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At least 235 records · Page 13

Aerodynamics of high-performance Ludwieg tubes.

A small perturbation analysis of the flow in a Ludwieg tube supply is described which includes both the growing turbulent boundary-layer and axial pipe nonuniformities. Measured pressure time histories are used to check the theory and its extension to high pipe Mach numbers and large flow perturbations. The nonsteady coupling of this flow to a nozzle is investigated. Calculations are made of the effects on the nozzle boundary layer, while a separate analysis is carried out for the case of complete mixing in a nozzle plenum. The double expansion nozzle is shown to extend Ludwieg-tube capability. Analytical and experimental studies are made of the aerodynamic problems that can arise in these nozzles.

Russell, D. A.↗

Tables of critical-flow functions and thermodynamic properties for methane and computational procedures for both methane and natural gas

Procedures for calculating the mass flow rate of methane and natural gas through nozzles are given, along with the FORTRAN 4 subroutines used to make these calculations. Three sets of independent variables are permitted in these routines. In addition to the plenum pressure and temperature, the third independent variable is either nozzle exit pressure, Mach number, or temperature. A critical-flow factor that becomes a convenient means for determining the mass flow rate of methane through critical-flow nozzles is tabulated. Other tables are included for nozzle throat velocity and critical pressure, density, and temperature ratios, along with some thermodynamic properties of methane, including compressibility factor, enthalpy, entropy, specific heat, specific-heat ratio, and speed of sound. These tabulations cover a temperature range from 120 to 600 K and pressures to 3 million N/sq m.

Johnson, R. C.↗

Experimental evaluation of the Skylab orbital workshop ventilation system concept

Extensive testing was conducted to evaluate the Orbital Workshop ventilation concept. Component tests were utilized to determine the relationship between operating characteristics at 1 and 0.34 atm. System tests were conducted at 1 atm within the Orbital Workshop full-scale mockup to assess delivered volumetric flow rate and compartment air velocities. Component tests with the Anemostat circular diffusers (plenum- and duct-mounted) demonstrated that the diffuser produced essentially equivalent airflow patterns and velocities in 1- and 0.34-atm environments. The tests also showed that the pressure drop across the diffuser could be scaled from 1 to 0.34 atm using the atmosphere pressure ratio. Fan tests indicated that the performance of a multiple, parallel-mounted fan cluster could be predicted by summing the single-fan flow rates at a given delta P.

Allums, S. L.↗

Throat-bypass bleed systems for increasing the stable airflow range of a Mach 2.50 axisymmetric inlet with 40-percent internal contraction

The results of an experimental investigation to increase the stable airflow range of a super sonic mixed-compression inlet are presented. Various throat-bypass bleeds were located on the inlet cowl. The bleed types were distributed porous normal holes, a forward slanted slot, or distributed educated slots. Large inlet stability margins were obtained with the inlet throat bleed systems if a constant pressure was maintained in the throat-bypass bleed plenum. Stability limits were determined for steady-state and limited transient internal air flow changes. Limited unstart angle-of-attack data are presented.

Sanders, B. W.↗

Molecular flux measurements in the back flow region of a nozzle plume

A series of tests were conducted to measure the mass flux in the far field of a nozzle plume in a high vacuum with emphasis on the back flow region. The measurements presented provided fairly accurate data for off-axis angles as large as 140 deg (i.e., in the back flow region). This region, since it is well behind the exit plane, is of paticular interest to those concerned with instrument contamination. Usually sensitive spacecraft surfaces are located in the region affected by the back flow. Parameters such as expansion ratio, throat diameter, nozzle lip shape, and plenum (chamber) pressure were varied, carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases were flowed and mass flux measurements were taken using quartz crystal microbalances in as many as nine different locations relative to the tests nozzle. Several conclusions with respect to the effect of nozzle and gas parameters on the amount of back flow mass flux are offered, and it was demonstrated that gaseous mass fluxes, which are not predictable by present theories, are encountered in the region behind the nozzle exit plane. This knowledge is significant if materials incompatible with the gaseous exhaust products are used in this region.

