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At least 577 records · Page 32

Test bed design for evaluating the Space Station ECLSS Water Recovery System

The design of the Phase III Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Water Recovery System (WRS) test bed is in progress at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), building 4755, in Huntsville, Alabama. The overall design for the ECLSS WRS test bed will be discussed. Described within this paper are the design, fabrication, placement, and testing of the supporting facility which will provide the test bed for the ECLSS subsystems. Topics to be included are sterilization system design, component selection, microbial design considerations, and verification of test bed design prior to initiating WRS testing.

Ezell, Timothy G.↗

Techniques for designing rotorcraft control systems

This report summarizes the work that was done on the project from 1 Apr. 1992 to 31 Mar. 1993. The main goal of this research is to develop a practical tool for rotorcraft control system design based on interactive optimization tools (CONSOL-OPTCAD) and classical rotorcraft design considerations (ADOCS). This approach enables the designer to combine engineering intuition and experience with parametric optimization. The combination should make it possible to produce a better design faster than would be possible using either pure optimization or pure intuition and experience. We emphasize that the goal of this project is not to develop an algorithm. It is to develop a tool. We want to keep the human designer in the design process to take advantage of his or her experience and creativity. The role of the computer is to perform the calculation necessary to improve and to display the performance of the nominal design. Briefly, during the first year we have connected CONSOL-OPTCAD, an existing software package for optimizing parameters with respect to multiple performance criteria, to a simplified nonlinear simulation of the UH-60 rotorcraft. We have also created mathematical approximations to the Mil-specs for rotorcraft handling qualities and input them into CONSOL-OPTCAD. Finally, we have developed the additional software necessary to use CONSOL-OPTCAD for the design of rotorcraft controllers.

Levine, William S.↗

A Compact 50kW High Power Density, Hybrid 3-Level Paralleled T-type Inverter for More Electric Aircraft Applications

The demand for high performing, lightweight, reliable inverters, increased the scope of wide bandgap and high-switching frequency based solutions. To achieve such high efficiency inverters, it is vital to focus on the system level design considerations to maximize the benefits of these advanced technologies. This paper presents an improved design based on considerations to further reap the benefits of choosing the right inverter topology; increased capabilities through paralleling devices, with reduced total number of switches; and designing a planarized inverter with PCB based busbar. Appropriate thermal analysis and heatsink design has aided in increased system power density along with the overall efficiency. Demonstration of a 50kW 3-phase 3-level paralleled T-type SiC inverter operating at 40kHz switching frequency for aircraft applications is shown to evaluate the benefits of proposed design methodology. Here, the prototype achieves a high power density of 11kW/L.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Spacecraft active thermal control subsystem design and operation considerations

Future spacecraft missions will be characterized by high electrical power requiring active thermal control subsystems for acquisition, transport, and rejection of waste heat. These systems will be designed to operate with minimum maintenance for up to 10 years, with widely varying externally-imposed environments, as well as the spacecraft waste heat rejection loads. This paper presents the design considerations and idealized performance analysis of a typical thermal control subsystem with emphasis on the temperature control aspects during off-design operation. The selected thermal management subsystem is a cooling loop for a 75-kWe fuel cell subsystem, consisting of a fuel cell heat exchanger, thermal storage, pumps, and radiator. Both pumped-liquid transport and two-phase (liquid/vapor) transport options are presented with examination of similarities and differences of the control requirements for these representative thermal control options.

