Water cooled, high intensity radiation source rated at 125 kw, with an efficiency of 31 to 34 percent is used in the evaluation of ablative materials under simulated conditions of high velocity entry into planetary atmospheres. The source operates repeatedly at maximum power for periods of 10 to 20 minutes

Geideman, W. A.

Muller, K.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

Argon In 
/ Argon Out 
Argon In 
November 1966	 Brief 66-10547 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U. S. space 
program and to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
High Intensity Radiation Heat Source Is Capable of Sustained Operation 
Outer Quartz Envelope 
The problem: 
To develop a high intensity radiation source to be 
used in the evaluation of ablative materials under sim-
ulated conditions of high velocity entry into planetary 
atmospheres. The source must be capable of cyclic 
operation at maximum power for an extended period 
of time with high reliability. Available sources were 
not capable of supplying the required radiant power 
output. 
The solution: 
A water cooled, high intensity radiation source 
rated at 125 kw, with an efficiency of 31 to 34 percent. 
How it's done: 
The radiation source is a direct current device in 
which the arc plasma is created in an atmosphere of 
argon gas between a copper cathode with a tungsten 
tip and a copper anode with a molybdenum ring dif-
fuser. The envelope or enclosure through which the 
radiation is transmitted is two concentric quartz cyl-
inders. The inner cylinder serves as a heat shield for 
the outer cylinder, which is the pressure container for 
the source.
The argon gas in which the arc operates enters at the 
anode end and passes from the anode electrode 
through the annulus between the two quartz cylinders 
into a gas vortex generator at the cathode end. The gas 
then passes through the diffuser into the anode, from 
which it is collected and recirculated through cooling 
coils back to the source. In passing through the an-
nulus between the cylinders, the gas acts as a coolant 
to the outer quartz cylinder. 
Notes: 
1. The source can be operated using any dc power 
supply capable of 1500 amperes at 100 volts. It re-
quires a high voltage rf power supply for starting. 
2. The source can operate repeatedly at maximum 
rated power tor periods of 10 to 20 minutes. At 
lower power inputs it has been operated continu-
ously for periods as long as two hours. 
3. Inquiries concerning this invention may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Ames Research Center 
Moffett Field, California 94035 
Reference: B66-10547
(continued overleaf) 
Now
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19660000545 2020-03-11T17:44:51+00:00Z
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention niay be made to NASA, Code 
GP, WashingtonD. C. 20546. 
Source: W. A. Geideman and K. Muller
of Textron Electronics Inc., 
under contract to

Ames Research Center
(ARC-61)
- -*' I 
Brief 66-10547 Category 02


High intensity radiation heat source is capable of sustained operation

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