Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Flux Measurement”

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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2005

Going to the Bottom of the Explosion that Formed Cas A

The purpose of this INTEGRAL AO 1 proposal was to observe the gamma-ray lines at 1157 keV, as well as 68 keV and 78 keV of the (44)Ti decay chain from the youngest known galactic supernova remnant Cas A. The radioactive decay of (44)Ti in Cas A was first detected by COMPTEL in the 1157 keV line and later confirmed in the lower energy lines using BeppoSAX data. Despite the second confirming measurement, the flux value still has a considerable error, due to a low signal over background ratio and the poor definition of the continuum background in the range of 70 - 100 keV above the line energies. In addition to improving this flux measurement, INTEGRAL has the unique capability, in principle, to measure the line width of the emission. This type of measurement can further constrain supernova explosion models. Unfortunately, the INTEGRAL instrumental background, especially in the SPI spectrometer, turned out to be significantly higher than estimated at the time of proposal submission before launch. This, and to a smaller extent the reduced effective exposure time of about 1.5 Ms compared to requested 2.5 Ms, has precluded us from reaching the sensitivity necessary for this measurement. Studies of the background variability with the goal of improving background modeling are ongoing, and additional 2.5 Ms observing time has just been approved for the next observing cycle.

Oberlack, Uwe↗
NASA NTRS2019

Enhancement of the AC RPA

The overall goal of this research project is to improve the response and sensitivity of the AC Retarding Potential Analyzer (RPA). The AC RPA can accurately measure the flux, energy, and energy distribution of charged particles in a space environment. The enhancement of the sensor derives from changes that increase sensitivity of flux measurements through reduction of the baseline noise. The enhanced AC RPA sensor allows diagnosis of required charge particle beams necessary for tests of materials, instruments and subsystems, for future exploration missions.

Israel, Mordecai Ben↗
NASA NTRS1991

Flux compression measurements in sintered bulk Ba2YCu3O7

Trapping of magnetic fields and subsequent flux compression have been realized in sintered bulk Ba2YCu3O7 superconductors at 77 K. The field is trapped in two interconnected holes of 0.95-cm and 0.52-cm diameter, respectively. By inserting a superconducting plunger with a diameter of 0.93 cm into the larger hole, the trapped flux is compressed into the smaller hole, where the flux density is measured with a Hall probe. The ratio of the areas available for the magnetic flux before and after compression is 3.7. Deviations from this compression ratio are observed to increase as the trapped field is increased, demonstrating penetration of magnetic flux into the interior of the superconductor. Using a simple extension of the critical state model, the authors demonstrate how the flux compression technique can be used to test the validity of the model and also to calculate the critical current density of the superconductor directly from the measurements.

Israelsson, U. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Comparison between calculated and measured photoelectron fluxes from Atmosphere Explorer C and E

The two-stream method has been used to calculate photoelectron fluxes. These results have been compared to those obtained by the photoelectron spectrometer on Atmosphere Explorers C and E. At both low altitudes, and higher altitudes (where transport effects are significant) the calculated and measured photoelectron fluxes yield good agreement. It is suggested that (1) better photoionization and scattering cross-section data will yield improved flux calculations, and (2) measurements of the pitch angle distribution are necessary for better high-altitude comparisons.

Nagy, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Precision flux density measurements of the giant planets at 8420 MHz

Precision measurements of the 3.56 cm flux densities of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are reported. The results are compared with previously published measurements as a means of: (1) remotely sensing long-term changes in the microwave emission from the atmospheres of these planets; (2) measuring the effects of Saturn's rings on the disk temperature as observed from earth at different ring inclination angles.

Turegano, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Precision flux density measurements of the giant planets at 8420 MHz

Precision measurements of the 3.56 cm flux densities of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are reported. The results are compared with previously published measurements as a means of: remotely sensing long-term changes in the microwave emission from the atmospheres of these planets and measuring the effects of Saturn's rings on the disk temperature as observed from earth at different ring inclination angles.

Turegano, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Cirrus microphysics and infrared radiative transfer: A case study

Coincident measurements of cirrus cloud microphysical properties such as particle size distribution and particle shape and morphology, and measurements of infrared intensity and flux were made. Data was acquired nearly simultaneously in space and time by a KingAir in cloud and by an ER-2 at an altitude of 19 km. Upwelling infrared intensities and fluxes measured from the ER-2 and observations of cloud particle size distributions and particle phase and morphology made from the KingAir are discussed. Broad-band flux measurements were available both in and below the cirrus layer from the KingAir.

Ackerman, Thomas P.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Modeling of the coupled magnetospheric and neutral wind dynamos

Work at SRI involved modeling the exchange of electromagnetic energy between the ionosphere and magnetosphere to help interpret the DE-B Poynting flux observations. To describe the electrical properties of the high-latitude ionosphere, we constructed a numerical model, from the framework provided by the Vector Spherical Harmonic (VSH) model, that determines the ionospheric currents, conductivities, and electric fields including both magnetospheric inputs and neutral wind dynamo effects. This model development grew from the earlier question of whether an electrical energy source in the ionosphere was capable of providing an upward Poynting flux. The model solves the steady-state neutral wind dynamo equations and the Poynting flux equation to provide insight into the electrodynamic role of the neutral winds. The modeling effort to determine the high-latitude energy flux has been able to reproduce many of the large-scale features observed in the Poynting flux measurements made by DE-2. Because the Poynting flux measurement is an integrated result of energy flux into or out of the ionosphere, we investigated the ionospheric properties that may contribute to the observed flux of energy measured by the spacecraft. During steady state the electromagnetic energy flux, or DC Poynting flux, is equal to the Joule heating rate and the mechanical energy transfer rate in the high-latitude ionosphere. Although the Joule heating rate acts as an energy sink, transforming electromagnetic energy into thermal or internal energy of the gas, the mechanical energy transfer rate may be either a sink or source of electromagnetic energy. In the steady state, it is only the mechanical energy transfer rate that can generate electromagnetic energy and result in a DC Poynating flux that is directed out of the ionosphere.

Thayer, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The use of remotely sensed surface temperature and a spectral vegetation index for evaluating heat fluxes over the Konza Prairie

The relationship between surface temperature T(s) and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is examined to determine whether it can be used to characterize latent heat fluxes (LEs). The regression of T(s) on NDVI is studied in the context of surface heat fluxes over the prairie with a limited data set for four flux-measurement sites. The 17 flux-measurement stations at the sites provided data that are consistently significant at the 99-percent confidence level for the regression of T(s) on NDVI. Variations in the regression slopes are found to correlate with variations in the ground heat flux but not with LE. Important components of the regression of T(s) on NDVI include fractional vegetation cover and surface-soil moisture conditions. The relationship is important for determining the relative contributions of the soil and vegetation components of an area's total evaporative flux.

Hope, A. S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A correlative study of simultaneously measured He(++) fluxes in the solar wind and in the magnetosphere utilizing Imp-1 and 1971-089A satellite data

Simultaneously measured He(++) fluxes in the solar wind and in the magnetosphere were studied using data from the plasma spectrometer on the Imp I satellite and the energetic ion mass spectrometer on the low altitude polar orbiting satellite 1971-89A. A detailed comparison of the He(++) energy spectra measured simultaneously in the solar wind and in the low altitude dayside polar cusp on March 7, 1972 was made. The energy-per-unit-charge range of the energetic ion mass spectrometer on board the polar orbiting satellite was 700 eV to 12 keV. Within this range there was a clear maximum in the He(++) energy spectrum at approximately 1.5 keV/nucleon. There was not a clearly defined maximum in the H(+) spectrum, but the data were consistent with a peak between 0.7 and 1.0 keV/nucleon. Both spectra could be reasonably well fit with a convecting Maxwellian plus a high energy tail; however, the mean velocity for He(++) distribution was significantly greater than that for the H(+) distribution. The simultaneous solar wind measurements showed the mean velocities for both ion species to be approximately 600 km/sec. The discrepancies between the relative velocity distributions in the low altitude cusp and those in the solar wind are consistent with a potential difference of approximately 1.4 kV along their flow direction between the two points of observation.

Shelley, E. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Instrument for differential on flux vector measurements on Spacelab 2

The DIF (differential ion flux) probe used on the Spacelab-2 mission as part of the PDP (plasma diagnostic package) as well as the DIF design, operational characteristics and data reduction procedures required to obtain plasma properties are described. The basic principles, the sensor head design, and the electronics design are discussed. Plasma properties such as ion drift energy and temperature, ion flow direction, and ion flux density are explained, and in addition, calibration procedures and calibration data on detection of multiple ion streams and detection of ion streams superimposed on an isotropic plasma are analyzed. Finally, the mounting and role of the DIF probe on the PDP are briefly reviewed. Schematics of the instrument and of its control logic are included.

Stone, N. H.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Benchmark Wall Heat Flux Data for a GO2/GH2 Single Element Combustor