Chirivella, J. E.↗

Operation of small rocket engines in the JPL high-vacuum molecular space simulator (Molsink)

The feasibility of operating small rocket engines in the Molsink facility was demonstrated. A 0.44-N (0.1-lbf) hydrazine engine and a 0.18-N (0.04-lbf) thruster using cold gas from a hydrazine plenum system were operated for both flight duty cycles and off-nominal conditions. The exhaust gases from these thrusters contain NH3, N2, and H2. The chamber was also calibrated for larger bipropellant engines using nitrogen tetroxide/monomethyl hydrazine (NTO/MMH). The exhaust products of these engines contain CO2, CO, H2, H2O, and H2. A mixture of cold gases simulating the engine exhaust was injected through a nozzle under conditions simulating thrust levels up to 26.7-N (6 lbf). Pulsing and continuous operations were investigated. The chamber background pressure traces were compared with the traces obtained for the same thrusters operated with pure nitrogen at approximately equivalent thrust. Satisfactory recuperation times were encountered in all the pulsing modes. Test times greater than 20s were obtained in steady state operation before the vacuum chamber back pressure climbed to prohibitive values.

Chirivella, J. E.↗

VICS-120 - A tube-vehicle system test facility.

Description of a large test facility for carrying out research in support of the aerodynamic and ventilation section of a handbook on subway design. The facility described is vertically oriented and has a test section with a nominal inside diameter of 2 in. and a length of 109 ft. It is capable of operating at Reynolds numbers up to full-scale (60,000,000) under open-end tube conditions. The facility is distinguished by a high degree of flexibility in configuration and operational limits. Details are given concerning the plenum assembly, the test section tubes, the scaffold, the instrumentation, the model launcher, the model arrestor, and the models themselves. A step-by-step account is given of the operation of the facility, and a brief sample of the type of data obtained from the facility is presented.

Marte, J. E.↗

Mass flux measurements and correlations in the back flow region of a nozzle plume.

A series of tests were conducted to measure the mass flux in the far field of a nozzle plume in a high vacuum with emphasis on the back flow region. The measurements presented in this report provide fairly accurate data for off-axis angles as large as 140 deg (i.e., the back flow region). The tests utilized five different nozzles. Parameters such as expansion ratio, throat diameter, nozzle lip shape, and plenum (chamber) pressure were varied. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases were passed through, and mass flux measurements were taken using quartz crystal microbalances in as many as nine different locations relative to the test nozzle. The tests resulted in a large matrix of data that were correlated and compared to existing prediction theories. Several conclusions with respect to the effect of nozzle and gas parameters on the amount of back flow mass flux are offered, and it was demonstrated that gaseous mass fluxes, which are not predictable by present theories, are encountered in the region behind the nozzle exit plane.

Chirivella, J. E.↗

Extendible probe for atmosphere sampling

Sampling probe is extended through small plug in heat shield by loaded bellows to sample planetary atmosphere for compositional analysis and total pressure during entry of space probe. Assembly prevents contamination of sample by gases from pyrotechnic device and serves as sealed plenum for atmospheric pressure sensor.

Jones, W. J.↗

Calculation of supersonic stream parameters of a real gas from measurable quantities using FORTRAN 4 routines

Sets of routines are presented that calculate such real-gas supersonic stream properties as velocity, density, enthalpy, entropy, and isentropic exponent. Two alternative sets of measurements are assumed: (1) stagnation pressure, stagnation temperature, and the pressure on the surface of a static-pressure wedge; or (2) pressure and temperature in a plenum upstream of a supersonic nozzle and the stagnation pressure at the exit of this nozzle. The routines are applicable to any gas whose properties are known. Explicit routines are presented for determining these properties for air, nitrogen, oxygen, normal hydrogen, para-hydrogen, helium, argon, steam, methane, and natural gas.

Johnson, R. C.↗

Forward slanted slot throat stability bypass to increase the stable airflow range of a Mach 2.5 inlet with 60 percent internal contraction

The results of an experimental investigation to increase the stable airflow operating range of a supersonic mixed-compression inlet are presented. Two forward-slanted slot stability-bypass entrance configurations were tested. In terms of diffuser-exit corrected airflow, a large inlet stable airflow range of 18.5 percent was obtained with the superior configuration if a constant pressure was maintained in the bypass plenum. Limited unstart angle-of-attack data are presented.

Shaw, R. J.↗

Distributed porous throat stability bypass to increase the stable airflow range of a Mach 2.5 inlet with 60 percent internal contraction

The results of an experimental investigation to increase the stable airflow operating range of a supersonic, mixed-compression inlet with 60-percent internal contraction are presented. Various distributed-porous, throat stability-bypass entrance configurations were tested. In terms of diffuser-exit corrected airflow, a large inlet stable airflow range of about 25 percent was obtained with the optimum configuration if a constant pressure was maintained in the by-pass plenum. The location of the centerbody bleed region had a decided effect on the overall inlet performance. Limited unstart angle-of-attack data are presented.

