A novel idea to improve ignition and enhancement of combustion by infrared multiphoton dissociation (irmpd) is proposed. laser-induced irmpd offers a unique opportunity for selectively influencing combustion events due to a variety of factors: 1) ir absorbing molecules can be dissociated into… More

The feasability of improving combustion by a novel approach is examined. this entails modifying reaction kinetics by photodissociation of reaction-inhibiting chemical species to reactive radicals which participate in chain-branching. the concept will be tested in a simple, clever experiment in which… More

Photochemical reactions can be a useful route to the synthesis of chemical compounds which are not readily produced by conventional thermal methods. however, photochemical synthesis is frequently impractically by current reactor technology because of absorption radiation by the accumulating… More

Advanced solar collector technology can provide light intensities several thousand times that of incoming sunlight. achievement of such intensities suggests a novel opportunity: promotion of multiphoton chemical processes by solar sources. at very high light intensities, more thanone quantum of… More

Successful operation of future navy aircraft propulsion systems depends on the attainment of significant advances in combustion technology. the condition of high flight-speed imposes severe strains on ignition reliability, flameholding, and overall combustion efficiency.a novel radiative technique… More

Photolysis has been identified as a means of initiating and enhancing gas, liquid and solid phase chemical reactivity. a number of recent opportunities for photochemical augmentation involve chemical systems at elevated and variable temperature and pressure. consequently, there exists the need to… More

Significant advances in combustion technology are needed for the new generation of hypersonic flight vehicles. most combustion processes are currently hindered by constraints imposed by the condition of hypersonic flow. this proposal offers a novel idea for improving combustion by in-flight… More

Available in abundance in the united states and throughtout the world, natural gas represents an enormous energy reserve. however, direct use of natural gas as fuel is constrained by numerous dificultites: low combustion efficiency, unreliable ignition (misfiring), and transportation. a desirable… More

Successful operation of future aerospace vehicles (e.g. aotv and nasp) depends on major advances in combustiontechnology. the condition of high flight-speed imposes severe strains on ignition reliability and overall combustion efficiency. a novel approach to alleviate these difficulties is proposed.… More

The development of new techniques for safe conversion of hazardous compounds ranks as highest priority in the waste treatment industry. the dominant process for toxic waste treatment, specifically chlorocarbons, has been incineration. the intolerable quantities of polychlorinatedhalocarbons (pchc)… More

Hazardous waste disposal is one of the main concerns of epa. the dominant process for toxic waste treatment, specifically chlorocarbons, has been incineration. however,the intolerable quantities of polychlorinated halocarbons (pchc) detected in effluents of incinerators have raised serious doubts as… More

The measurement of the high frequency, fluctuating components of density, pressure, temperature and species concentration in high mach number is needed for the understanding of turbulent fluid mechanics. current techniques fail at hypersonic velocities because of the low static pressures and… More

A novel ideal to dramatically reduce drying time of primer pellets is proposed. current forced air convection drying is limited by low conductive heat transfer to the pellet interior and inadequate water diffusivity to the pellet surface. employment of electromagnetic radiation (emr) cycles can… More

Chlorofluorocarbons (cfc) and halons have great utility as refrigerants, fire suppressants, cleaning agents, solvents, propellants and constituents of blown foams. however, because they pose a serious threat to the stratospheric ozone layer they must be removed from service. moreover, current… More

Over the last two decades lasers have been considered as excellent sources of radiant energy for ignition of propelling charges and other explosive and combustible mixtures. they offer significant advantages in performance and safety. however, their wide range use is still hampered because the… More

The Army has identified a need for fluctuating flowfield density measurements over a wide range of velocities. We propose to employ a new non-intrusive optical diagnostic technique which is applicable over a Mach number range from subsonic to hypersonic. The method is based on spectially filtered… More

Research into the possible unconventional engine candidates that e2cclude the use of pistons, rotors (Wankel type), lever arm mechanisms, and conventional aerodynamic turbine components, reveals a surprisingly vast array of pumping machinery. Therefore, this Phase I feasibilty study will provide the… More

We propose to employ a new non-intrusive optical technique to measure instantaneous three dimensional flow vectors in large scale subsonic f acilities with high (better than mach .02) accuracy. the method utili zed a pulsed laser beam to "write" an arbitrary pattern into ordinary air by means of… More

The Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) has identified a need for a time-mean, and rapidly fluctuating velocity measurements in support of turbine aircraft engine ground testing. We propose to employ a new non-intrusive optical diagnostic, which combines the inherent sensitivity of… More

A major obstacle to wider utilization of coal, tar sand, oil shale, and natural gas resources is environmental compliance. the employment of these abundant fuel resources is still fraught with the unacceptably copious emission of hazardous pollutants. in order to enforce compliance with emission… More

An environmentally benign process for the treatment of hazardous waste streams containing chlorocarbons is needed. current technologies such as incineration, catalysis, filtration, and adsorption are inadequate. incineration produces intolerable quantities of oxychlorinated toxic components and… More

A novel low-temperature technology for treatment of dilute gaseous effluents contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) is needed. Existing and emerging technologies are based on various combinations of thermal, photothermal and catalytic processes… More

The continuous search for alternatives to halons as fire suppressants, necessitated by the Montreal Protocol ban on ozone depleting substances, has yielded a few potential replacements. However, these chemically acting agents still pose unresolved toxicity questions and/or are not as effective as… More