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open access

Space nuclear power system and the design of the nuclear electric propulsion OTV

Description: Payload increases of three to five times that of the Shuttle/Centaur can be achieved using nuclear electric propulsion. Various nuclear power plant options being pursued by the SP-100 Program are described. These concepts can grow from 100 kW/sub e/ to 1MW/sub e/ output. Spacecraft design aspects are addressed, including thermal interactions, plume interactions, and radiation fluences. A baseline configuration is described accounting for these issues. Safety aspects of starting the OTV transfer… more
Date: January 1, 1984
Creator: Buden, D. & Garrison, P.W.
open access

PEGASUS: a multi-megawatt nuclear electric propulsion system

Description: With the Space Transportation System (STS), the advent of space station Columbus and the development of expertise at working in space that this will entail, the gateway is open to the final frontier. The exploration of this frontier is possible with state-of-the-art hydrogen/oxygen propulsion but would be greatly enhanced by the higher specific impulse of electric propulsion. This paper presents a concept that uses a multi-megawatt nuclear power plant to drive an electric propulsion system. The… more
Date: June 1, 1985
Creator: Coomes, Edmund P.; Cuta, Judith M.; Webb, Brent J. & King, David Q.
open access

SP-100 attitude control pathfinder study. Technical information report

Description: This report delineates the scope of Jet Propulsion Laboratory`s FY`83 effort in the attitude control area in support of the SP-100 program. Dynamic modeling of the baseline beam configuration has been conducted and is presented herein. As a first cut, the beam is treated as rigid. Its inherent flexibility is then integrated via the hybrid coordinates method. Using the resulting dynamical equations, a preliminary look at attitude control is taken. Only one axis of rotational one flexible mode ar… more
Date: March 1, 1984
Creator: Eke, F. O.; Graff, S. H.; Laskin, R. A. & Swan, P. A.
open access

Theory and tests of two-phase turbines

Description: Two-phase turbines open the possibility of new types of power cycles operating with extremely wet mixtures of steam and water, organic fluids, or immiscible liquids and gases. Possible applications are geothermal power, waste-heat recovery, refrigerant expansion, solar conversion, transportation turbine engines, and engine bottoming cycles. A theoretical model for two-phase impulse turbines was developed. Apparatus was constructed for testing one- and two-stage turbines (using speed decrease fr… more
Date: March 15, 1982
Creator: Elliot, D.G.
open access

External flow radiators for reduced space powerplant temperatures. Technical information report

Description: Nuclear space powerplants can operate at temperatures below 900 K and use stainless steel construction without a weight penalty if new radiator concepts can achieve radiator weights of 1-3 kg/m{sup 2}. Conventional tube-and-fin radiators weight about 10 kg/m{sup 2} because of heavy tube walls to prevent meteroid puncture. Radiator designs that do not require meteroid protection are possible; they operate with fluids of low vapor pressure that can be exposed directly to space in external-flow ra… more
Date: January 1, 1984
Creator: Elliott, D. G.
open access

Four absolute cavity radiometer (pyrheliometer) intercomparisons at New River, Arizona: radiometer standards

Description: Four detailed intercomparisons were made for a number of models of cavity-type self-calibrating radiometers (pyrheliometers). Each intercomparison consisted of simultaneous readings of pyrheliometers at 30-second intervals in runs of 10 minutes, with at least 15 runs per intercomparison. Twenty-seven instruments were in at least one intercomparison, and five were in all four. Summarized results and all raw data are provided from the intercomparisons.
Date: July 1, 1981
Creator: Estey, R.S. & Seaman, C.H.
open access

SP-100 system definition conceptual reference design activities: February through June 1983. Technical information report

Description: The original SP-100 conceptual system design was examined from the mechanical design and integration viewpoint for the purpose of updating the design, identifying concerns, and providing recommendations for future work. Some of the findings were that: Integration of heat pipes into the radiator structure appears practical, but a number of problems remain to be addressed and resolved through development effort; thermal and structural interfacing of the shield and defining shield weight are key a… more
Date: December 1, 1983
Creator: Fortenberry, J. W.; Moore, D. M.; Petrick, S. W. & Smoak, R. H.
open access

