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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 37 records · Page 2

The Theory of Propellers I : Determination of the Circulation Function and the Mass Coefficient for Dual-Rotating Propellers

Values of the circulation function have been obtained for dual-rotating propellers. Numerical values are given for four, eight, and twelve-blade dual-rotating propellers and for advance ratios from 2 to about 6. In addition, the circulation function has been determine for single-rotating propellers for the higher values of the advance ratio. The mass coefficient, another quantity of significance in propeller theory, has been introduced.

Theodorsen, Theodore

Portable propellant cutting assembly, and method of cutting propellant with assembly

A propellant cutting assembly and method of using the assembly to cut samples of solid propellant in a repeatable and consistent manner is disclosed. The cutting assembly utilizes two parallel extension beams which are shorter than the diameter of a central bore of an annular solid propellant grain and can be loaded into the central bore. The assembly is equipped with retaining heads at its respective ends and an adjustment mechanism to position and wedge the assembly within the central bore. One end of the assembly is equipped with a cutting blade apparatus which can be extended beyond the end of the extension beams to cut into the solid propellant.

Sharp, Roger A.

Liquid Oxygen Propellant Densification Production and Performance Test Results With a Large-Scale Flight-Weight Propellant Tank for the X33 RLV

This paper describes in-detail a test program that was initiated at the Glenn Research Center (GRC) involving the cryogenic densification of liquid oxygen (LO2). A large scale LO2 propellant densification system rated for 200 gpm and sized for the X-33 LO2 propellant tank, was designed, fabricated and tested at the GRC. Multiple objectives of the test program included validation of LO2 production unit hardware and characterization of densifier performance at design and transient conditions. First, performance data is presented for an initial series of LO2 densifier screening and check-out tests using densified liquid nitrogen. The second series of tests show performance data collected during LO2 densifier test operations with liquid oxygen as the densified product fluid. An overview of LO2 X-33 tanking operations and load tests with the 20,000 gallon Structural Test Article (STA) are described. Tank loading testing and the thermal stratification that occurs inside of a flight-weight launch vehicle propellant tank were investigated. These operations involved a closed-loop recirculation process of LO2 flow through the densifier and then back into the STA. Finally, in excess of 200,000 gallons of densified LO2 at 120 oR was produced with the propellant densification unit during the demonstration program, an achievement that s never been done before in the realm of large-scale cryogenic tests.

Tomsik, Thomas M.

Thermal Vacuum Test Correlation of A Zero Propellant Load Case Thermal Capacitance Propellant Gauging Analytics Model

This thesis describes the development and test data validation of the thermal model that is the foundation of a thermal capacitance spacecraft propellant load estimator. Specific details of creating the thermal model for the diaphragm propellant tank used on NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft using ANSYS and the correlation process implemented to validate the model are presented. The thermal model was correlated to within plus or minus 3 degrees Centigrade of the thermal vacuum test data, and was found to be relatively insensitive to uncertainties in applied heat flux and mass knowledge of the tank. More work is needed, however, to refine the thermal model to further improve temperature predictions in the upper hemisphere of the propellant tank. Temperatures predictions in this portion were found to be 2-2.5 degrees Centigrade lower than the test data. A road map to apply the model to predict propellant loads on the actual MMS spacecraft toward its end of life in 2017-2018 is also presented.

Thermal

Proposal for Determining the Mass of Liquid Propellant Within a Space Vehicle Propellant Tank Subjected to a Zero Gravity Environment

A liquid propellant mass measurement system is proposed for the zero gravity environment. The known thermodynamic relationships for the liquid propellant and helium gas concomitant with state of the art instrumentation are used to provide a system comparable with present day terrestrial mass measuring systems. In particular, the operation of the system is outlined for the propellant transfer method and for the determination of leaks and leakage rates. A second concept which is a simplified version of the proposed mass measurement system is introduced and discussed.

PROPELLANT TANK

Long-Term Cryogenic Propellant Storage on Mars with Hercules Propellant Storage Facility

This report details the process and results of roughly sizing the steady state, zero boil-off thermal and power parameters of the Hercules Propellant Storage Facility. For power analysis, isothermal and isobaric common bulkhead tank scenarios are considered. An estimated minimum power requirement of 8.3 kW for the Reverse Turbo-Brayton Cryocooler is calculated. Heat rejection concerns in soft vacuum Mars atmosphere are noted and potential solutions are proposed. Choice of coolant for liquid propellant conditioning and issues with current proposed cryocooler cycle are addressed; recommendations are made, e.g. adding a Joule-Thomson expansion valve after the Reverse Turbo-Brayton turbine in order to have two-phase, isothermal heat exchange through the Broad Area Cooling system. Issues with cross-country transfer lines from propellant storage to flight vehicle are briefly discussed: traditional vacuum jacketed lines are implausible, and Mars insulation needs to be developed.

Propellant Storage

The Langley 2,000-horsepower Propeller Dynamometer and Tests at High Speed of an NACA 10-(3)(08)-03 Two-blade Propeller

This paper contains a detailed description of a 2,000-horsepower propeller dynamometer used to make wind-tunnel tests of a two-blade NACA 10-(3)(08)-03 propeller for a range of blade angles from 20 degrees to 55 degrees at airspeeds up to 500 miles per hour. The results of these tests and comparisons with results obtained from a theoretical analysis and from previous tests made in other wind tunnels are presented.

