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Wavelength-agile optical sensor for exhaust plume and cryogenic fluid interrogation
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Chiaverini, Martin J. Sanders, Scott T. Gramer, Daniel J. |
| Copyright Year | 2004 |
| Description | Two optical sensors developed in UW-Madison labs were evaluated for their potential to characterize rocket engine exhaust plumes and liquid oxygen (LOX) fluid properties. The plume sensor is based on wavelength-agile absorption spectroscopy A device called a chirped white pulse emitter (CWPE) is used to generate the wavelength agile light, scanning, for example, 1340 - 1560 nm every microsecond. Properties of the gases in the rocket plume (for example temperature and water mole fraction) can be monitored using these wavelength scans. We have performed preliminary tests in static gas cells, a laboratory GOX/GH2 thrust chamber, and a solid-fuel hybrid thrust chamber, and these initial tests demonstrate the potential of the CWPE for monitoring rocket plumes. The LOX sensor uses an alternative to wavelength agile sensing: two independent, fixed-wavelength lasers are combined into a single fiber. One laser is absorbed by LOX and the other not: by monitoring the differential transmission the LOX concentration in cryogenic feed lines can be inferred. The sensor was successful in interrogating static LOX pools in laboratory tests. Even in ice- and bubble-laden cryogenic fluids, LOX concentrations were measured to better than 1% with a 3 microsec time constant. |
| File Size | 2016433 |
| Page Count | 11 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_20040084684 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t8x975g7v |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 2004-04-15 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Spacecraft Propulsion And Power Exhaust Gases Liquid Oxygen Interrogation Rocket Exhaust Cryogenic Fluids Thrust Chambers Time Constant Optical Measuring Instruments Plumes Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports ServerĀ (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |