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At least 217 records · Page 12

End-wall and profile losses in a low-speed axial flow compressor rotor

The blade-to-blade variation of relative stagnation pressure losses in the tip region inside the rotor of a single-stage, axial-flow compressor, is presented and interpreted in this paper. The losses are measured at two flow coefficients (one at the design point and the other at the near peak pressure rise point) to discern the effect of blade loading on the end-wall losses. The tip clearance losses are found to increase with an increase in the pressure rise coefficient. The losses away from the tip region and near the hub regions are measured downstream. The losses are integrated and interpreted in this paper.

Lakshminarayana, B.↗

Diffuser investigation for advanced multi-megawatt MPD engine development

Steady-state testing of advanced, multimegawatt MPD engines requires vacuum facilities with pumping speeds which are not presently available. Gas dynamic diffusers have been proposed as a possible solution to this problem. An analytical investigation into the feasibility of using a diffuser for pumping the MPD engine exhaust is presented here. This analysis uses a detailed equation of state based on the partition function for the high temperature argon exhaust. On the basis of the electron-ion momentum exchange collision frequency in the exhaust plasma, it was concluded that the diffuser gas dynamics could be modeled to a first approximation with ordinary continuum equations. Calculations of the stagnation pressure in the diffuser, downstream of a strong normal shock, yielded pressures on the order of 10 torr suggesting that the diffuser is feasible for pumping the MPD engine exhaust.

Brophy, J. R.↗

A three-dimensional dual potential procedure with applications to wind tunnel inlets and interacting boundary layers

A dual potential decomposition of the velocity field into a scalar and a vector potential function is extended to three dimensions and used in the finite-difference simulation of steady three-dimensional inviscid rotational flows and viscous flow. The finite-difference procedure was used to simulate the flow through the 80 by 120 ft wind tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center. Rotational flow produced by the stagnation pressure drop across vanes and screens which are located at the entrance of the inlet is modeled using actuator disk theory. Results are presented for two different inlet vane and screen configurations. The numerical predictions are in good agreement with experimental data. The dual potential procedure was also applied to calculate the viscous flow along two and three dimensional troughs. Viscous effects are simulated by injecting vorticity which is computed from a boundary layer algorithm. For attached flow over a three dimensional trough, the present calculations are in good agreement with other numerical predictions. For separated flow, it is shown from a two dimensional analysis that the boundary layer approximation provides an accurate measure of the vorticity in regions close to the wall; whereas further away from the wall, caution has to be exercised in using the boundary-layer equations to supply vorticity to the dual potential formulation.

Rao, K. V.↗

An experimental study on the effects of tip clearance on flow field and losses in an axial flow compressor rotor

Detailed measurement of the flow field in the tip region of a compressor rotor was carried out using a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV) and a Kiel probe at two different tip clearance heights. At both clearance sizes, the relative stagnation pressure and the axial and tangential components of relative velocities were measured upstream, inside the passage and downstream of the rotor, up to about 20 percent of the blade span from the annulus wall. The velocities, outlet angles, losses, momentum thickness, and force defect thickness are compared for the two clearances. A detailed interpretation of the effect of tip clearance on the flow field is given. There are substantial differences in flow field, on momentum thickness, and performance as the clearance is varied. The losses increase linearly within the passage and their values increase in direct proportion to tip clearance height. No discernable vortex (discrete) is observed downstream of the rotor.

Lakshminarayana, B.↗

Finite area combustor theoretical rocket performance

Previous to this report, the computer program of NASA SP-273 and NASA TM-86885 was capable of calculating theoretical rocket performance based only on the assumption of an infinite area combustion chamber (IAC). An option was added to this program which now also permits the calculation of rocket performance based on the assumption of a finite area combustion chamber (FAC). In the FAC model, the combustion process in the cylindrical chamber is assumed to be adiabatic, but nonisentropic. This results in a stagnation pressure drop from the injector face to the end of the chamber and a lower calculated performance for the FAC model than the IAC model.

Gordon, Sanford↗

Analytical and experimental validation of the Oblique Detonation Wave Engine concept

The Oblique Detonation Wave Engine (ODWE) for hypersonic flight has been analytically studied by NASA using the CFD codes which fully couple finite rate chemistry with fluid dynamics. Fuel injector designs investigated included wall and strut injectors, and the in-stream strut injectors were chosen to provide good mixing with minimal stagnation pressure losses. Plans for experimentally validating the ODWE concept in an arc-jet hypersonic wind tunnel are discussed. Measurements of the flow field properties behind the oblique wave will be compared to analytical predictions.

