Engineering PapersSearch

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “linear motor”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2

The prediction of nonlinear longitudinal combustion instability in liquid propellant rockets

An analytical technique was developed to solve nonlinear longitudinal combustion instability problems. The analysis yields the transient and limit cycle behavior of unstable motors and the threshold amplitude required to trigger a linearly stable motor into unstable operation. The limit cycle waveforms were found to exhibit shock wave characteristics for most unstable engine operating conditions. A method of correlating the analytical solutions with experimental data was developed. Calculated results indicate that a second-order solution adequately describes the behavior of combustion instability oscillations over a broad range of engine operating conditions, but that higher order effects must be accounted for in order to investigate engine triggering.

Lores, M. E.

Nonlinear longitudinal combustion instability in rocket motors.

A new analytical technique for the solution of nonlinear longitudinal combustion instability problems in rocket combustors is developed. Using relatively little computation time, this technique is capable of predicting the transient and limit cycle behavior of the combustion instability oscillations as well as the disturbance amplitude required to trigger an instability in a linearly stable motor. The limit cycle waveforms are found to exhibit shock wave characteristics for most unstable engine operating conditions. It is shown that the characteristics of the resulting instability are independent of the nature of the initial disturbance and they depend solely upon the engine operating conditions and the characteristics of the unsteady combustion process.

Lores, M. E.

Technology evaluation of man-rated acceleration test equipment for vestibular research

The considerations for eliminating acceleration noise cues in horizontal, linear, cyclic-motion sleds intended for both ground and shuttle-flight applications are addressed. the principal concerns are the acceleration transients associated with change in direction-of-motion for the carriage. The study presents a design limit for acceleration cues or transients based upon published measurements for thresholds of human perception to linear cyclic motion. The sources and levels for motion transients are presented based upon measurements obtained from existing sled systems. The approaches to a noise-free system recommends the use of air bearings for the carriage support and moving-coil linear induction motors operating at low frequency as the drive system. Metal belts running on air bearing pulleys provide an alternate approach to the driving system. The appendix presents a discussion of alternate testing techniques intended to provide preliminary type data by means of pendulums, linear motion devices and commercial air bearing tables.

Taback, I.

Photographic Equipment Test System (PETS)

The Photographic Equipment Test System is presented. The device is a mobile optical system designed for evaluating performance of various sensors in a laboratory, in a vacuum chamber or on a flight line. The carriage is designed to allow elevation as well as azimuth control of the direction of the light from the collimator. The pneumatic tires provide an effective vibration isolation system. A target/illumination system is mounted on a motor driven linear slide, and focusing and exposure control can be operated remotely from the small electronics control console.

Source record

Transport of lunar material to the sites of the colonies

An 'existence proof' is attempted for the feasibility of transport of lunar material to colonies in space. Masses of lunar material are accelerated to lunar escape by a tracked magnetically levitated mass driver; aim precision is to 1 km miss distance at L5 per mm/sec velocity error at the lunar surface. Mass driver design and linear synchronous motor drive design are discussed; laser-sensed checkpoints aid in velocity and directional precision. Moon-L5 trajectories are calculated. The design of the L5 construction station, or 'catcher vehicle,' is described; loads are received by chambers operating in a 'Venus flytrap' mode. Further research studies needed to round out the concept are listed explicitly.

Heppenheimer, T. A.

Evaluation of a laboratory test model annular momentum control device

A 4068 Nm Sec laboratory test model annular momentum control device (AMCD) was described and static and dynamic test results were presented. An AMCD is a spinning annular rim suspended by noncontacting magnetic bearings and powered by a noncontacting linear electromagnetic motor. Test results include spin motor torque characteristics and spin motor and magnetic bearing drag losses. Limitations of some of the design approaches taken was also discussed.

Groom, N. J.

Fixed-base and two-body equations of motion for an Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD)

Fixed base and two body equations of motion for an Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD) are presented. An AMCD consists of a spinning annular rim which is suspended by noncontacting magnetic bearings and powered by a noncontacting linear electromagnetic motor. The fixed base equations are for a rigid AMCD rim suspended by magnetic bearings attached to a rigid fixed base. The two body equations are for a rigid AMCD rim suspended by magnetic bearings attached to a rigid body spacecraft. The fixed base equations are applicable to any potential ground based AMCD application such as energy storage.

Groom, N. J.

Advanced concepts

The relative strengths of those interactions which enable propulsive forces are listed as well as the specific impulse of various propellants. Graphics show the linear synchronous motor of the mass driver, the principle of the direct current electromagnetic launcher, and the characteristics of the rail gun.

Banks, B. A.

Mass Driver Two - A status report

The current status of Mass Driver Two, a linear synchronous motor for accelerating payloads or reaction mass, is discussed. Mass Driver Two combines all the essential elements of an operational mass driver with the exception of bucket recirculation and payload handling. These essential elements include: magnetic flight, vacuum environment, superconducting bucket coils, high acceleration (nominally 500 g's), optical position sensing and electronic triggering, power circuitry similar to that of a flight article, and regenerative braking. Mass Driver Two is operated on a single shot basis.