Multifoil insulation study for weight reduction. Technical information report

Description: The purpose of the present task is to develop high temperature multi-foil insulation suitable for use in the SP-100 thermoelectric converter project. Part of this task involves careful examination of alternative foil and foil spacing materials with the goal of effecting significant weight savings over current state-of-the-art foil insulation. This task involved the determination of the state-of-the-art foils, ascertaining what data is available, what additional data is required, preliminary ass… more
Date: January 1, 1984
Creator: Glazer, S. D.
open access

Neutral sheet crossings in the distant magnetotail

Description: We have analyzed the magnetic field data from ISEE-3 in the distant magnetotail for 18 crossings of the cross-tail current sheet (or so-called natural sheet) to determine the direction of the normal component B/sub z/. The crossings occurred near the middle of the aberrated magnetotail (0 < y < 30 R/sub e, -10 < z < 5) in GSM coordinates, at a distance of about 220 R/sub e/, January 28 to February 12, 1983; in each case the plasma flow velocity was tailward. In 2 cases we found B/sub z/ negativ… more
Date: January 1, 1985
Creator: Heikkila, W. J.; Slavin, J. A.; Smith, E. J.; Baker, D. N. & Zwickl, R. D.
open access

Low Energy X-Ray Spectra Measured With a Mercuric Iodide Energy Dispersive Spectrometer in a Scanning Electron Microscope

Description: A mercuric iodide energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer, with Peltier cooling provided for the detector and input field effect transistor, has been developed and tested in a scanning electron microscope. X-ray spectra were obtained with the 15 keV electron beam. An energy resolution of 225 eV (FWHM) for Mn-K/sub ..cap alpha../ at 5.9 keV and 195 eV (FWHM) for Mg-K line at 1.25 keV has been measured. Overall system noise level was 175 eV (FWHM). The detector system characterization with a carbon … more
Date: January 1, 1985
Creator: Iwanczyk, J. S.; Dabrowski, A. J.; Huth, G. C.; Bradley, J. G.; Conley, J. M. & Albee, A. L.
open access

SP-100 planetary mission/system preliminary design study. Final report, technical information report

Description: This report contains a discussion on many aspects of a nuclear electric propulsion planetary science mission and spacecraft using the proposed SP-100 nuclear power subsystem. A review of the science rationale for such missions is included. A summary of eleven nuclear electric propulsion planetary missions is presented. A conceptual science payload, mission design, and spacecraft design is included for the Saturn Ring Rendezvous mission. Spacecraft and mission costs have been estimated for two p… more
Date: February 1, 1986
Creator: Jones, R. M.
open access

Dual arm master controller development

Description: The advanced servomanipulator (ASM) slave was designed with an anthropomorphic stance, gear/torque tube power drives, and modular construction. These features resulted in increased inertia, friction, and backlash relative to tape-driven manipulators. Studies were performed which addressed the human factors design and performance trade-offs associated with the corresponding master controller best suited for the ASM. The results of these studies, as well as the conceptual design of the dual arm m… more
Date: January 1, 1985
Creator: Kuban, D. P. & Perkins, G. S.
open access

Dual arm master controller concept

Description: The Advanced Servomanipulator (ASM) slave was designed with an anthropomorphic stance, gear/torque tube power drives, and modular construction. These features resulted in increased inertia, friction, and backlash relative to tape-driven manipulators. Studies were performed which addressed the human factors design and performance trade-offs associated with the corresponding master controller best suited for the ASM. The results of these studies, as well as the conceptual design of the dual arm m… more
Date: January 1, 1984
Creator: Kuban, D.P. & Perkins, G.S.
open access

Generation of a strong core-centering force in a submillimeter compound droplet system

Description: By amplitude-modulating the driving voltage of an acoustic levitating apparatus, a strong core-centering force can be generated in a submillimeter compound droplet system suspended by the radiation pressure in a gaseous medium. Depending on the acoustic characteristics of the droplet system, it has been found that the technique can be utilized advantageously in the multiple-layer coating of an inertial-confinement-fusion pellet.
Date: January 1, 1981
Creator: Lee, M. C.; Feng, I.; Elleman, D. D.; Wang, T. G. & Young, A. T.
open access

Energy conservation in citrus processing. Final project report

Description: Alternative energy conserving systems for use in citrus processing plants were synthesized and evaluated in terms of energy savings and economic return. The energy intensive operations that are carried out in citrus processing plants include conveying and extraction, concentration, peel drying, refrigeration, and pasteurization. The alternative energy conserving systems are synthesized from components and subsystems that are arranged to make use of energy cascading and thermodynamic regeneratio… more
Date: November 1, 1981
Creator: Leo, M. A.; Lari, R. I.; Moore, N. R.; Broussard, M. R. & Gyamfi, M.
open access