Adelman, Henry G.↗

Glancing shock wave-turbulent boundary layer interaction with boundary layer suction

Tests conducted to ascertain the stagnation pressure and flow angularity profiles of a turbulent boundary layer subjected to boundary layer suction (BLS) as it crosses a glancing sidewall shock wave have determined that the boundary layer does not separate upon crossing the shock wave. Without BLS, the upstream influence of the shock wave-induced wall static pressure rise was extensive, of the order of four bloundary layer thicknesses; for the same case, with suction, the extent of upstream influence was 50 percent lower. In addition, flow angularities at the wall were found to be smaller with suction than without it.

Barnhart, P. J.↗

Propulsion over a wide Mach number range

Criteria is presented to assess the relative merits of different propulsion systems. Previous references focus mainly on subsonic or low supersonic flight speeds. The main focus here is on a higher range, from low supersonic to orbital velocities. Air breathing propulsion systems for hypersonic flight persent the engine designer with circumstances that differ in important fundamental ways from those encountered in engines designed for operation at subsonic or low supersonic speeds. This analysis highlights the importance of various features of hypersonic engine design. Since the performance of hypersonic engines are energy limited, unlike low speed engines which are stagnation pressure limited, the efficient use of the energy of the fuel used is critical to minimize the take-off fuel mass fraction of the vehicle. Furthermore, since the required energy increase of a vehicle per incremental speed change increases with speed, the engine must be designed to operate efficiently at high speed. An analysis of engine performance in terms of entropy changes of the flow passing through the engine allows comparison of various engine designs as well as a convenient method to determine the effect of individual engine component efficiencies on overall engine performance.

Resler, Edwin L., Jr.↗

Cryogenic wind tunnel research - A global perspective

The development of cryogenic wind tunnels is reviewed and 13 cryogenic wind tunnels currently operating in England, France, Germany, Japan, and the U.S. are described. A table illustrating the characteristics of these tunnels is presented, including test gases, test section sizes, speed ranges, stagnation pressure and temperature, and running time. The research conducted using the various wind tunnels is outlined and the operation of each of the tunnels is considered.

Dress, D. A.↗

Mechanistic model for catalytic recombination during aerobraking maneuvers

Several mechanistic models are developed to predict recombination coefficients for use in heat shield design for reusable surface insulation (RSI) on aerobraking vehicles such as space shuttles. The models are applied over a temperature range of 300 to 1800 K and a stagnation pressure range of 0 to 3,000 Pa. A four parameter model in temperature was found to work best; however, several models (including those with atom concentrations at the surface) were also investigated. Mechanistic models developed with atom concentration terms may be applicable when sufficient data becomes available. The requirement is shown for recombination experiments in the 300 to 1000 K and 1500 to 1850 K temperature range, with deliberate concentration variations.

Willey, Ronald J.↗

Cryogenic wind tunnels. II

The application of the cryogenic concept to various types of tunnels including Ludwieg tube tunnel, Evans clean tunnel, blowdown, induced-flow, and continuous-flow fan-driven tunnels is discussed. Benefits related to construction and operating costs are covered, along with benefits related to new testing capabilities. It is noted that cooling the test gas to very low temperatures increases Reynolds number by more than a factor of seven. From the energy standpoint, ambient-temperature fan-driven closed-return tunnels are considered to be the most efficient type of tunnel, while a large reduction in the required tunnel stagnation pressure can be achieved through cryogenic operation. Operating envelopes for three modes of operation for a cryogenic transonic pressure tunnel with a 2.5 by 2.5 test section are outlined. A computer program for calculating flow parameters and power requirements for wind tunnels with operating temperatures from saturation to above ambient is highlighted.

Kilgore, Robert A.↗

Condensation effects on Rayleigh scattering measurements in a supersonic wind tunnel

Rayleigh and Raman scattering measurements have been performed in the 20-in., Mach 6 wind tunnel at the NASA Langley Research Center. Rayleigh results show signal levels much higher than expected for molecular scattering in the tunnel, whereas densities deduced from spontaneous Raman scattering of molecular nitrogen are in good agreement with the expected nitrogen densities in the facility. The apparent discrepancy in the Rayleigh result is attributed to cluster formation as a result of expansion in the tunnel. The dependence of the Rayleigh signal on the stagnation pressure and temperature is also discussed.

Shirinzadeh, B.↗

Phenomenological and experimental study of the thermal response of low density silica ablators to high enthalpy plasma flows

A complete analysis of the melting-ablator governing equations is carried out for porous ablators with the purpose of establishing an approximate analytical model capable of determining surface recession, temperature, and heat flux as well as in-depth temperature profiles. A detailed dimensional analysis of the melt-flow governing equations is performed for parameters applicable to high-enthalpy flows. Results of arc-jet flow experiments performed on NASA Reusable Surface Insulation materials of different densities and over a range of stagnation pressures and heat fluxes are discussed. A dimensionless correlation for melt run-offs is derived in terms of material and flow parameters; however, it is pointed out that the accuracy of the current data is sufficient to conclude the compliance with the model.