Sadunas, J. A.↗

Pareto Optimal and Dual-Objective Geometric and Structural Design of an Underwater Kite for Closed-Loop Flight Performance

This paper presents the formulation and results for a control-aware optimization of the combined geometric and structural design of an energy-harvesting underwater kite. Because kite-based energy-harvesting systems, both airborne and underwater, possess strong coupling between closed-loop flight control, geometric design, and structural design, consideration of all three facets of the design within a single codesign framework is highly desirable. However, while prior literature has addressed one or two attributes of the design at a time, this work constitutes the first comprehensive effort aimed at addressing all three. In particular, focusing on the goals of power maximization and mass minimization, we present a codesign formulation that fuses a geometric optimization tool, structural optimization tool, and closed-loop flight efficiency map. The resulting integrated codesign tool is used to address two mathematical optimization formulations that exhibit subtle differences: a Pareto optimal formulation and a dual-objective formulation that focuses on a weighted power-to-mass ratio as the techno-economic metric of merit. Further, based on the resulting geometric and structural designs, using a mediumfidelity closed-loop simulation tool, the proposed formulation is shown to achieve more than three times the powerto-mass ratio of a previously published, unoptimized benchmark design.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Cryogenic optical systems and instruments II; Proceedings of the Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 23, 24, 1986

The topics of the present conference encompass cryogenic optical system design considerations, cryogenic instruments and their components, the design and performance of cryogenic dewars for space, and technologies supporting cryogenic systems and instruments. Attention is given to the Space IR Telescope Facility (SIRTF) observatory's design and on-orbit servicing, hardware development for the Gravity Probe-B program, the multiband imaging photometer aboard SIRTF, and the SIRTF wide field, diffraction-limited array camera. Also discussed are the cryogenic star-tracking telescope for Gravity Probe-B, a balloon-borne spectrometer for measurement of lower stratospheric trace constituents, the primary mirror support system design for a cryogenic space telescope, and the SQUID readout and ultralow magnetic fields of Gravity Probe-B.

Melugin, Ramsey K.↗

Aeroservoelasticity

The paper describes recent accomplishments and current research projects along four main thrusts in aeroservoelasticity at NASA Langley. One activity focuses on enhancing the modeling and analysis procedures to accurately predict aeroservoelastic interactions. Improvements to the minimum-state method of approximating unsteady aerodynamics are shown to provide precise low-order models for design and simulation tasks. Recent extensions in aerodynamic correction-factor methodology are also described. With respect to analysis procedures, the paper reviews novel enhancements to matched filter theory and random process theory for predicting the critical gust profile and the associated time-correlated gust loads for structural design considerations. Two research projects leading towards improved design capability are also summarized: (1) an integrated structure/control design capability and (2) procedures for obtaining low-order robust digital control laws for aeroelastic applications.

Noll, Thomas E.↗

Two-way time transfer modem

The Naval Research Laboratory is developing a two-way time transfer modem that will work with very small aperture terminals (VSAT), commercial satellites, and an atomic clock. The two-way method was chosen because of its performance and insensitivity to the position of the receivers and satellites. Precision, stability, accuracy, and varsatility are the primary design considerations of this modem. The modem is designed to use many off the shelf components.

Galysh, Ivan J.↗

Autonomous rendezvous and capture system design

The presentation addressed the different tradeoffs necessary to get an automated rendezvous and capture system design that meets the current requirements. The topics covered are piloted versus autonomous capture design considerations, navigation sensor selection tradeoffs, control algorithm design requirements and concepts, performance evaluation through simulation, system mission readiness verification and validation, and advanced AR&C control system technologies.

Dabney, Richard↗

Characteristics of Quasi-Terminator Orbits Near Primitive Bodies

Quasi-terminator orbits are introduced as a class of quasi-periodic trajectories in the solar radiation pressure (SRP) perturbed Hill dynamics. These orbits offer significant displacements along the Sun-direction without the need for station-keeping maneuvers. Thus, quasi-terminator orbits have application to primitive-body missions, where a variety of observation geometries relative to the Sun (or other directions) can be achieved. This paper describes the characteristics of these orbits as a function of normalized SRP strength and invariant torus frequency ratio and presents a discussion of mission design considerations for a global surface mapping orbit design.

orbital motions↗

CubeSat Array for Detection of RF Emissions from Exoplanets using Inter-Satellite Optical Communicators

