8th symposium on space nuclear power systems

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5626287

Gaier, J R; Perez-davis, M E; Rutledge, S K; Hotes, D; Olle, R M

Tests were carried out to assess the impact of wind blown dust accumulation and abrasion on radiator surfaces on Mars. High emittance arc-textured copper and niobium-1 percent-zirconium samples were subjected to basaltic dust laden wind at Martian pressure (1000 Pa) at speeds varying from 19 to 97 m/s in the Martian Surface Wind Tunnel. The effect of accumulated dust was also observed by pre-dusting some of the samples before the test. Radiator degradation was determined by measuring the change in the emittance after dust was deposited and/or removed. The principle mode of degradation was abrasion. Arc textured Nb-1 percent-Zr proved to be more susceptible to degradation than Cu, and pre-dusting appeared to have lessened the abrasion.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center
• OSTI ID: 5626287
• Report Number(s): N-91-20204; NASA-TM-103704; E-5841; NAS-1.15:103704; CONF-910116-; CNN: NCC3-19
• Resource Relation: Conference: 8. symposium on space nuclear power systems, Albuquerque, NM (USA), 6-10 Jan 1991; Other Information: Sponsored by NASA, New Mexico Univ., Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, DOE, and the AF
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
MARS PLANET
SPACE POWER REACTORS
RADIATORS
DUSTS
EMISSIVITY
ABRASION
BASALT
COPPER
NIOBIUM BASE ALLOYS
WIND
ZIRCONIUM ADDITIONS
ALLOYS
ELEMENTS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
METALS
MOBILE REACTORS
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETS
POWER REACTORS
REACTORS
ROCKS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VOLCANIC ROCKS
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600* - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable