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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 253 records · Page 14

Hybrid-Electric Aero-Propulsion Controls Testbed Results

NASA is supporting the development of Electrified Aircraft Propulsion (EAP) technology due to its potential to reduce aircraft fuel burn, emissions, and noise as well as improving safety and performance. One focus of this research is the electrification of conventional turbomachinery propulsion systems, which offers ways to improve the performance and operability of turbine-engine powered aircraft through the addition of electro-mechanical systems. These hybrid-electric turbine engines provide additional actuation and energy management control opportunities for improving stability and transient response behavior. This paper summarizes the results of a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test performed at the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) during the summer of 2022. The test demonstrates the feasibility and performance of an advanced energy management control strategy by integrating a simulated turbofan engine with scaled electro-mechanical hardware. A full-scale real-time reference model of a geared turbofan was run alongside a scaled electro-mechanical system representing the electrified turbofan components operating at a megawatt-scale power level. The model was interfaced with the hardware through a novel closed-loop control and scaling algorithm that emulated the dynamic speed and torque response of the turbofan shafts. The control strategy was implemented on the electrical machines connected to the emulated turbomachinery shafts. The results from the testbed are compared against simulations that predict the testbed and geared turbofan model operation. The energy management control strategy successfully changed the operating point of the engine model and improved its stability during throttle transients. These results also demonstrate the success of the novel closed loop control and scaling approach for emulating turbomachinery and elevate the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the energy management control strategy.

Aeronautics↗

Evaluation of heat engine for hybrid vehicle application

The status of ongoing heat-engine developments, including spark-ignition, compression-ignition, internal-combustion, and external-combustion engines is presented. The potential of engine concepts under consideration for hybrid vehicle use is evaluated, using self-imposed criteria for selection. The deficiencies of the engines currently being evaluated in hybrid vehicles are discussed. Focus is on recent research with two-stroke, rotary, and free-piston engines. It is concluded that these engine concepts have the most promising potential for future application in hybrid vehicles. Recommendations are made for analysis and experimentation to evaluate stop-start and transient emission behavior of recommended engine concepts.

Schneider, H. W.↗

Supersonic wind tunnel optimization

Attention is given to major problems arising in the course of definition studies for an optimum supersonic wind tunnel facility that incorporates advanced technologies. The issues identified encompass (1) large amplitude stream disturbances due to acoustic radiation from nozzle wall boundary layers; (2) flow field and model shape distortion caused by sting supports and their installation; (3) lack of sufficient three-dimensional flow visualizaton and diagnostic capabilities that allow ready identification of 'Reynolds number effects'; (4) lack of aerodynamic/propulsion facilities for investigation of the requisite range of vehicle attitudes and transient propulsion behavior; and (5) inordinately large energy usage, primarily due to diffuser inefficiency. Remedies are offered for these problems.

Bushnell, D. M.↗

Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE II)

Design features and the performance envelope of the SAGE II stratospheric aerosol monitoring instrument on the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite are described. SAGE II was designed to obtain vertical profiles of stratospheric aerosols, monitor global seasonal changes in aerosols, provide data on stratospheric circulation and the behavior of transient events such as volcanic particulate injections, and to investigate atmospheric chemistry. The mmeasurements are centered on extinctions due to aerosols, NO2, O3 and water vapor.

Mcmaster, L. R.↗

Efficient numerical simulation of an electrothermal de-icer pad

In this paper, a new approach to calculate the transient thermal behavior of an iced electrothermal de-icer pad was developed. The method of splines was used to obtain the temperature distribution within the layered pad. Splines were used in order to create a tridiagonal system of equations that could be directly solved by Gauss elimination. The Stefan problem was solved using the enthalpy method along with a recent implicit technique. Only one to three iterations were needed to locate the melt front during any time step. Computational times were shown to be greatly reduced over those of an existing one dimensional procedure without any reduction in accuracy; the curent technique was more than 10 times faster.

Roelke, R. J.↗

Analytical modelling of no-vent fill process

An analytical model called FILL is presented which represents the first step in attaining the capability for no-vent fill of cryogens in space. The model's analytical structure is described, including the equations used to calculate transient thermodynamic behavior in different regions of the tank. The code predictions are compared with data from recent no-vent fill ground tests using Freon-114. The results are used to validate the FILL model to evaluate the viability of universal submerged jet theory in predicting system-level condensation effects.

Vaughan, David A.↗

Hot-spot tectonics of Eistla Regio, Venus: Results from Magellan images and Pioneer Venus gravity

Eistla Regio (ER) is a broad, low, discontinuous topographic rise striking roughly EW at low northern latitudes of Venus. Some 2000 x 7000 km in dimensions, it is the third largest rise in planform on Venus after Aphrodite Terra and Beta Phoebe Regiones. These rises are the key physiographic elements in a hot spot model of global tectonics including transient plume behavior. Since ER is the first such rise viewed by Magellan and the latitude is very favorable for Pioneer Venus gravity studies, some of the predictions of a time dependent hot spot model are tested. Western ER is defined as the rise including Gula and Sif Mons and central ER as that including Sappho Patera. Superior conjunction prevented Magellan from returning data on eastern ER (Pavlova) during the first mapping cycle. It is concluded that the western and central portions of ER, while part of the same broad topographic rise and tectonic framework, have distinctly different surface ages and gravity signatures. The western rise, including Gula and Sif Mons, is the expression of deep seated uplift with volcanism limited to the individual large shields. The eastern portion has been widely resurfaced more recently by thermal anomalies in the mantle.

Grimm, Robert E.↗

Multivariable control of the Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator System using linearization by state feedback

This thesis develops and demonstrates an approach to nonlinear control system design using linearization by state feedback. The design provides improved transient response behavior allowing faster maneuvering of payloads by the SRMS. Modeling uncertainty is accounted for by using a second feedback loop designed around the feedback linearized dynamics. A classical feedback loop is developed to provide the easy implementation required for the relatively small on board computers. Feedback linearization also allows the use of higher bandwidth model based compensation in the outer loop, since it helps maintain stability in the presence of the nonlinearities typically neglected in model based designs.

Gettman, Chang-Ching LO↗

Bounds on internal state variables in viscoplasticity

A typical viscoplastic model will introduce up to three types of internal state variables in order to properly describe transient material behavior; they are as follows: the back stress, the yield stress, and the drag strength. Different models employ different combinations of these internal variables--their selection and description of evolution being largely dependent on application and material selection. Under steady-state conditions, the internal variables cease to evolve and therefore become related to the external variables (stress and temperature) through simple functional relationships. A physically motivated hypothesis is presented that links the kinetic equation of viscoplasticity with that of creep under steady-state conditions. From this hypothesis one determines how the internal variables relate to one another at steady state, but most importantly, one obtains bounds on the magnitudes of stress and back stress, and on the yield stress and drag strength.

Freed, Alan D.↗

Quantitative Mapping of Pore Fraction Variations in Silicon Nitride Using an Ultrasonic Contact Scan Technique

An ultrasonic scan procedure using the pulse-echo contact configuration was employed to obtain maps of pore fraction variations in sintered silicon nitride samples in terms of ultrasonic material properties. Ultrasonic velocity, attenuation coefficient, and reflection coefficient images were obtained simultaneously over a broad band of frequencies (e.g., 30 to 110 MHz) by using spectroscopic analysis. Liquid and membrane (dry) coupling techniques and longitudinal and shear-wave energies were used. The major results include the following: Ultrasonic velocity (longitudinal and shear wave) images revealed and correlated with the extent of average through-thickness pore fraction variations in the silicon nitride disks. Attenuation coefficient images revealed pore fraction nonuniformity due to the scattering that occurred at boundaries between regions of high and low pore fraction. Velocity and attenuation coefficient images were each nearly identical for machined and polished disks, making the method readily applicable to machined materials. Velocity images were similar for wet and membrane coupling. Maps of apparent Poisson's ratio constructed from longitudinal and shear-wave velocities quantified Poisson's ratio variations across a silicon nitride disk. Thermal wave images of a disk indicated transient thermal behavior variations that correlated with observed variations in pore fraction and velocity and attenuation coefficients.

Roth, Don J.↗

A Phenomenological Description of Primary Creep in Class M Materials

Observations of creep microstructures in the primary creep region in class M materials show a remarkable similarity with those formed in the exponential creep regime. As a result, it is proposed that the constitutive creep law for normal primary creep is similar to that for the exponential creep regime. A phenomenological description is discussed to rationalize these microstructural observations in terms of a normalized strain rate vs. stress plot. The implications of this plot in describing different testing procedures, steady-state flow, and on the observed deviations from the universal creep law are discussed. The plot is also extended to explain the observed similarities in the transient creep behavior in pre-strained materials and in stress change experiments.

Raj, S. V.↗

Electrically Isolating Thermally Coupled Device for Noise Suppression of Circuits in Deep Space

Mixed mode rad hard avionics Systems on a Chip (SoC) designed for deep space applications such as Europa orbiters and Europa Landers will require data isolation circuits to block noise. This paper presents the simulation performance for a novel rad hard SOI CMOS compatible thermal transducer used for on-chip data isolation in SoC. The research presented involves the use of commercially available computer aided design tools to model the transient electrothermal behavior of the transducer. Both one- and two-dimensional analyses of a prototype thermal transducer were performed. Results indicate that thermal-based data isolator technology can pass a data bit in under a microsecond and, as a measurement of feasibility, I(exp 2)C bus specifications can be met.