We are presenting a CubeSat mission concept wherein a large number of small spacecraft furnished with Ultra-Long Wavelength (ULW) observation antennas is to be implemented to synthesize a large aperture for detecting ULW emissions from selected exoplanets. The CubeSat Array for the Detection of RF Emissions from Exoplanets (CADRE) concept involves the placement of a swarm arrangement of CubeSats into small amplitude Lissajous orbits around the Earth-Moon L2 point. In addition to the ULW receivers, each CADRE CubeSat will be furnished with a novel omnidirectional optical communicator which should allow data sharing at gigabit per second data rates. In this paper we discuss the science goals, potential architecture and key technical challenges of an eventual CADRE implementation. We present the estimated interferometer specifications needed to detect Exoplanet RF emissions, CubeSat orbits and formations as well as CubeSat design considerations. Special focus is placed on the design of the mission-enabling inter-CubeSat optical cross link which allows for fast sharing of the detected RF signals for subsequent correlation.

Bentum, Mark↗

Design and Demonstration of a NH3-Fueled Two-Stroke Uniflow Engine for Greenhouse Gas Reduction

The maritime shipping industry is growing increasingly interested in both low and non-carbon-containing fuels to meet future greenhouse gas emission targets. Specifically of interest is ammonia, as it has a relatively high volumetric energy density compared to other future fuels, such as hydrogen, making it more economical to transport. The robust engine architecture of low-speed two-stroke marine engines makes them an ideal candidate for ammonia fuel, overcoming many of the issues surrounding its poor ignitability and low flame speed. If emissions and fueling system challenges can be addressed, retrofits of current low-speed two-stroke dual-fuel engines represent a viable pathway for bringing ammonia engines to market. This study explores these technical hurdles by describing the design, analysis, and experimental validation of a single cylinder research engine converted to operate on ammonia fuel. The engine is a reduced-scale uniflow two-stroke marine engine with two previous hardware configurations available – diesel and high-pressure CNG dual-fuel. A concept study was used to evaluate possible ammonia-fueled engine architectures and the associated tradeoffs and design considerations. With the chosen architecture, low-pressure dual fuel, 1D and 3D analysis tools were used to inform hardware selection and to determine hardware configurations which minimized ammonia-slip. In addition to these considerations the hardware and engine configuration were designed to provide a versatile and robust testing platform. This includes options to test both gaseous and liquid ammonia injection, as well as a wide range of performance parameters such as AFR, swirl, valve timing, SOI, and many others. Design constraints imposed by the existing engine hardware necessitated an iterative loop between design and analysis toolsets, ultimately converging on a final design for the ammonia-conversion hardware. The engine was rebuilt with the new hardware and evaluated in an engine test cell. A new control strategy developed and flashed onto a prototyping electronic control unit allowed for full control over all engine parameters. An initial calibration was developed, providing test data for validation of the engine 1D and 3D models. The impact of the design choices on engine operability and the ability to meet program targets is discussed as well as opportunities for further optimization of the ammonia-conversion hardware, informed by the validated models.

Kaul, Brian [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000184813620)↗

Chapter 10: Electrochemical Reactors

An electrolyzer capable of converting CO2 into carbon-based fuels and chemicals will need to operate at current densities in excess of 200 mA cm-2 for industrial applications. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of design considerations for electrolytic flow cell reactors capable of operation at these high current densities. We highlight how the dynamic chemical environment at these conditions is differentiated from experimental conditions more common to academic investigations, and provide a survey of reactor architectures that are being investigated for mediating the CO2 reduction reaction.

carbon-based fuels↗

Design of the software development and verification system (SWDVS) for shuttle NASA study task 35

An overview of the Software Development and Verification System (SWDVS) for the space shuttle is presented. The design considerations, goals, assumptions, and major features of the design are examined. A scenario that shows three persons involved in flight software development using the SWDVS in response to a program change request is developed. The SWDVS is described from the standpoint of different groups of people with different responsibilities in the shuttle program to show the functional requirements that influenced the SWDVS design. The software elements of the SWDVS that satisfy the requirements of the different groups are identified.

