Self Healing Coating/Film Project

Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has been developing self healing materials and technologies. This project seeks to further develop self healing functionality in thin films for applications such as corrosion protective coatings, inflatable structures, space suit materials, and electrical wire insulation

Alternative Nonvolatile Residue Analysis with Contaminant Identification Project

Cleanliness verification is required in numerous industries including spaceflight ground support, electronics, medical and aerospace. Currently at KSC requirement for cleanliness verification use solvents that environmentally unfriendly. This goal of this project is to produce an alternative cleanliness verification technique that is both environmentally friendly and more cost effective

Cryogenic Insulation Standard Data and Methodologies Project

Extending some recent developments in the area of technical consensus standards for cryogenic thermal insulation systems, a preliminary Inter-Laboratory Study of foam insulation materials was performed by NASA Kennedy Space Center and LeTourneau University. The initial focus was ambient pressure cryogenic boil off testing using the Cryostat-400 flat-plate instrument. Completion of a test facility at LETU has enabled direct, comparative testing, using identical cryostat instruments and methods, and the production of standard thermal data sets for a number of materials under sub-ambient conditions. The two sets of measurements were analyzed and indicate there is reasonable agreement between the two laboratories. Based on cryogenic boiloff calorimetry, new equipment and methods for testing thermal insulation systems have been successfully developed. These boiloff instruments (or cryostats) include both flat plate and cylindrical models and are applicable to a wide range of different materials under a wide range of test conditions. Test measurements are generally made at large temperature difference (boundary temperatures of 293 K and 78 K are typical) and include the full vacuum pressure range. Results are generally reported in effective thermal conductivity (ke) and mean heat flux (q) through the insulation system. The new cryostat instruments provide an effective and reliable way to characterize the thermal performance of materials under subambient conditions. Proven in through thousands of tests of hundreds of material systems, they have supported a wide range of aerospace, industry, and research projects. Boiloff testing technology is not just for cryogenic testing but is a cost effective, field-representative methodology to test any material or system for applications at sub-ambient temperatures. This technology, when adequately coupled with a technical standards basis, can provide a cost-effective, field-representative methodology to test any material or system for applications at sub-ambient to cryogenic temperatures. A growing need for energy efficiency and cryogenic applications is creating a worldwide demand for improved thermal insulation systems for low temperatures. The need for thermal characterization of these systems and materials raises a corresponding need for insulation test standards and thermal data targeted for cryogenic-vacuum applications. Such standards have a strong correlation to energy, transportation, and environment and the advancement of new materials technologies in these areas. In conjunction with this project, two new standards on cryogenic insulation were recently published by ASTM International: C1774 and C740. Following the requirements of NPR 7120.10, Technical Standards for NASA Programs and Projects, the appropriate information in this report can be provided to the NASA Chief Engineer as input for NASA's annual report to NIST, as required by OMB Circular No. A-119, describing NASA's use of voluntary consensus standards and participation in the development of voluntary consensus standards and bodies

Optimization and economics of small-scale, on-farm biodiesel production using oilseed crops and waste vegetable oil

Recent concerns over unpredictable fuel prices and desire to reduce farm input costs have warranted producer interest in growing alternative crops for the production of biofuels such as biodiesel. Ideally, biodiesel could be produced with a small-scale, on-farm system allowing a farm to retain full value of an oilseed crop. Similarly, on-farm biodiesel feedstock could be supplemented with waste vegetable oil (WVO) from local sources, which would be an inexpensive input to lower production costs. The objectives of this research were to: 1) evaluate the impact of an irrigation regime on oilseed constituents (oil concentration, oil free fatty acid (FFA), and protein concentration) within three oilseed crops (cotton, soybeans, and canola) grown in a non-traditional rotation; 2) determine a biodiesel production and phosphorus removal procedure that could be economical for Alabama farmers and a storage interval for vegetable oil in which FFA will remain within acceptable limits for base catalyzed transesterification; and 3) assess economics of a current small-scale biodiesel production system in Auburn University’s Biosystems Engineering department with the data collected being used to develop a prediction model for a small-scale, on-farm biodiesel production system scenario. Five different experiments were performed along with a literature review of biodiesel production practices, efficiency analyses of two mechanical oil extruders, and economic assessments of two small-scale biodiesel production systems. An irrigation experiment examined oilseed constituent responses to varying levels of irrigation for biodiesel production. Triglyceride hydrolysis rates and microbial activity of three vegetable oils were studied over time. The third experiment determined differences in methanol recovery efficiency for two methods. The final two experiments investigated phosphorus removal from two crude vegetable oils, quality of biodiesel produced, and phosphorus removed resulting from transesterification. Results from the irrigation experiment indicated that seed and oil yields significantly improved with irrigation and rainfall. As a result, theoretical biodiesel yields increased 380%, 166%, and 200% for soybean, cottonseed, and canola, respectively. Protein concentrations tended to decrease with irrigation, but FFA values showed little response with emphasis on biodiesel production except when seeds were exposed to excessive end of the season moisture. Based catalyzed transesterification with methanol and sodium was determined to be least expensive yielding favorable results. WVO and canola oil oxidized 68% and 43% during storage and no microorganism activity was detected. While soybean oil oxidized 50%, FFA levels remained well under one percent. Vacuum pump assistance increased methanol recovery by 600%. ASTM requirements of phosphorus removal were not met during oil degumming experiments. Bench scale transesterification reactions resulted in higher ester conversion than the Biodiesel Logic, Inc. processor due to increased oil/methanol interaction, but AMBERLITE™ BD10DRY satisfactorily removed free glycerin from biodiesel. A mechanical screw press with fixed components required less operator aptitude to increase oil extraction of canola, however soybean oil extraction proved efficient on the Henan Double Elephant mechanical press. Oil extraction efficiency was heavily dependent on oilseed moisture content and operator ability. WVO biodiesel cost of production was $0.58/L while soybean and canola biodiesel production costs were substantially higher. However in 2010, Alabama soybean farmers could have reduced losses by$24.70/ha when producing biodiesel as opposed to selling crops through traditional market outlets