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At least 1,657 records · Page 92

Dish Stirling solar receiver program

A technology demonstration of a Dish Stirling solar thermal electric system can be accomplished earlier and at a much lower cost than previous planning had indicated by employing technical solutions that allow already existing hardware, with minimum modifications, to be integrated into a total system with a minimum of development. The DSSR operates with a modified United Stirling p-40 engine/alternator and the JPL Test Bed Concentrator as a completely integrated solar thermal electric system having a design output of 25 kWe. The system is augmented by fossil fuel combustion which ensures a continuous electrical output under all environmental conditions. Technical and economic studies by government and industry in the United States and abroad identify the Dish Stirling solar electric system as the most appropriate, efficient and economical method for conversion of solar energy to electricity in applications when the electrical demand is 10 MWe and less.

Haglund, R. A.↗

A conceptual design study of a high temperature solar thermal receiver (added tasks 6 and 7)

The key component of this concept is a coiled tube of silicon nitride which acts as a heat exchanger appears to be ideal from the standpoint of utilizing structural ceramics at around 2500 F under severe thermal shock conditions. However the size and configuration of this coil are beyond the state of the art for fabricating such materials as silicon nitride and carbide. A two-task program to develop and demonstrate the feasibility of extruding and forming a section of thin walled silicon nitride tubing was undertaken as an addition to the original program. A promising polyvinyl butyral-based binder lubricant was identified. Fourteen full size extrusion experiments were conducted. Two trial firings of 1-1/4 turn helices were made.

Robertson, C. S.↗

Civil Application of Differential GPS Using a Single Channel Sequential Receiver

The Global Positioning System (GPS) and its potential for area navigation, landing, and takeoff under minimum ceilings and advanced air traffic control operation is discussed. The following topics are reported: status of the GPS system; GPS signal availability for the civil community; alternative differential GPS concepts; predicted performance enhancement achievable with differential GPS and the operational improvements which will result; and a development program to test and evaluate differential GPS concepts, performance and operational procedures applicable to helicopters. Potential benefits which will be derived from helicopter use of GPS in the differential mode are identified.

Source record↗

Heat pipe solar receiver with thermal energy storage

An HPSR Stirling engine generator system featuring latent heat thermal energy storge, excellent thermal stability and self regulating, effective thermal transport at low system delta T is described. The system was supported by component technology testing of heat pipes and of thermal storage and energy transport models which define the expected performance of the system. Preliminary and detailed design efforts were completed and manufacturing of HPSR components has begun.

Zimmerman, W. F.↗

A 10 micron heterodyne receiver for ultra high resolution astronomical spectroscopy

An improved CO2 laser heterodyne spectrometer is examined. The present system uses reflective optics to eliminate refocusing at different wavelengths, and the local oscillator is a line-center-stabilized isotopic CO2 laser. A tunable diffraction grating makes possible easy and rapid selection of over 50 transitions per isotope of CO2. The IF (0 to 1.6 GHz) from the HgCdTe photomizer is analyzed by a 128-channel filter bank, consisting of 64 tunable 5-MHz filters and 64 fixed 25-MHz RF filters. These filters provide resolving powers of about 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 and velocity resolution of 50 to 250 m/sec; their output is synchronously detected, integrated, multiplexed and stored in a buffer memory for the desired integration period. Kitt Peak observations show the wide spectral coverage, wide mixer and electronics bandwidth, and high sensitivity of the system.

Buhl, D.↗

Assessment of the first radiances received from the VSSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) instrument

The first orderly, calibrated radiances from the VAS-D instrument on the GOES-4 satellite are examined for: image quality, radiometric precision, radiation transfer verification at clear air radiosonde sites, regression retrieval accuracy, and mesoscale analysis features. Postlaunch problems involving calibration and data processing irregularities of scientific or operational significance are included. The radiances provide good visual and relative radiometric data for empirically conditioned retrievals of mesoscale temperature and moisture fields in clear air.

