Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “design studies”

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 505 records · Page 28

The OGO attitude control subsystem redesign as a result of OGO 3 experience. Volume 1: System analysis and design studies

An oscillation in the OGO-3 roll control channel, resulting from the EP-5 and EP-6 boom motion coupling into the control channel and causing loss of attitude control, is investigated. The study includes (1) an analysis of the OGO-3 and OGO-2 flight data to determine the nature and extent of the roll oscillation phenomena, (2) design analysis of the complete attitude control subsystem (ACS) to evolve changes which would prevent recurrences of the coupled ACS boom oscillation observed on OGO-3, and (3) analog simulations to verify the performance of the design changes selected. Portions of OGO-3 and OGO-2 flight data are illustrated and the major flexible body oscillation are identified. A model of the major flexible appendage dynamics is developed and is shown analytically and through analog simulations to reproduce the OGO-3 oscillation phenomena. The design changes which were found necessary are: a reversal delay logic for the roll reaction wheels, widening of the solar array dead zone from 0.5 to 1.0 deg, and modification of the OPEP control loop to include a filter and stabilizing feedback loops.

Mckenna, K. J.↗

Conceptual design study of concentrator enhanced solar arrays for space applications. Performance evaluation of 5 KW and 20 KW systems in Si and GaAs at 1 AU employing a flat plate trough concentrator

A simple, efficient and very lightweight preliminary design for a 5 KW and 20 KW BOL output concentrated array evolved and is described by drawings. The relative effectiveness of this design, as compared to an unconcentrated planar array of equal power output, was measured by comparing power to mass performance of and the solar cell area required by each. Improvements in power to mass performance as high as 42% together with array area size reduction of 57% are possible in GaAs systems. By contrast, when the same concentrator design is applied to silicon systems, no improvement in power to mass can be obtained although array area reductions as high as 35% are obtainable.

Source record↗

Conceptual design study of concentrator enhanced solar arrays for space applications Volume 2: Technical

Concentrator concepts which utilize Kapton mirror material were evaluated and selected for solar array use due to their zero mass. All concepts considered employed thin silicon solar cells. Design requirements for the concentrator were: the cell temperature was not to exceed 150 C; the concentrators were to produce illumination of the array within 15% of being perfectly uniform; the concentrators were to operate while misaligned as much as 5 degrees with the solar axis. Concentrator designs along with mirror structure and configurations are discussed and comparisons are made for optimal space applications.

Source record↗

Design studies of large aperture, high-resolution Earth science microwave radiometers compatible with small launch vehicles

High-spatial-resolution microwave radiometer sensing from space with reasonable swath widths and revisit times favors large aperture systems. However, with traditional precision antenna design, the size and weight requirements for such systems are in conflict with the need to emphasize small launch vehicles. This paper describes tradeoffs between the science requirements, basic operational parameters, and expected sensor performance for selected satellite radiometer concepts utilizing novel lightweight compactly packaged real apertures. Antenna, feed, and radiometer subsystem design and calibration are presented. Preliminary results show that novel lightweight real aperture coupled with state-of-the-art radiometer designs are compatible with small launch systems, and hold promise for high-resolution earth science measurements of sea ice, precipitation, soil moisture, sea surface temperature, and ocean wind speeds.

Schroeder, Lyle C.↗

Technology Integration (Task 20) Aeroservoelastic Modeling and Design Studies: Evaluation of Aeroservoelastic Effects on Flutter and Dynamic Gust Response - Part A

The HSCT Flight Controls Group has developed longitudinal control laws, utilizing PTC aeroelastic flexible models to minimize aeroservoelastic interaction effects, for a number of flight conditions. The control law design process resulted in a higher order controller and utilized a large number of sensors distributed along the body for minimizing the flexibility effects. Processes were developed to implement these higher order control laws for performing the dynamic gust loads and flutter analyses. The processes and its validation were documented in Reference 2, for selected flight condition. The analytical results for additional flight conditions are presented in this document for further validation.

Nagaraja, K. S.↗

Design study for a magnetically supported reaction wheel

Results are described of a study program in which the characteristics of a magnetically supported reaction wheel are defined. Tradeoff analyses are presented for the principal components, which are then combined in several reaction wheel design concepts. A preliminary layout of the preferred configuration is presented along with calculated design and performance parameters. Recommendations are made for a prototype development program.

Stocking, G.↗

Design study of a kinematic Stirling engine for dispered solar electric power systems

The concept evaluation shows that the four cylinder double acting U type Stirling engine with annular regenerators is the most suitable engine type for the 15 kW solar application with respect to design, performance and cost. Results show that near term performance for a metallic Stirling engine is 42% efficiency. Further improved components show an impact on efficiency of the future metallic engine to 45%. Increase of heater temperature, through the introduction of ceramic components, contribute the greatest amount to achieve high efficiency goals. Future ceramic Stirling engines for solar applications show an efficiency of around 50%.

Source record↗

SETI low-frequency feed design study for DSS 24

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Sky Survey project requires operation from 1 to 10 GHz on the beam waveguide (BWG) antenna DSS 24. The BWG reflectors are undersized in the 1- to 3.02-GHz range, resulting in poor performance. Horn designs and a method for implementing 1- to 3.02-GHz operation on DSS 24 are presented. A combination of a horn and a shaped feed reflector placed above the main reflector is suggested. The horn and feed reflector could be hidden in the RF shadow of the subreflector and struts. Results from computer analysis of this design indicate that adequate performance could be achieved.