RESEARCH EQUIPMENT, PROPELLER

Review of Orbital Propellant Transfer Techniques and the Feasibility of a Thermal Bootstrap Propellant Transfer Concepts

This study was performed in support of the NASA Task B-2 Study Plan for Space Basing. The nature of space-based operations implies that orbital transfer of propellant is a prime consideration. The intent of this report is (1) to report on the findings and recommendations of existing literature on space-based propellant transfer techniques, and (2) to determine possible alternatives to the recommended methods. The reviewed literature recommends, in general, the use of conventional liquid transfer techniques (i.e., pumping) in conjunction with an artificially induced gravitational field. An alternate concept that was studied, the Thermal Bootstrap Transfer Process, is based on the compression of a two-phase fluid with subsequent condensation to a liquid (vapor compression/condensation). This concept utilizes the intrinsic energy capacities of the tanks and propellant by exploiting temperature differentials and available energy differences. The results indicate the thermodynamic feasibility of the Thermal Bootstrap Transfer Process for a specific range of tank sizes, temperatures, fill-factors and receiver tank heat transfer coefficients.

Yoshikawa, H. H.

Propeller design - a simple system based on model propeller test data III

This report, the third of a series of four, describes a simple system for designing propellers of a standard form. In this report, the system is based on tests of a family of model propellers of standard Navy form, the data from which have been extended by means of calculations to cover the complete range likely to be found in practice. However, it can be worked out for any family having propellers of one general form.

Wieck, Fred E

Preliminary Investigation to Determine Propeller Section Characteristics by Measuring the Pressure Distribution on an NACA 10-(3)(08)-03 Propeller Under Operating Conditions

An investigation has been made in the Langley 16-foot high-speed tunnel to determine the propeller-section characteristics by measuring the pressure distribution on the airfoil sections of a rotating propeller. The pressures were measured at nine radial stations on an NACA 10-(3)(08)-03 design two-blade propeller. This paper presents the results of the pressure measurements in the form of normal-force and moment coefficients and covers a range of nominal angle of attack (simple blade element theory) from 0 degrees to 4 degrees for a section Mach number range of approximately 0.6 to 1.15 for the outboard stations and approximately 0.3 to 0.6 for inboard stations.

Evans, Albert J

Propeller induced angles of attack and section angles of attack for the NACA 10-(3)(066)-03, 10-(3)(049)-03, 10-(3)(090)-03, 10-(5)(066)-03, and 10-(0)(066)-03 propellers

This paper presents the results of an induced angle-of-attack calculation using a method applicable to a propeller with arbitrary circulation distribution. Tables of induced angles of attack and section angles of attack and curves of wake-survey results are presented for the NACA 10-(3)(066)-03, 10-(3)(049)-03, 10-(3)(090)-03, 10-(5)(066)-03, and 10-(0)(066)-03 propellers. A brief description of the method of calculating propeller induced angles of attack is given.

Igoe, William, B

The Effect of Nacelle-Propeller Diameter Ratio on Body Interference and on Propeller and Cooling Characteristics

Report presents the results of an investigation conducted in the NACA 20-foot tunnel to determine the slipstream drag, the body interference, and the cooling characteristics of nacelle-propeller diameter. Four combinations of geometrically similar propellers and nacelles, mounted on standard wing supports, were tested with values of the ratio of nacelle diameter to propeller diameter of 0.25, 0.33, and 0.44.

Mchugh, James G

Propeller blade stresses caused by periodic displacement of the propeller shaft

The present report deals with different vibration stresses of the propeller and their removal by an elastic coupling of propeller and engine. A method is described for protecting the propeller from unstable oscillations and herewith from the thus excited alternating gyroscopic moments. The respective vibration equations are set down and the amount of elasticity required is deduced.

Meyer, J

Computational Analysis on the Effects of High-lift Propellers and Wingtip Cruise Propellers on X-57 Airplane

This study presents the computational study of the effects of high-lift system and wingtip-mounted cruise propellers on the flow physics and forces and moments of the X-57 Mod III/Mod IV configuration. Results were compared against previously published data on the powered-off configuration to determine the performance benefit. Simulations were performed using four different computational fluid dynamics solvers: STAR-CCM+, Launch Ascent Vehicle Aerodynamics, Kestrel, and USM3D. The high-lift system was shown to increase lift and lift-curve slope of the airplane. Additionally, the high-lift system was shown to increase the maximum lift coefficient and improve flow separation behavior at high anglesof-attack. Wingtip-mounted cruise propellers were shown to decrease the drag of the airplane. Simulation results showed that the drag decreased with increased thrust generated by the wingtip cruise propellers. The primary factor of the decrease in drag was a result of reduction in pressure drag of the wing. At the thrust setting of 230.1 lbf, results showed a reduction of 49-drag counts.

Seung Y. Yoo

A Review of In-Space Propellant Transfer Capabilities and Challenges for Missions Involving Propellant Resupply

This paper captures and transfers knowledge of in-space propellant transfer accomplishments and communicate the remaining challenges to a new generation of NASA engineers as multiple NASA programs and centers have worked related and applicable efforts. The Propulsion Technical Discipline Team (TDT) established a plan to draft this paper as an effort to help engineers and decision makers recognize and access the various islands of experience that have formed within the agency as different NASA directorates and projects have embraced the challenges associated with propellant transfer.

Propellant Transfer