Drane, L. W.↗

Simplified thermal estimation techniques for large space structures

A tool for making rapid estimates of the response of space structures to thermal environments encountered in earth orbits is provided for the designer of these structures. Charts giving heating rates and temperatures for certain typical large spacecraft structural elements are provided. Background information for spacecraft thermal design considerations is presented. Environments, requirements, thermal control techniques, design guidelines, and approaches available for more detailed thermal response analysis are discussed.

Brogren, E. W.↗

Development of methodology for optimum design of structures at elevated temperatures

This paper surveys a number of activities aimed at applying optimum design techniques to structures where high temperatures are important design considerations. An improved variant of fully-stressed design (FSD), denoted thermal fully-stressed design (TFSD), is described which converges significantly faster than FSD for problems where thermal stresses are comparable in magnitude to mechanical stresses. Second, an optimality criterion is described for sizing structures subjected to temperature constraints. Simultaneous requirements on strength and temperatures are handled by two different techniques: (1) a state-of-the-art mathematical programming method and (2) the optimality criterion technique for temperature constraints combined with FSD for strength constraints. A method is described to optimize the insulation and ply thicknesses of an insulated composite panel with a time-varying temperature applied to the outer surface of the insulation and a general set of in-plane loads applied to the panel.

Adelman, H. M.↗

The Ares Projects: Back to the Future

This slide presentation reviews the design considerations for the Ares Launch vehicles. It shows design views of both the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles. It summarizes the utilization studies of the Ares V. There are also pictures of the first stage and upper stage engine being built, and testing of the upper stage engine. Including views of the test stands for the launch vehciles. There is also a description of the planned Ares I-X test flight.

Cook, Steve↗

Additive Manufacturing Development and Hot-Fire Testing of Liquid Rocket Channel Wall Nozzles Using Blown Powder Directed Energy Deposition Inconel 625 and JBK-75 Alloys

Additive manufacturing (AM) is being investigated at NASA and across much of the rocket propulsion industry as an alternate fabrication technique to create complex geometries for liquid engine components that offers schedule and cost saving opportunities. The geometries that can be created using AM offer a significant advantage over traditional techniques. Internal complexities, such as internal coolant channels for combustion chambers and nozzles that would typically require several operations to manufacture traditionally can be fabricated in one process. Additionally, the coolant channels are closed out as a part of the AM build process, eliminating the complexities of a traditional process like brazing or plating. The primary additive manufacturing technique that has been evaluated is powder bed fusion (PBF), or selective laser melting (SLM), but there is a scale limitation for this technique. There are several alternate additive manufacturing techniques that are being investigated for large-scale nozzles and chambers including directed energy deposition (DED) processes. A significant advantage of the DED processes is the ability to adapt to a robotic or gantry CNC system with a localized purge or purge chamber, allowing unlimited build volume. This paper will discuss the development and hot-fire testing of channel-cooled nozzles fabricated utilizing one form of DED called blown powder deposition. This initial development work using blown powder DED is being explored to form the entire channel wall nozzle with integral coolant channels within a single AM build. Much of this development is focused on the design and DED-fabrication of complex and thin-walled features and on characterization of the materials properties produced with this techniques in order to evolve this process. Subscale nozzles were fabricated using this DED technique and hot-fire tested in Liquid Oxygen/Hydrogen (LOX/GH2) and LOX/Kerosene (LOX/RP-1) environments accumulating significant development time and cycles. The initial materials that were evaluated during this testing were high-strength nickel-based Inconel 625 and JBK-75. Further process development is being completed to increase the scale of this technology for large-scale nozzles. This paper will summarize the general design considerations for DED, specific channel-cooled nozzle design, manufacturing process development, property development, initial hot-fire testing and future developments to mature this technology for regeneratively-cooled nozzles. An overview of future development at NASA will also be discussed.

Gradl, Paul R.↗