Snow, W. R.

Stirling cycle cryogenic cooler

A long lifetime Stirling cycle cryogenic cooler particularly adapted for space applications is described. It consists of a compressor section centrally aligned end to end with an expansion section, and respectively includes a reciprocating compressor piston and displacer radially suspended in interconnecting cylindrical housings by active magnetic bearings and has adjacent reduced clearance regions so as to be in noncontacting relationship therewith and wherein one or more of these regions operate as clearance seals. The piston and displacer are reciprocated in their housings by linear drive motors to vary the volume of respectively adjacent compression and expansion spaces which contain a gaseous working fluid and a thermal regenerator to effect Stirling cycle cryogenic cooling.

Gasser, M. G.

Lunar utilization

The resources, techniques, and purposes to which lunar materials could be put are discussed, with attention given to transporting lunar materials to cislunar space for the construction of space manufacturing and habitable facilities. A model molecule, demandite, which represents the mole fraction of all materials used in the U.S. in 1967, is used to assess the lunar resources defined during Apollo missions. It is shown that duplication of the same manufacturing, fuel, and life-support systems in space as those on earth would cost several orders of magnitude more if the materials originated on earth than on the moon. The demandite would be sent into cislunar orbit using linear electric motors. Lunar surface concentrations of pyroxenes, olivine, feldspars, ilmenite, basalts, anorthostatic rocks, and breccias are reviewed, noting that carbon in the regolith is solar-wind derived, while in lunar rocks the carbon is indigenous. Lunar mining techniques are envisioned, especially the capacity to move large masses at 1/6 the effort required on the earth.

Waldron, R. D.

Analytical model of an Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD) laboratory test model magnetic bearing actuator

An analytical model of an Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD) laboratory test model magnetic bearing actuator with permanent magnet fluxbiasing is presented. An AMCD consists of a spinning annular rim which is suspended by a noncontacting linear electromagnetic spin motor. The actuator is treated as a lumped-parameter electromechanical system in the development of the model.

Groom, N. J.

A 10 deg K triple-expansion Stirling-cycle cryocooler

The design of a triple expansion closed cycle Stirling cryocooler optimized for a cooling load of 50 mW at 10 K is described. The cooler was designed with the objectives of low power, low weight, compactness, low mechanical motion, low electromagnetic noise, and low output temperature fluctuations. The design employs a direct drive linear motion piston motor and a triple expansion free displacer. Piston motion is controlled by feedback from an optical position transducer. Mechanical vibrations are attenuated with a passive resonant counterbalance. Electromagnetic noise is attenuated with layered high permeability magnetic shielding. The regenerators move with the displacer within a thin titanium cold finger. The piston and displacer oscillate at 8.33 Hz on bearings and seals of reinforced Teflon. The cooler is designed to provide the desired 50 mW of cooling at 10 K with a power input of less than 100 W. The piston can be driven at a greater stroke to produce up to 200 mW of cooling with an input power of 250 W. A lead and copper cold tip heat exchanger will limit temperature fluctuations to within 0.01 K.

Newman, W.

Theoretical analysis of rotating two phase detonation in a rocket motor

Tangential mode, non-linear wave motion in a liquid propellant rocket engine is studied, using a two phase detonation wave as the reaction model. Because the detonation wave is followed immediately by expansion waves, due to the side relief in the axial direction, it is a Chapman-Jouguet wave. The strength of this wave, which may be characterized by the pressure ratio across the wave, as well as the wave speed and the local wave Mach number, are related to design parameters such as the contraction ratio, chamber speed of sound, chamber diameter, propellant injection density and velocity, and the specific heat ratio of the burned gases. In addition, the distribution of flow properties along the injector face can be computed. Numerical calculations show favorable comparison with experimental findings. Finally, the effects of drop size are discussed and a simple criterion is found to set the lower limit of validity of this strong wave analysis.

Shen, I.

Research on combustion instability and application to solid propellant rocket motors. II.

Review of the current state of analyses of combustion instability in solid-propellant rocket motors, citing appropriate measurements and observations. The work discussed has become increasingly important, both for the interpretation of laboratory data and for predicting the transient behavior of disturbances in full-scale motors. Two central questions are considered - namely, linear stability and nonlinear behavior. Several classes of problems are discussed as special cases of a general approach to the analysis of combustion instability. Application to motors, and particularly the limitations presently understood, are stressed.

Culick, F. E. C.

The Rim Inertial Measuring System (RIMS)

The rim inertial measuring system (RIMS) is introduced and an approach for extracting angular rate and linear acceleration information from a RIMS unit is presented and discussed. The RIMS consists of one or more small annular momentum control devices (AMCDs), mounted in a strapped down configuration, which are used to measure angular rates and linear accelerations of a moving vehicle. An AMCD consists of a spinning rim, a set of noncontacting magnetic bearings for supporting the rim, and a noncontacting electromagnetic spin motor. The approach for extracting angular rate and linear acceleration information is for a single spacecraft mounted RIMS unit.

Groom, N. J.