Wall heat flux measurements in a 1.5 in. diameter circular cross-section rocket chamber for a uni-element shear coaxial injector element operating on gaseous oxygen (GOz)/gaseous hydrogen (GH,) propellants are presented. The wall heat flux measurements were made using arrays of Gardon type heat flux gauges and coaxial thermocouple instrumentation. Wall heat flux measurements were made for two cases. For the first case, GOZ/GHz oxidizer-rich (O/F=l65) and fuel-rich preburners (O/F=1.09) integrated with the main chamber were utilized to provide vitiated hot fuel and oxidizer to the study shear coaxial injector element. For the second case, the preburners were removed and ambient temperature gaseous oxygen/gaseous hydrogen propellants were supplied to the study injector. Experiments were conducted at four chamber pressures of 750, 600, 450 and 300psia for each case. The overall mixture ratio for the preburner case was 6.6, whereas for the ambient propellant case, the mixture ratio was 6.0. Total propellant flow was nominally 0.27-0.29 Ibm/s for the 750 psia case with flowrates scaled down linearly for lower chamber pressures. The axial heat flux profile results for both the preburner and ambient propellant cases show peak heat flux levels a t axial locations between 2.0 and 3.0 in. from the injector face. The maximum heat flux level was about two times greater for the preburner case. This is attributed to the higher injector fuel-to-oxidizer momentum flux ratio that promotes mixing and higher initial propellant temperature for the preburner case which results in a shorter reaction zone. The axial heat flux profiles were also scaled with respect to the chamber pressure to the power 0.8. The results at the four chamber pressures for both cases collapsed to a single profile indicating that at least to first approximation, the basic fluid dynamic structures in the flow field are pressure independent as long as the chamber/njector/nozzle geometry and injection velocities remain the same.

Marshall, William M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Comparison of measured and modeled radiation, heat and water vapor fluxes: FIFE pilot study

The feasibility of using radio frequency receivers to collect data from automated weather stations to model fluxes of latent heat, sensible heat, and radiation using routine weather data collected by automated weather stations was tested and the estimated fluxes were compared with fluxes measured over wheat. The model Cupid was used to model the fluxes. Two or more automated weather stations, interrogated by radio frequency and other means, were utilized to examine some of the climatic variability of the First ISLSCP (International Satellite Land-Surface Climatology Project) Field Experiment (FIFE) site, to measure and model reflected and emitted radiation streams from various locations at the site and to compare modeled latent and sensible heat fluxes with measured values. Some bidirectional reflected and emitted radiation data were collected from 23 locations throughout the FIFE site. Analysis of these data along with analysis of the measured sensible and latent heat fluxes is just beginning.

Blad, Blaine L.↗
NASA NTRS2023

Long-term 4.6 µm Variability in Brown Dwarfs and a New Technique for Identifying Brown Dwarf Binary Candidates

Using a sample of 361 nearby brown dwarfs, we have searched for 4.6 μm variability, indicative of large-scale rotational modulations or large-scale, long-term changes on timescales of over 10 yr. Our findings show no statistically significant variability in Spitzer's Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) channel 2 (ch2) or Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer W2 photometry. For Spitzer the ch2 1σ limits are ∼8 mmag for objects at 11.5 mag and ∼22 mmag for objects at 16 mag. This corresponds to no variability above 4.5% at 11.5 mag and 12.5% at 16 mag. We conclude that highly variable brown dwarfs, at least two previously published examples of which have been shown to have 4.6 μm variability above 80 mmag, are very rare. While analyzing the data, we also developed a new technique for identifying brown dwarf binary candidates in Spitzer data. We find that known binaries have IRAC ch2 point response function (PRF) flux measurements that are consistently dimmer than aperture flux measurements. We have identified 59 objects that exhibit such PRF versus aperture flux differences and are thus excellent binary brown dwarf candidates.

Hunter Brooks↗
NASA NTRS1982

A system for measuring methane fluxes from inland and coastal wetland environments

A CH4 measuring system with a sensitivity of 0.01 ppmv and a response time of 1 sec is described. Pulses are separable from moving and stationary readings, the device floats, and air velocity in the chamber can be controlled in the range 0-4.4 m/sec. The system is set on the water so that controlled speed air from beneath can enter an inner chamber and be pumped through a gas filter correlation system (GFC) before being returned to the chamber. The GFC mechanism yields an absorption signal in the form of a dc voltage, which a processor orders printed on a strip chart as a function of time. Detection of the CH4 amounts is through IR absorption, and the sensitivity of the instrument has been measured at .002-.051 g/sq m per day with air flows in the range 0.90-4.40 m/sec. The unit can be modified to detect CO and CO2, and further applications for low plant canopies and land surfaces are indicated.

Sebacher, D. I.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Heat flux microsensor measurements and calibrations

A new thin-film heat flux gage has been fabricated specifically for severe high temperature operation using platinum and platinum-10 percent rhodium for the thermocouple elements. Radiation calibrations of this gage were performed at the AEDC facility over the available heat flux range (approx. 1.0 - 1,000 W/cu cm). The gage output was linear with heat flux with a slight increase in sensitivity with increasing surface temperature. Survivability of gages was demonstrated in quench tests from 500 C into liquid nitrogen. Successful operation of gages to surface temperatures of 750 C has been achieved. No additional cooling of the gages is required because the gages are always at the same temperature as the substrate material. A video of oxyacetylene flame tests with real-time heat flux and temperature output is available.

Terrell, James P.↗