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Franciscus, L. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Franciscus, L. C..

At least 19 records

Supersonic STOVL aircraft with turbine bypass/turbo-compressor engines

Three propulsion systems for a Mach 2 STOVL fighter were compared. The three propulsion systems are: (1) turbine bypass engine with a turbocompressor used for STOVL only; (2) turbine bypass engine with a turbocompressor for both STOVL and thrust during forward flight; and (3) mixed flow afterburning turbofan with a remote burner lift system. In the first system, the main engines have afterburners and the turbocompressors use afterburning during STOVL. In the second system, the turbine bypass engines are dry and the turbocompressors have afterburners. The mission used in the study is a deck launched intercept mission. It is indicated that large improvements in combat time are possible when the turbocompressors are used for both left and thrust for forward flight. Previously announced in STAR as N84-24582

Franciscus, L. C.

Supersonic STOVL aircraft with turbine bypass/turbo-compressor engines

Three propulsion systems for a Mach 2 STOVL fighter were compared. The three propulsion systems are: (1) turbine bypass engine with a turbocompressor used for STOVL only; (2) turbine bypass engine with a turbocompressor for both STOVL and thrust during forward flight; and (3) mixed flow afterburning turbofan with a remote burner lift system. In the first system, the main engines have afterburners and the turbocompressors use after burning during STOVL. In the second system, the turbine bypass engines are dry and the turbocompressors have afterburners. The mission used in the study is a deck launched intercept mission. It is indicated that large improvements in combat time are possible when the turbocompressors are used for both left and thrust for forward flight.

Franciscus, L. C.

Supersonic fan engines for military aircraft

Engine performance and mission studies were performed for turbofan engines with supersonic through-flow fans. A Mach 2.4 CTOL aircraft was used in the study. Two missions were considered: a long range penetrator mission and a long range intercept mission. The supersonic fan engine is compared with an augmented mixed flow turbofan in terms of mission radius for a fixed takeoff gross weight of 75,000 lbm. The mission radius of aircraft powered by supersonic fan engines could be 15 percent longer than aircraft powered with conventional turbofan engines at moderate thrust to gross weight ratios. The climb and acceleration performance of the supersonic fan engines is better than that of the conventional turbofan engines.

Franciscus, L. C.

Supersonic fan engines for military aircraft

Engine performance and mission studies were performed for turbofan engines with supersonic through-flow fans. A Mach 2.4 CTOL aircraft was used in the study. Two missions were considered: a long range penetrator mission and a long range intercept mission. The supersonic fan engine is compared with an augmented mixed flow turbofan in terms of mission radius for a fixed takeoff gross weight of 75,000 lbm. The mission radius of aircraft powered by supersonic fan engines could be 15 percent longer than aircraft powered with conventional turbofan engines at moderate thrust to gross weight ratios. The climb and acceleration performance of the supersonic fan engines is better than that of the conventional turbofan engines. Previously announced in STAR as N83-34947

Franciscus, L. C.

A remote augmentor lift system with a turbine bypass engine

Two supersonic vertical takeoff or landing (VTOL) aircraft engine types, a conventional medium bypass ratio turbofan, and a turbine bypass turbojet were studied. The aircraft assumed was a clipped delta wing with canard configuration. A VTOL deck launched intercept, DLI, mission with Mach 1.6 dash and cruise segments was used as the design mission. Several alternate missions requiring extended subsonic capabilities were analyzed. Comparisons were made between the turbofan (TF) and the turbine bypass turbojet (TBE) engines in airplane types using a Remote Augmented Lift Systems, RALS and a Lift plus Lift Cruise system (L+LC). The figure of merit was takeoff gross weight for the VTOL DLI mission. The results of the study show that the turbine bypass turbojet and the conventional turbofan are competitive engines for both type of aircraft in terms of takeoff gross weight and range. However, the turbine bypass turbojet would be a simpler engine and may result in more attractive life cycle costs and reduced maintenance. The RALS and L+LC airplane types with either TBE or TF engines have approximately the same aircraft takeoff gross weight.

Fishbach, L. H.

Turbine bypass engine - A new supersonic cruise propulsion concept

Engine performance and mission studies were carried out for a single-spool turbine bypass engine (TBE) concept. Comparisons were made between the TBE, a conventional single-spool turbojet, and the Pratt and Whitney Variable Stream Control Engine (VSCE). The airplane assumed for the study was a Mach 2.32 commercial supersonic transport. The nominal mission was a 4000 n mi total range with a 300 n mi subsonic cruise leg. The figure of merit was the minimum takeoff gross weight for the mission. Comparisons of the three engines were also made for the 4000 n mi total range with longer subsonic cruise legs.

