Application of Radioactive Tracer Techniques to Flow Decay Problems.
Abstract
In this program various applications of radioactive tracer techniques to flow decay problems were explored. The main object of the program was to develop a sensitive tool which could be used to detect the time, place, and degree of deposition of metal contaminants within various components of a propellant feed system. Such a tool was successfully developed and readily applied to flow studies involving nitrogen tetroxide and hydrazine. As an analytical tool, thermal neutron activation followed by gamma counting was shown to be a sensitive method for the quantitative analysis of a variety of metals in liquid propellants. For purposes of demonstration, the experimental investigation was limited to the metals iron, zinc, and chromium and the propellants hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide. Both 'wet' and 'dry' analytical methods were employed. In the wet method the propellant and its contents were activated; in the dry method the residue left after the propellant had been evaporated was activated. The dry method was found to be more widely applicable to propellants and was simpler to employ. Limits of detection of 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 parts per million (ppm) were found for iron, zinc, and chromium respectively.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- ADA075550
Entities
People
- James R. O'brien
- Kent E. Pullen
- T. Lynn Smith
Organizations
- Boeing