Chesters, D.↗

The effects of Viterbi decoder node synchronization losses on the telemetry receiving system

The Viterbi decoders currently used by the Deep space Network (DSN) use an algorithm for maintaining node synchronization that breaks down at bit signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of about 2.0 dB. It is shown that this can become an important consideration when the effects of noisy carrier referencing are combined with the lower SNRs that are expected at Voyager 2 Uranus and Neptune encounters. Depending on the available carrier power, node synchronization losses of between 0.85 and 1.25 dB can be expected in addition to the radio loss.

Deutsch, L. J.↗

Error probabilities in optical PPM receivers with Gaussian mixture densities

A Gaussian mixture density arises when a discrete variable (e.g., a photodetector count variable) is added to a continuous Gaussian variable (e.g., thermal noise). Making use of some properties of photomultiplier Gaussian mixture distributions, some approximate error probability formulas can be derived. These appear as averages of M-ary orthogonal Gaussian error probabilities. The use of a pure Gaussian assumption is considered, and when properly defined, appears as an accurate upper bound to performance.

Gagliardi, R. M.↗

A Loran-C prototype navigation receiver for general aviation

Prototype equipment was developed for flight evaluation which provides enroute navigation in both latitude-longitude and rho-theta coordinates. The nonprecision approach capabilities of this equipment was evaluated. The antenna/preamplifier coupler, the RF processor, tracking loop hardware, tracking loop software, and the video output are discussed. Laboratory and flight test results are evaluated.

Lilley, R. W.↗

Receiver for Antenna Arrays

Diversity reception system combines narrow-band signals from several antennas to yield amplified demodulated signal. System was developed for spacecraft command signals, which typically have bandwidths of few hundred hertz.

Brockman, M. H.↗

The performance of VLA as a telemetry receiver for Voyager planetary encounters

The Very Large Array (VLA) was proposed for use as a supplement to the Deep Space Network (DSN) for telemetry reception at Voyager 2 Uranus and Neptune encounters. The main problem with the use of VLA for telemetry is that it is not capable of producing a continuous stream of data. Gaps of one millisecond follow every 51 milliseconds of data. The effect of these millisecond gaps on coded telemetry is investigated. An upgapped system of the same aperture as the VLA would be capable of handling data rates of 38.4 kbps at Uranus encounter and 19.2 kbps at Neptune encounter. It is shown that VLA with (7, 1/2) convolutional coding (the baseline coding scheme for Voyager) will support a data rate of 10.8 kbps but not 19.2 kbps at both Uranus and Neptune. It is also shown that by implementing Voyager's concatenated Reed-Solomon/convolutional coding capability, data rates of 38.4 kbps and 19.2 kbps would be achievable at Uranus and Neptune respectively. Concatenation also offers a factor of 2 improvement in overall throughput.

Deutsch, L. J.↗

Modified timing module for Loran-C receiver

Hardware documentation is provided for the modified LORAN-C timing module, which uses interrupt-driven software control in determining loop sample times. Computer loading is reduced by eliminating polled operation of the timing loop.

Lilley, R. W.↗

Area navigation implementation for a microcomputer-based LORAN-C receiver

Engineering performed to make LORAN-C a more useful and practical navigation system for general aviation is described. Development of new software, and implementation of this software on a (MOS6502) microcomputer to provide high quality practical area navigation information directly to the pilot and considered. Flight tests were performed specifically to examine the efficacy of this new software. Final results were exceptionally good and clearly demonstrate the merits of this new LORAN-C area navigation system.

Oguri, F.↗

A Ceramic Heat Exchanger for Solar Receivers

Design intended for high-temperature service. Proposed ceramic-tube and header heat exchangers used for solar-concentrating collector operating in 25- to 150-KW power range at temperatures between 2,000 degrees and 3,000 degrees F (1,095 degrees and 1,650 degrees C).

Robertson Jr., C.↗

Processor-controlled timing module for LORAN-C receiver

Hardware documentation is provided for the modified LORAN-C timing module, which uses direct software control in determining loop sample times. Computer loading is reduced by eliminating polled operation of the timing loop.

Lilley, R. W.↗