Energy conservation in citrus processing. Technical progress report No. 2, April 1, 1980-February 28, 1981

Description: Systems that reduce energy usage and are economically viable in the citrus fruit processing industry are identified. The preliminary results of Phase I are presented. Alternative systems to be considered are classified and denoted as central, modular, integrated, and combined. Progress is reported on the central and modular systems. (MCW)
Date: March 15, 1981
Creator: Leo, M. A.; Lari, R. I.; Moore, N. R.; Broussard, M. R. & Gyamfi, M.
open access

SP-100 program users handbook basic configurational tradeoffs

Description: This document addresses basic configurational tradeoffs associated with the SP-100 class of nuclear space power systems. In the SP-100 project, the three reference designs, fallback, baseline, and advanced, employ thermoelectric power conversion with different thermoelectric materials. This issue of the document presents results generated for the thermoelectric design as of the end of 1985. Emphasis is placed on showing general trends and the range of possibilities that could result from select… more
Date: March 15, 1986
Creator: Manvi, R. & Fujita, T.
open access

Survey of gas-side fouling measuring devices

Description: A survey of measuring devices or probes, which have been used to investigate gas-side fouling, has been carried out. Five different types of measuring devices are identified and discussed including: heat flux meters, mass accumulation probes, optical devices, deposition probes, and acid condensation probes. A total of 32 different probes are described in detail and summarized in matrix or tabular form. The important considerations of combustion gas characterization and deposit analysis are also… more
Date: March 1, 1984
Creator: Marner, W. J. & Henslee, S. P.
open access

Direct conversion technology: Annual summary report CY 1988

Description: The overall objective of the Direct Conversion Technology task is to develop an experimentally verified technology base for promising direct thermal-to-electric energy conversion systems that have potential application for energy conservation in the end-use sectors. This report contains progress of research on the Alkali Metal Thermal-to-Electric Converter (AMTEC), and on the Two-Phase Liquid-Metal MHD Electrical Generator (LMMHD) for the period January 1988 through December 1988. Research on t… more
Date: December 1, 1988
Creator: Massier, P. F.; Bankston, C. P.; Fabris, G. & Kirol, L. D.
open access

Assessment of advanced coal-gasification processes. [AVCO high throughput gasification in process; Bell High Mass Flux process; CS-R process; and Exxon Gasification process]

Description: This report represents a technical assessment of the following advanced coal gasification processes: AVCO High Throughput Gasification (HTG) Process, Bell Single - Stage High Mass Flux (HMF) Process, Cities Service/Rockwell (CS/R) Hydrogasification Process, and the Exxon Catalytic Coal Gasification (CCG) Process. Each process is evaluated for its potential to produce SNG from a bituminous coal. In addition to identifying the new technology these processes represent, key similarities/differences… more
Date: June 1, 1981
Creator: McCarthy, J.; Ferrall, J.; Charng, T. & Houseman, J.
open access

The comet Giacobini-Zinner magnetotail: Axial stresses and inferred near-nucleus properties

Description: Utilizing the electron and magnetic field data from the ICE tail traversal of Comet Giacobini-Zinner along with the MHD equations, we have developed a steady state, stress balance model of the cometary magnetotail. With it we infer many important but unmeasured ion properties within the G-Z magnetotail both at ICE and upstream at the average point along each streamline where cometary ions are picked-up. The derived tailward ion flow speed at ICE is quite constant at approx.-20 to -30 km/sec acr… more
Date: October 1, 1986
Creator: McComas, D. J.; Gosling, J. T.; Bame, S. J.; Slavin, J. A.; Smith, E. J. & Steinberg, J. L.
open access

Helical Screw Expander Evaluation Project. Final report

Description: A functional 1-MW geothermal electric power plant that featured a helical screw expander was produced and then tested in Utah in 1978 to 1979 with a demonstrated average performance of approximately 45% machine efficiency over a wide range of test conditions in noncondensing operation on two-phase geothermal fluids. The Project also produced a computer-equipped data system, an instrumentation and control van, and a 1000-kW variable load bank, all integrated into a test array designed for operat… more
Date: March 1, 1982
Creator: McKay, R.
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