Franciscus, L. C.

The supersonic fan engine - An advanced concept in supersonic cruise propulsion

Engine performance and mission studies were conducted for a novel turbofan engine concept incorporating a supersonic through-flow fan, and comparisons were made with two supersonic transport (SST) engine concepts of equivalent thrust and technological sophistication. It was found that in the case of an SST with a cruise speed of Mach 2.32, the through-flow fan engine may yield ranges 10 to 20% greater than the two alternatives considered. The engine has a conventional core, with the supersonic fan being driven by a concentric low-pressure turbine that is uncoupled with the single, high pressure turbine/compressor core spool. Among the topics discussed are the methods of analysis employed and perturbation studies concerning supersonic fan adiabatic efficiency, fan discharge characteristics and propulsion system weight.

Franciscus, L. C.

Turbine bypass engine: A new supersonic cruise propulsion concept

Engine performance and mission studies were carried out for a single-spool Turbine Bypass Engine concept. Comparisons were made between the TBE, a conventional single-spool turbojet, and the Pratt & Whitney Variable Stream Control Engine. The airplane assumed for the study was a Mach 2.32 commercial supersonic transport. The nominal mission was a 4000-nautical miles total range with a 300-nautical miles subsonic cruise leg. The figure of merit was the minimum takeoff gross weight for the mission. Comparisons of the three engines were also made for the 4000-nautical miles total range with longer subsonic cruise legs.

Franciscus, L. C.

The supersonic fan engine: An advanced concept in supersonic cruise propulsion

Engine performance and mission studies were carried out for turbofan engines equipped with supersonic through-flow fans. The mission was for a commercial supersonic transport with a Mach 2.32 capability. The advantages of the supersonic fan engines are discussed in terms of mission range comparisons with other engine types. The effects of fan efficiency, inlet losses, and engine weight on engine performance and mission range are shown. The range of a supersonic transport with supersonic fan engines could be 10 to 20 percent better than with other types having the same technology core.

Franciscus, L. C.

Supersonic through-flow fan engines for supersonic cruise aircraft

Engine performance, weight and mission studies were carried out for supersonic through flow fan engine concepts. The mission used was a Mach 2.32 cruise mission. The advantages of supersonic through flow fan engines were evaluated in terms of mission range comparisons between the supersonic through flow fan engines and a more conventional turbofan engine. The specific fuel consumption of the supersonic through flow fan engines was 12 percent lower than the more conventional turbofan. The aircraft mission range was increased by 20 percent with the supersonic fan engines compared to the conventional turbofan.

Franciscus, L. C.

Aircraft engine weight and dimensions

Program estimates engine weights and major dimensions on compartment to compartment basis for any engine with components that can be represented within the program. Data base of program reflects selected high technology engines from supersonic cruise aircraft research studies, some NASA in-house results, and some older military supersonic engines.

Franciscus, L. C.

Supersonic-combustion rocket

A supersonic combustion rocket is provided in which a small rocket motor is substituted for heavy turbo pumps in a conventional rocket engine. The substitution results in a substantial reduction in rocket engine weight. The flame emanating from the small rocket motor can act to ignite non-hypergolic fuels.

Weber, R. J.

Upper-stage space shuttle propulsion by means of separate scramjet and rocket engines

A preliminary mission study of a reusable vehicle from staging to orbit indicates payload advantages for a dual-propulsion system consisting of separate scramjet and rocket engines. In the analysis the scramjet operated continuously and the initiation of rocket operation was varied. For a stage weight of 500,000 lb the payload was 10.4 percent of stage weight or 70 percent greater than that of a comparable all-rocket-powered stage. When compared with a reusable two-state rocket vehicle having 50,000 lb payload, the use of the dual propulsion system for the second stage resulted in significant decreases in lift-off weight and empty weight, indicating possible lower hardware costs.

Franciscus, L. C.

Analysis of a supersonic-combustion rocket concept

A preliminary analysis has been made of a supersonic-combustion rocket engine concept using hydrogen and oxygen propellants. The ejector action of a separate small rocket motor is employed to pump the propellants to high stagnation pressures and supersonic velocities. Therefore complicated heavy turbopumps are eliminated and cooling problems of a sonic throat are reduced. The results of the study show that vacuum specific impulse levels as high as a conventional rocket having the same chamber pressure as the drive motor are possible. The supersonic-combustion rocket would be an attractive alternate for a high-altitude low-thrust conventional rocket operating with a pressure feed propellant system. It would also be a convenient technique for obtaining extremely high thrusts without the need for developing corresponding large turbopumps.

Franciscus, L. C.