. Results are presented and discussed.

Stenzel, R. L.↗

Rigid format alter packets for the analysis of electromagnetic field problems

The computer program NASTRAN is used to solve electromagnetic field problems. The diffusion equation and the boundary conditions valid for problems of these kinds together with a replacing potential energy function are given. The extent to which an analogy with finite element displacement and temperature approaches holds is indicated. The outputting of complex quantities is made possible after adjustment of standard rigid format 1 input data blocks to module SDR2. The applications made involve the study of the proximity effect in a system of three parallel conductors and the analysis of the magnetic field in the vicinity of the points of contact in circuit breakers.

Spreeuw, E.↗

High reliability bond program using small diameter aluminum wire

The program was undertaken to characterize the performance of small diameter aluminum wire ultrasonically bonded to conductors commonly encountered in hybrid assemblies, and to recommend guidelines for improving this performance. Wire, 25.4, 38.1 and 50.8 um (1, 1.5 and 2 mil), was used with bonding metallization consisting of thick film gold, thin film gold and aluminum as well as conventional aluminum pads on semiconductor chips. The chief tool for evaluating the performance was the double bond pull test in conjunction with a 72 hour - 150 C heat soak and -65 C to +150 C thermal cycling. In practice the thermal cycling was found to have relatively little effect compared to the heat soak. Pull strength will decrease after heat soak as a result of annealing of the aluminum wire; when bonded to thick film gold, the pull strength decreased by about 50% (weakening of the bond interface was the major cause of the reduction). Bonds to thin film gold lost about 30 - 40% of their initial pull strenth; weakening of the wire itself at the bond heel was the predominant cause. Bonds to aluminum substrate metallization lost only about 22%. Bonds between thick and thin film gold substrate metallization and semiconductor chips substantiated the previous conclusions but also showed that in about 20 to 25% of the cases, bond interface failure occurred at the semiconductor chip.

Macha, M.↗

High temperature electrically conducting ceramic heating element and control system

Improvements were made in both electrode technology and ceramic conductor quality to increase significantly the lifetime and thermal cycling capability of electrically conducting ceramic heater elements. These elements were operated in vacuum, inert and reducing environments as well as oxidizing atmospheres adding to the versatility of the conducting ceramic as an ohmic heater. Using stabilized zirconia conducting ceramic heater elements, a furnace was fabricated and demonstrated to have excellent thermal response and cycling capability. The furnace was used to melt platinum-20% rhodium alloy (melting point 1904 C) with an isothermal ceramic heating element having a nominal working cavity size of 2.5 cm diameter by 10.0 cm long. The furnace was operated to 1940 C with the isothermal ceramic heating element. The same furnace structure was fitted with a pair of main heater elements to provide axial gradient temperature control over a working cavity length of 17.8 cm.

Halbach, C. R.↗

Amplification of microwaves by superconducting microbridges in a four-wave parametric mode

Parametric amplification of microwaves was observed using thin-film junctions of the Anderson-Dayem type. A series of 80 such junctions were incorporated into the upper conductor of a broadband 50-ohm microstrip transmission line with no DC bias. The amplifier was operated in the 'doubly degenerate' mode with signal, pump, and idler frequencies closely and equally spaced. An electronic gain of 12 dB at 10 GHz was observed. The bandwidth was measured to be 1 GHz and the noise temperature to be less than 20 K.

Parrish, P. T.↗

Temperature rise of installed FCC

Report discusses temperature profiles of installed FCC for wood and tile surfaces. Three-conductor FCC was tested at twice nominal current-carrying capacity over bare floor and under carpet, with result indicating that temperature rise is not a linear function of current with FCC at this level.

Hankins, J. D.↗

Plug-in circuit monitor

Intelligent electronic circuit is used to monitor other circuits within module and to warn of imminent failure of module under surveillance. Monitor is housed in rectangular connector and plugs into mating jack originally designed to terminate flat conductor cables. Device can be made from existing premolded rectangular connectors.

Stringer, E. J.↗

Thick-film preamplifier

Preamplifier with hybrid discrete components and integrated-circuit packaging is designed specifically for use as television image-tube output signal conditioner. Circuit is fabricated on alumina substrate, measuring 0.5 by 0.5 by 0.015 inch using gold-base conductor with conductive gold crossovers and dielectric insulation.

Bailey, G. C.↗

NASA technology utilization house

Following systems and features, which are predicted to save approximately $20,000 in utility costs over twenty year period, are incorporated into single-level, contemporarily designed, energy efficient residential structure: solar heating and cooling; energy efficient appliances; water recycling; security, smoke, and tornado detectors; and flat conductor electrical wiring.

Source record↗

Construction of prototypes of a new class of infrared detectors

A class of infrared detectors is proposed and experimental results are presented for a prototype device. The material used is LaF3, an ionic conductor with a capacitance that varies exponentially with temperature. The detectivity of a prototype detector is estimated from measured signal voltages and incident power, and a Johnson noise voltage calculated from the measured resistance. For the parameters characterizing this device the estimated detectivity is consistent with a theoretical prediction. The theory further predicts an optimum detectivity for much thinner devices than the prototypes.

Sher, A.↗

Microelectronic components and metallic oxide studies and applications

The project involved work in two basic areas: (1) Evaluation of commercial screen printable thick film conductors, resistors, thermistors and dielectrics as well as alumina substrates used in hybird microelectronics industries. Results of tests made on materials produced by seven companies are presented. (2) Experimental studies on metallic oxides of copper and vanadium, in an effort to determine their electrochemical properties in crystalline, powder mixtures and as screen printable thick films constituted the second phase of the research effort. Oxide investigations were aimed at finding possible applications of these materials as switching devices memory elements and sensors.

Williams, L., Jr.↗

Lunar temperature and global heat flux from laboratory electrical conductivity and lunar magnetometer data

Three-layer monotonic electrical conductivity models for the lunar interior to a depth of 600 km are used in conjunction with laboratory measurements of the electrical conductivity of olivine and pyroxene to estimate a temperature-depth profile. The temperatures calculated for depths of 400-600 km are consistent with attenuation of the seismic shear wave. The temperature calculated at a depth of 100-250 km yields a heat flow that is in good agreement with the directly measured lunar heat flow. The temperature, however, is sufficiently close to melting that mascon anisostasy would not be maintained. Thus a better conductor is required at this depth.

Sonett, C. P.↗

LaF3 infrared detector

A class of infrared detectors is proposed, and experimental results are presented for a prototype device. The material used is LaF3, an ionic conductor with a capacitance that varies exponentially with temperature. The detectivity of a prototype detector is estimated from measured signal voltages and incident power, and a Johnson noise voltage is calculated from the measured resistance. At a modulation frequency of 20 Hz, the estimated detectivity is about 2 million cm/sq root Hz/W. For the parameters characterizing this device, the estimated detectivity is consistent with a theoretical prediction. The theory further predicts an optimum detectivity of about 1 billion cm/sq root Hz/W for much thinner devices than the prototypes.

Sher, A.↗