Solar thermal energy receiver

A plurality of heat pipes in a shell receive concentrated solar energy and transfer the energy to a heat activated system. To provide for even distribution of the energy despite uneven impingement of solar energy on the heat pipes, absence of solar energy at times, or failure of one or more of the heat pipes, energy storage means are disposed on the heat pipes which extend through a heat pipe thermal coupling means into the heat activated device. To enhance energy transfer to the heat activated device, the heat pipe coupling cavity means may be provided with extensions into the device. For use with a Stirling engine having passages for working gas, heat transfer members may be positioned to contact the gas and the heat pipes. The shell may be divided into sections by transverse walls. To prevent cavity working fluid from collecting in the extensions, a porous body is positioned in the cavity

Gravitational waves from black hole collisions via an eclectic approach

We present the first results in a new program intended to make the best use of all available technologies to provide an effective understanding of waves from inspiralling black hole binaries in time for imminent observations. In particular, we address the problem of combining the close-limit approximation describing ringing black holes and full numerical relativity, required for essentially nonlinear interactions. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach using general methods for a model problem, the head-on collision of black holes. Our method allows a more direct physical understanding of these collisions indicating clearly when non-linear methods are important. The success of this method supports our expectation that this unified approach will be able to provide astrophysically relevant results for black hole binaries in time to assist gravitational wave observations.Comment: 4 pages, 3 eps figures, Revte

Effects of anisotropic conduction and heat pipe interaction on minimum mass space radiators

Equations are formulated for the two dimensional, anisotropic conduction of heat in space radiator fins. The transverse temperature field was obtained by the integral method, and the axial field by numerical integration. A shape factor, defined for the axial boundary condition, simplifies the analysis and renders the results applicable to general heat pipe/conduction fin interface designs. The thermal results are summarized in terms of the fin efficiency, a radiation/axial conductance number, and a transverse conductance surface Biot number. These relations, together with those for mass distribution between fins and heat pipes, were used in predicting the minimum radiator mass for fixed thermal properties and fin efficiency. This mass is found to decrease monotonically with increasing fin conductivity. Sensitivities of the minimum mass designs to the problem parameters are determined

Greene Gardens

The case describes the 2006 E. coli outbreak in the California spinach industry. The case unfolds over a period of about one month, with four separate eventful days described in detail. At the end of the narrative for each day, the reader is asked to decide how he or she would respond to the events and justify his or her decision.business ethics, communication, crisis management, spinach, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Health Economics and Policy, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession, Q10, Q13,

Notes from the 3rd Axion Strategy Meeting

In this note we briefly summarize the main future targets and strategies for axion and general low energy particle physics identified in the "3rd axion strategy meeting" held during the AXIONS 2010 workshop. This summary follows a wide discussion with contributions from many of the workshop attendees.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

X-Ray Scanner for Atlas Barrel TRT Modules

X-ray scanners for gain mapping of ATLAS Barrel Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT) modules were developed at Hampton University for quality assurance purposes. Gas gain variations for each straw of the TRT modules were used to decide whether wires should be removed or restrung, and to evaluate overall module quality.Comment: Conference proceeding in the XXIV Physics in Collisions Conference (PIC04), Boston, USA, June 2004, 3 pages, LaTeX, 6 eps figures. MONP0

A heat receiver design for solar dynamic space power systems

An advanced heat pipe receiver designed for a solar dynamic space power system is described. The power system consists of a solar concentrator, solar heat receiver, Stirling heat engine, linear alternator and waste heat radiator. The solar concentrator focuses the sun's energy into a heat receiver. The engine and alternator convert a portion of this energy to electric power and the remaining heat is rejected by a waste heat radiator. Primary liquid metal heat pipes transport heat energy to the Stirling engine. Thermal energy storage allows this power system to operate during the shade portion of an orbit. Lithium fluoride/calcium fluoride eutectic is the thermal energy storage material. Thermal energy storage canisters are attached to the midsection of each heat pipe. The primary heat pipes pass through a secondary vapor cavity heat pipe near the engine and receiver interface. The secondary vapor cavity heat pipe serves three important functions. First, it smooths out hot spots in the solar cavity and provides even distribution of heat to the engine. Second, the event of a heat pipe failure, the secondary heat pipe cavity can efficiently transfer heat from other operating primary heat pipes to the engine heat exchanger of the defunct heat pipe. Third, the secondary heat pipe vapor cavity reduces temperature drops caused by heat flow into the engine. This unique design provides a high level of reliability and performance