Shaw, R. J.↗

Distributed educated throat stability bypass to increase the stable airflow range of a Mach 2.5 inlet with 60-percent internal contraction

The results of an experimental investigation to increase the stable airflow operating range of a supersonic mixed-compression inlet are presented. A distributed educated throat stability-bypass entrance configuration was tested. In terms of diffuser-exit corrected airflow, a large inlet stable airflow range of about 16.1 percent was obtained if a constant pressure was maintained in the bypass plenum. Limited unstart angle of attack data are presented.

Shaw, R. J.↗

Throat stability-by pass systems to increase the stable airflow range of a Mach 2.5 inlet with 60-percent internal contraction

The results of an experimental investigation to increase the stable airflow range (without unstart) of a supersonic mixed-compression inlet are presented. Various stability bypass entrances were located on the cowl side of the inlet throat. The types of entrance were distributed porous (normal holes), forward-slanted slot, and distributed educated slots. A large stable airflow range was obtained for each entrance type if a constant pressure was maintained in the stability bypass plenum. The distributed porous entrance provided the largest stable airflow range. Inlet unstart angle of attack was unaffected by the entrances.

Mitchell, G. A.↗

Heat-transfer and pressure distributions for laminar separated flows downstream of rearward-facing steps with and without mass suction

Heat-transfer and pressure distributions were measured for laminar separated flows downstream of rearward-facing steps with and without mass suction. The flow conditions were such that the boundary-layer thickness was comparable to or larger than the step height. For both suction and no-suction cases, an increase in the step height resulted in a sharp decrease in the initial heat-transfer rates behind the step. Downstream, however, the heat transfer gradually recovered back to less than or near attached-flow values. Mass suction from the step base area increased the local heat-transfer rates; however, this effect was relatively weak for the laminar flows considered. Even removal of the entire approaching boundary layer raised the post-step heat-transfer rates only about 10 percent above the flatplate values. Post-step pressure distributions were found to depend on the entrainment conditions at separation. In the case of the solid-faced step, a sharp pressure drop behind the step was followed by a very short plateau and relatively fast recompression. For the slotted-step connected to a large plenum but without suction, the pressure drop at the base was much smaller and the downstream recompression more gradual than that for solid-faced step.

Brown, R. D.↗

Calibration of the Langley 16-foot transonic tunnel with test section air removal

The Langley 16-foot transonic tunnel with test section air removal (plenum suction) was calibrated to a Mach number of 1.3. The results of the calibration, including the effects of slot shape modifications, test section wall divergence, and water vapor condensation, are presented. A complete description of the wind tunnel and its auxiliary equipment is included.

Corson, B. W., Jr.↗

Measurement techniques for supersonic combustion testing

Measurement techniques used during nine years of intensive research in supersonic combustion are presented. The tests employed a number of combustor and injector configurations, which were directly connected to a Mach 3.2 supersonic nozzle, and both gaseous hydrogen and storable liquid fuels. Nominal plenum conditions for the arc-heated air were 3000 to 4500 R and 30 atm. Measurements included wall surface pressures, wall temperatures, heat flux, skin friction, instream cone-static and pitot pressures, and gas samples. Measurement and analysis techniques have been developed for determining total enthalpy of an airstream containing NO concentrations in excess of equilibrium using the two-throat technique, bulk combustion efficiency using steam calorimetry, radial gradients of fluid properties in the combustor exit plane using a stream tube method, and wall shear from measurements of heat transfer in a reacting supersonic flow using Reynolds analogy.

Orth, R. C.↗

Results of reaction control system on-orbit jet simulation using an 0.0175-scale configuration 3 space shuttle orbiter model (21-0) in the LaRC 60-foot vacuum sphere

An experimental investigation was conducted to obtain detailed effects of the RCS jet flow direct impingement on the orbiter during on-orbit flight of the space shuttle vehicle. RCS flow was simulated by blowing a jet of cold air from nozzles attached to the model sting support system near the fuselage base. Thrust was obtained by setting the nozzle plenum pressure. Three RCS on-orbit flight conditions were simulated. Six component force data were measured on the complete model.

Marroquin, J.↗