Henline, William D.↗

The magnetic barrier at Venus

Altitude profiles of the Venus magnetic barrier are derived here from a statistical analysis of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter magnetometer data. The outer boundary of the magnetic barrier is then compared with the obstacle expected from gasdynamic models of the bow shock, and the stagnation pressure is compared with that expected from gasdynamic theory. The magnetic barrier is strongest at the subsolar point and weakens as expected with increasing solar zenith angle. The existence of a north-south asymmetry in the barrier strength is also demonstrated. The magnetic barrier is about 200 km thick at the subsolar point and 800 km thick at the terminator. The magnetic barrier transfers most of the solar wind dynamic pressure to the ionosphere via the enhanced magnetic pressure. The convected field gasdynamic model predicts the correct bow shock location if the magnetic barrier is treated as the obstacle.

Zhang, T. L.↗

Investigation of three-dimensional flow field in a turbine including rotor/stator interaction. II - Three-dimensional flow field at the exit of the nozzle

The nozzle exit flowfield was measured at two axial locations with a miniature five-hole probe. Measurements were taken from hub-to-tip, blade-to-blade at 21 radial locations and at two axial locations downstream of the nozzle trailing edge to resolve the flowfield accurately including the nozzle wake, secondary flow region, horseshoe vortex and losses. All three components of the velocity, stagnation pressure, static pressure, and pitch and yaw angles have been resolved very accurately. The wake data seems to indicate that the decay of the wake is faster than the wake of an isolated nozzle row. The cause of this is attributed to the presence of the rotor downstream. A distinct vortex core has been observed near the tip. The indications are that the horseshoe vortex and the passage vortex have merged to produce a single loss core region. Roughly a third of the blade height passage near the tip and a third of the blade height near the hub is dominated by secondary flow, passage vortex and the horseshoe vortex phenomena. Only the middle third of the nozzle behaves as per design. These and other data are presented, interpreted and synthesized to understand the nozzle flowfield.

Zaccaria, M.↗

Development and operation of new arc heater technology for a large-scale scramjet propulsion test facility

An arc-heater technology development effort conducted at NASA-Ames has led to the creation of a 100 MW Huels arc heater which has been integrated into the hydrogen-fueled Direct Connect Arcjet Facility for long-duration, high Mach-number scramjet performance evaluation. This development effort has significantly advanced the design of vortex-stabilized arc heaters; air enthalpy levels of 2.8-7.5 MJ/kg, at stagnation pressures of up to 45 atm, are produced. The facility furnishes technology-development support that is critical to the definition of NASP-related propulsion systems.

Balboni, John↗

Atmospheric entry of Mars-return nuclear-powered vehicles due to accidental termination of operations

The entry of nuclear reactors into Earth's atmosphere resulting from an accidental or inadvertent abort of a space vehicle powered by nuclear-thermal rockets is investigated. The study is made for a typical piloted Mars mission vehicle incapacitated by an accident or malfunction during the Earth-arrival phase of the Mars-return journey due to simultaneous, multiple failures of its component systems. A single accident/abort scenario resulting in three entry possibilities is considered for a nominal hyperbolic in-bound approach velocity of 8 km/sec. The most severe case involving a direct entry is then analyzed over a broad range of approach velocities extending to 12 km/sec to include sprint-type missions. The results indicate that the severe surface heating, stagnation pressures, and g-loads are greater than 150 kW/sq cm, 300 atm, and 800-g, respectively. The wall heat transfer rate exceeds the value that can be accommodated by a carbon heatshield through radiation equilibrium prior to sublimation at 5500 K. These conditions are beyond our previous experience in crew safety, structural design, and thermal protection.

Menees, Gene P.↗

Experimental investigation of an 0.8 hub-tip radius-ratio,nontwisted-rotor-blade turbine

An experimental investigation of a 0.8 hub-tip radius ratio, nontwisted-rotor-blade turbine designed for a stagnation-pressure ratio of 2.5 and an equivalent mean blade speed of 643 feet per second was made in a cold-air turbine with (a) nontwisted stator blades, and (b) twisted stator blades designed to maintain zero rotor-inlet incidence angles. Turbine efficiencies of the order of 0.85 at the design point were obtained with a nontwisted-rotor-blade turbine with a hub-tip radius ratio of 0.80. The turbine with the twisted stator blades gave higher efficiencies at the design point (of the order of 1.5 percentage points) than the turbine with the nontwisted stator blades.

TURBINES - AXIAL FLOW↗