Mantooth, A.↗

Single Droplet Combustion of Decane in Microgravity: Experiments and Numerical Modeling

This paper presents experimental data on single droplet combustion of decane in microgravity and compares the results to a numerical model. The primary independent experiment variables are the ambient pressure and oxygen mole fraction, pressure, droplet size (over a relatively small range) and ignition energy. The droplet history (D(sup 2) history) is non-linear with the burning rate constant increasing throughout the test. The average burning rate constant, consistent with classical theory, increased with increasing ambient oxygen mole fraction and was nearly independent of pressure, initial droplet size and ignition energy. The flame typically increased in size initially, and then decreased in size, in response to the shrinking droplet. The flame standoff increased linearly for the majority of the droplet lifetime. The flame surrounding the droplet extinguished at a finite droplet size at lower ambient pressures and an oxygen mole fraction of 0.15. The extinction droplet size increased with decreasing pressure. The model is transient and assumes spherical symmetry, constant thermo-physical properties (specific heat, thermal conductivity and species Lewis number) and single step chemistry. The model includes gas-phase radiative loss and a spherically symmetric, transient liquid phase. The model accurately predicts the droplet and flame histories of the experiments. Good agreement requires that the ignition in the experiment be reasonably approximated in the model and that the model accurately predict the pre-ignition vaporization of the droplet. The model does not accurately predict the dependence of extinction droplet diameter on pressure, a result of the simplified chemistry in the model. The transient flame behavior suggests the potential importance of fuel vapor accumulation. The model results, however, show that the fractional mass consumption rate of fuel in the flame relative to fuel vaporized is close to 1.0 for all but the lowest ambient oxygen mole fractions.

Dietrich, D. L.↗

Reduced Gravity Studies of Soret Transport Effects in Liquid Fuel Combustion

Soret transport, which is mass transport driven by thermal gradients, can be important in practical flames as well as laboratory flames by influencing transport of low molecular weight species (e.g., monatomic and diatomic hydrogen). In addition, gas-phase Soret transport of high molecular weight fuel species that are present in practical liquid fuels (e.g., octane or methanol) can be significant in practical flames (Rosner et al., 2000; Dakhlia et al., 2002) and in high pressure droplet evaporation (Curtis and Farrell, 1992), and it has also been shown that Soret transport effects can be important in determining oxygen diffusion rates in certain classes of microgravity droplet combustion experiments (Aharon and Shaw, 1998). It is thus useful to obtain information on flames under conditions where Soret effects can be clearly observed. This research is concerned with investigating effects of Soret transport on combustion of liquid fuels, in particular liquid fuel droplets. Reduced-gravity is employed to provide an ideal (spherically-symmetrical) experimental model with which to investigate effects of Soret transport on combustion. The research will involve performing reduced-gravity experiments on combustion of liquid fuel droplets in environments where Soret effects significantly influence transport of fuel and oxygen to flame zones. Experiments will also be performed where Soret effects are not expected to be important. Droplets initially in the 0.5 to 1 mm size range will be burned. Data will be obtained on influences of Soret transport on combustion characteristics (e.g., droplet burning rates, droplet lifetimes, gas-phase extinction, and transient flame behaviors) under simplified geometrical conditions that are most amenable to theoretical modeling (i.e., spherical symmetry). The experiments will be compared with existing theoretical models as well as new models that will be developed. Normal gravity experiments will also be performed.

Shaw, Benjamin D.↗

HILIGT, Upper Limit Servers II - Implementing the Data Servers

The High-Energy Light curve Generator(HILIGT) is a new web-based tool which allows the user to generate long-term light curves of X-ray sources. It provides historical data and calculates upper limits from image data in real-time. HILIGT utilizes data from twelve satellites, both modern missions such as XMM-Newton and Swift, and earlier facilities such as ROSAT, EXOSAT, Einstein or Ariel V. Together, this enables the user to query 50 years of X-ray data and, for instance, study outburst behavior of transient sources. In this paper we focus on the individual back-end servers for each satellite, detailing the software layout, database design, catalog calls, and image footprints. We compile all relevant calibration information of these missions and provide an in-depth summary of the details of X-ray astronomical instrumentation and data.

Ole Konig↗

On Predicting Transient Pressure in Vacuum Systems Featuring Getter Materials

Getter materials have been used to reduce pressure or partial pressures in a variety of vacuum applications ranging from vacuum tubes to space flight science instruments. Testing of getter materials has tended to emphasize the capacity of candidate materials to collect specific gas species in sufficient quantities to size them in these applications. When determining a getter material’s capacity, it is typically subjected to enough excess target gas to ensure it sorbs as quickly as possible. However, when both the gas source strength and the getter’s sorption rate exhibit transient decay behavior, such data is not sufficient to predict the targeted species’ partial pressure within a vacuum system as a function of time.

M. S. Woronowicz↗

On Predicting Transient Pressure in Vacuum Systems Featuring Getter Materials

Getter materials have been used to reduce pressure or partial pressures in a variety of vacuum applications ranging from vacuum tubes to space flight science instruments. Testing of getter materials has tended to emphasize the capacity of candidate materials to collect specific gas species in sufficient quantities to size them in these applications. When determining a getter material’s capacity, it is typically subjected to enough excess target gas to ensure it sorbs as quickly as possible. However, when both the gas source strength and the getter’s sorption rate exhibit transient decay behavior, such data is not sufficient to predict the targeted species’ partial pressure within a vacuum system as a function of time.

M. S. Woronowicz↗