Stanton, P. H.↗

Design study of a gas turbine combustor with heat recirculation

A means of avoiding stoichiometric combustion, reducing emissions, and yet providing stable burning for lean mixtures is based on the use of heat recirculation rather than flow recirculation. This paper is concerned with the calculations of the design parameters of a gas turbine combustor with heat exchanger to produce the desired preheat temperature. The combustor inlet temperature, maximum temperature, equivalence ratio and recirculated heat are determined by thermodynamic analysis. The heat transfer analysis then provides the dimensions of the system to produce the predetermined boundary conditions. It is indicated that practical combustor design may be feasible for reactant mixtures as low as equivalence ratio 0.2.

Ganji, A.↗

Preliminary design study of a higher harmonic blade feathering control system

The feasibility to incorporate an active higher harmonic control (HHC) system on an OH-6A rotorcraft was demonstrated. The introduction of continuously modulated low amplitude 4P feathering showed potential for reducing rotor transmitted oscillatory loads. The design implementation of this system on a baseline OH-6A required generation of a hydraulic power system, control actuator placement and design integration of an electronic subsystem comprised of an electronic control unit (ECU) and digital microcomputer. Various placements of the HHC actuators in the primary control system are evaluated. Assembly drawings of the actuator concepts and control rigging are presented. The advantages of generating both hydraulic power and 4F control motions in the nonrotating system is confirmed.

Powers, R. W.↗

Systems design study of the Pioneer Venus spacecraft. Appendices to volume 1, sections 8-11 (part 3 of 3)

Power subsystem cost/weight tradeoffs are discussed for the Venus probe spacecraft. The cost estimations of power subsystem units were based upon DSCS-2, DSP, and Pioneer 10 and 11 hardware design and development and manufacturing experience. Parts count and degree of modification of existing hardware were factored into the estimate of manufacturing and design and development costs. Cost data includes sufficient quantities of units to equip probe bus and orbiter versions. It was based on the orbiter complement of equipment, but the savings in fewer slices for the probe bus balance the cost of the different probe bus battery. The preferred systems for the Thor/Delta and for the Atlas/Centaur are discussed. The weights of the candidate designs were based upon slice or tray weights for functionally equivalent circuitry measured on existing hardware such as Pioneers 10 and 11, Intelsat 3, DSCS-2, or DSP programs. Battery weights were based on measured cell weight data adjusted for case weight or off-the-shelf battery weights. The solar array weight estimate was based upon recent hardware experience on DSCS-2 and DSP arrays.

Source record↗

Space Settlements: A Design Study

Nineteen professors of engineering, physical science, social science, and architecture, three volunteers, six students, a technical director, and two co-directors worked for ten weeks to construct a convincing picture of how people might permanently sustain life in space on a large scale, and to design a system for the colonization of space. Because the idea of colonizing space has awakened strong public interest, the document presented is written to be understood by the educated public and specialists in other fields. It also includes considerable background material. A table of units and conversion factors is included to aid the reader in interpreting the units of the metric system used in the report.

Richard D Johnson↗

Design study of shaft face seal with self-acting lift augmentation. 4: Force balance

A method for predicting the operating film thickness of self-acting seals is described. The analysis considers a 16.76-cm mean diameter seal that is typical of large gas turbines for aircraft. Four design points were selected to cover a wide range of operation for advanced engines. This operating range covered sliding speeds of 61 to 153 m/sec, sealed pressures of 45 to 217 N/sq cm abs, and gas temperatures of 311 to 977 K. The force balance analysis revealed that the seal operated without contact over the operating range with gas film thicknesses ranging between 0.00046 to 0.00119 cm, and with gas leakage rates between 0.01 to 0.39 scmm.

Ludwig, L. P.↗

Proximity operations concept design study, task 6

The feasibility of using optical technology to perform the mission of the proximity operations communications subsystem on Space Station Freedom was determined. Proximity operations mission requirements are determined and the relationship to the overall operational environment of the space station is defined. From this information, the design requirements of the communication subsystem are derived. Based on these requirements, a preliminary design is developed and the feasibility of implementation determined. To support the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle and National Space Transportation System, the optical system development is straightforward. The requirements on extra-vehicular activity are such as to allow large fields of uncertainty, thus exacerbating the acquisition problem; however, an approach is given that could mitigate this problem. In general, it is found that such a system could indeed perform the proximity operations mission requirement, with some development required to support extra-vehicular activity.

Williams, A. N.↗

Design study of flat belt CVT for electric vehicles

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) was studied, using a novel flat belt pulley arrangement which couples the high speed output shaft of an energy storage flywheel to the drive train of an electric vehicle. A specific CVT arrangement was recommended and its components were selected and sized, based on the design requirements of a 1700 KG vehicle. A design layout was prepared and engineering calculations made of component efficiencies and operating life. The transmission efficiency was calculated to be significantly over 90% with the expected vehicle operation. A design consistent with automotive practice for low future production costs was considered, together with maintainability. The technology advancements required to develop the flat belt CVT were identified and an estimate was made of how the size of the flat belt CVT scales to larger and smaller design output torques. The suitability of the flat belt CVT for alternate application to an electric vehicle powered by an electric motor without flywheel and to a hybrid electric vehicle powered by an electric motor with an internal combustion engine was studied.

Kumm, E. L.↗