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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 1,765 records · Page 98

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1986

Aerodynamic design trends for commercial aircraft

Recent research on advanced-configuration commercial aircraft at DFVLR is surveyed, with a focus on aerodynamic approaches to improved performance. Topics examined include transonic wings with variable camber or shock/boundary-layer control, wings with reduced friction drag or laminarized flow, prop-fan propulsion, and unusual configurations or wing profiles. Drawings, diagrams, and graphs of predicted performance are provided, and the need for extensive development efforts using powerful computer facilities, high-speed and low-speed wind tunnels, and flight tests of models (mounted on specially designed carrier aircraft) is indicated.

Hilbig, R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Power requirements for commercial communications spacecraft

Historical data on commercial spacecraft power systems are presented and their power requirements to the growth of satellite communications channel usage are related. Some approaches for estimating future power requirements of this class of spacecraft through the year 2000 are proposed. The key technology drivers in satellite power systems are addressed. Several technological trends in such systems are described, focusing on the most useful areas for research and development of major subsystems, including solar arrays, energy storage, and power electronics equipment.

Billerbeck, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Environmental exposure effects on composite materials for commercial aircraft

The effects of environmental exposure on composite materials are determined. The environments considered are representative of those experienced by commercial jet aircraft. Initial results have been compiled for the following material systems: T300/5208, T300/5209, and T300/934. Future results will include AS-1/3501-6 and Kevlar 49/F161-188. Specimens are exposed on the exterior and interior of 737 airplanes of three airlines, and to continuous ground-level exposure at four locations. In addition, specimens are exposed in the laboratory to conditions such as: simulated ground-air-ground, weatherometer, and moisture. Residual strength results are presented for specimens exposed for up to five years at five ground-level exposure locations and on airplanes from one airline.

Coggeshall, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Assessment of commercially available and experimental hydrogen electrodes

NASA Lewis Research Center is currently involved in advanced cell component development for nickel-hydrogen cells and batteries. Long life, high energy density, improved performance and reliability are required for energy storage systems in future space missions. Commercially available as well as experimental hydrogen electrodes were assessed and copared to the state-of-the-art hydrogen electrode that is currently being used in nickel-hydrogen batteries. These electrodes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and standard electrochemical polarization measurements. Production variables such as Teflon content and platinum catalyst loading were considered in order to assess various hydrogen electrods with regard to the different electrode manufacturing processes.

Charleston, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Evaluation of laminar flow control systems concepts for subsonic commercial transport aircraft

An evaluation was made of laminar flow control (LFC) system concepts for subsonic commercial transport aircraft. Configuration design studies, performance analyses, fabrication development, structural testing, wind tunnel testing, and contamination-avoidance techniques were included. As a result of trade studies, a configuration with LFC on the upper wing surface only, utilizing an electron beam-perforated suction surface, and employing a retractable high-lift shield for contamination avoidance, was selected as the most practical LFC system. The LFC aircraft was then compared with an advanced turbulent aircraft designed for the same mission. This comparison indicated significant fuel savings and reduced direct operating cost benefits would result from using LFC.

Pearce, W. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Hardening of commercial CMOS PROMs with polysilicon fusible links

The method by which a commercial 4K CMOS PROM with polysilicon fuses was hardened and the feasibility of applying this method to a 16K PROM are presented. A description of the process and the necessary minor modifications to the original layout are given. The PROM circuit and discrete device characteristics over radiation to 1000K rad-Si are summarized. The dose rate sensitivity of the 4K PROMs is also presented.

Newman, W. H.↗

NASA NTRS1986

An evaluation of the documented requirements of the SSP UIL and a review of commercial software packages for the development and testing of UIL prototypes

A review was conducted of software packages currently on the market which might be integrated with the interface language and aid in reaching the objectives of customization, standardization, transparency, reliability, maintainability, language substitutions, expandability, portability, and flexibility. Recommendations are given for best choices in hardware and software acquisition for inhouse testing of these possible integrations. Software acquisition in the line of tools to aid expert-system development and/or novice program development, artificial intelligent voice technology and touch screen or joystick or mouse utilization as well as networking were recommended. Other recommendations concerned using the language Ada for the user interface language shell because of its high level of standardization, structure, and ability to accept and execute programs written in other programming languages, its DOD ownership and control, and keeping the user interface language simple so that multiples of users will find the commercialization of space within their realm of possibility which is, after all, the purpose of the Space Station.

Gill, Esther Naomi↗

NASA NTRS1987

Intersatellite Link (ISL) application to commercial communications satellites. Volume 1: Executive summary

Based on a comprehensive evaluation of the fundamental Intersatellite Link (ISL) systems characteristics, potential applications of ISLs to domestic, regional, and global commercial satellite communications were identified, and their cost-effectiveness and other systems benefits quantified wherever possible. Implementation scenarios for the cost-effective communications satellite systems employing ISLs were developed for the first launch in 1993 to 1994 and widespread use of ISLs in the early 2000's. Critical technology requirements for both the microwave (60 GHz) and optical (0.85 micron) ISL implementations were identified, and their technology development programs, including schedule and cost estimates, were derived.

Young, S. Lee↗

NASA NTRS1987

The nature and evaluation of commercial expert system building tools, revision 1

This memorandum reviews the factors that constitute an Expert System Building Tool (ESBT) and evaluates current tools in terms of these factors. Evaluation of these tools is based on their structure and their alternative forms of knowledge representation, inference mechanisms and developer end-user interfaces. Next, functional capabilities, such as diagnosis and design, are related to alternative forms of mechanization. The characteristics and capabilities of existing commercial tools are then reviewed in terms of these criteria.

Gevarter, William B.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Opportunities for commercial participation in microgravity material processing

The existing facilities and procedures for materials processing in space are described. The role of NASA and the government in stimulating the commercialization of space are discussed. The physics of the different experiments is studied in order to identify the relationship between power and time. A list of the physical and engineering requirements for proposed materials processing payloads is presented. The use of the Space Shuttle and Space Station for materials processing experiments and the development of techniques to realize the full potential of the Shuttle and Station capabilities are examined. NASA provides drop tube and drop tower facilities for research on materials and low gravity materials experiments are being conducted using aircraft in parabolic flight. The applications of the Materials Experiment Assembly, the Spacelab module, the Shuttle middeck, and Get-Away Special for materials processing are considered.

Taylor, K. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Oxidation of commercial purity titanium

The oxidation kinetics of commercial purity Ti-A55 exposed to laboratory air in the 593-760 C temperature range were continuously monitored by thermogravimetric analysis. The oxide thickness was measured by microscopy, and the substrate contamination was estimated from microhardness measurements. The microhardness depth profiles were converted to oxygen composition profiles using calibration depth. The oxygen diffusion coefficient in alpha-Ti appears to be approximately concentration-independent in the 1-10 at. pct oxygen range. Diffusion coefficient for oxygen in TiO2 has been estimated as a function of temperature and is found to be about 50 times the value in alpha-Ti. The metallographically prepared cross sections of the oxidized specimens revealed a 'moving boundary' in the substrate, parallel to the oxide-metal interface. This boundary was associated with a specific oxygen level of 5.0 + or - 0.5 at. pct. It occurred at a distance from the oxide-metal interface which was correlatable with temperature and time of exposure. The diffusion coefficient corresponding to the composition of this moving boundary is in excellent agreement with the effective diffusion coefficient for the substrate contamination.

Unnam, J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Opportunities for commercial materials processing in space

The availability status (as of November 1985) of NASA space and ground facilities for commercial materials-processing activities is surveyed. The organizational structure of the agencies managing these activities is outlined; ongoing joint-endeavor agreements are listed and described; the legal procedures involved are considered; the capabilities and limitations of the Shuttle middeck and cargo bay and the Hitchhiker module are characterized; experiments using the Drop Tower are examined; and the Industrial Guest Investigator program is reviewed. Extensive drawings, diagrams, and tables are provided.

Fountain, James A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Commercialization of materials processing in space

NASA research to date on materials processing in space (MPS) has revealed that microgravity conditions to a large degree eliminate normal convection, sedimentation, buoyancy, and deformations due to gravity, and permit the exploration of containerless processing. The goals of current NASA MPS work is to augment the fundamental database on MPS and to foster commercial participation in MPS. Techniques being applied by NASA to fulfill the latter goal are described, including technical exchange, industrial guest investigator and joint endeavor agreements, and tangible market incentives. Guidelines for each type of agreement are summarized.

Yost, Charles F.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Status of commercial phosphoric acid fuel cell power plant system development

A technology development and commercial feasibility evaluation is presented for phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFCs) applicable to electric utility operations. The correction of identified design deficiencies in the control card and water treatment subsystems is projected to be able to substantially increase average powerplant availability from the 63 percent achieved in recent field tests of a PAFC system. Current development work is proceeding under NASA research contracts at the output levels of a multimegawatt facility for electric utility use, a multikilowatt on-site integrated energy generation facility, and advanced electrocatalysts applicable to PAFCs.

Warshay, M.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The nature and evaluation of commercial expert system building tools

This memorandum reviews the factors that constitute an Expert System Building Tool (ESBT) and evaluates current tools in terms of these factors. Evaluation of these tools is based on their structure and their alternative forms of knowledge representation, inference mechanisms and developer/end-user interfaces. Next, functional capabilities, such as diagnosis and design, are related to alternative forms of mechanization. The characteristics and capabilities of existing commercial tools are then reviewed in terms of these criteria.

Gevarter, William B.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Economic benefits of the Space Station to commercial communication satellite operators

The economic and financial aspects of newly defined space-based activities, procedures, and operations (APOs) and associated satellite system designs are presented that have the potential to improve economic performance of future geostationary communications satellites. Launch insurance, launch costs, and the economics of APOs are examined. Retrieval missions and various Space Station scenarios are addressed. The potential benefits of the new APOs to the commercial communications satellite system operator are quantified.

Price, Kent M.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Assessment of commercially available and experimental hydrogen electrodes

NASA Lewis Research Center is currently involved in advanced cell component development for nickel-hydrogen cells and batteries. Long life, high energy density, improved performance and reliability are required for energy storage systems in future space missions. Commercially available as well as experimental hydrogen electrodes were assessed and compared to the state-of-the-art hydrogen electrode that is currently being used in nickel-hydrogen batteries. These electrodes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and standard electrochemical polarization measurements. Production variables such as Teflon content and platinum catalyst loading were considered in order to assess various hydrogen electrodes with regard to the different electrode manufacturing processes.

Charleston, Jo Ann↗

NASA NTRS1987

Microgravity materials processing for commercial applications

An evaluation is made of the development status of materials processing techniques in microgravity environments; the classes of materials treated to date encompass glasses, ceramics, crystals, semiconductors, metals and their alloys, polymers, composites, and such biological substances as pharmaceuticals. Attention is given to the commercial development of composite and mixed-phase materials with substantially improved properties as a result of microgravity processing, as well as to current research into catalysts and Type II-VI semiconductor crystals such as CdTe.

Kohli, R.↗