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At least 739 records · Page 41

Evaluation of miniature single-wire sheathed thermocouples for turbine blade temperature measurement

Chromel Alumel thermocouples were used, with sheath diameters of 0.15 and 0.25 mm. Tests were conducted at temperatures ranging from 750 to 1250 K. Both steady state and thermal cycling tests were performed for times up to 200 hours. Initial testing was performed in a low velocity gas stream for long time periods using a Meker-type burner. Additional testing was done in a high velocity gas stream for short time periods using a hot gas tunnel and also in a J75 jet engine. A total of eleven 0.15 mm diameter thermocouples and six 0.25 mm diameter thermocouples were tested. Drift rates up to 2.5% in 10 hours were observed. Photomicrographs show that this design is near the limit of miniaturization based on present manufacturing capabilities. Results indicate that the effects of miniaturization on reliability and accuracy must be considered when choosing thermocouples for a particular application.

Hollanda, R.↗

Thermal expansion accommodation in a jet engine frame

Design advancements to enhance stress accommodation in gas turbine engine frames are described. Consideration is given to mechanical stiffness to maintain an adequate spring rate, and to thermal stresses in both ambient and transient modes. Noting that thermal stresses occur due to differing temperatures at different parts of the frame, the matching of the thermal expansion rates of different structural materials is emphasized. Adequate stiffness is necessary to avoid dynamic reactions leading to case cracking as a result of normal imbalances of moving parts. Stress and deflection analysis of a total frame concept using a three-dimensional finite element stress analysis computer program, with modelling of all frame components, is presented, and illustrations are provided.

Schneider, M. H.↗

Turbulence measurements in a swirling confined jet flowfield using a triple hot-wire probe

An axisymmetric swirling confined jet flowfield, similar to that encountered in gas turbine combustors was investigated using a triple hot-wire probe. The raw data from the three sensors were digitized using ADC's and stored on a Tektronix 4051 computer. The data were further reduced on the computer to obtain time-series for the three instantaneous velocity components in the flowfield. The time-mean velocities and the turbulence quantities were deduced. Qualification experiments were performed and where possible results compared with independent measurements. The major qualification experiments involved measurements performed in a non-swirling flow compared with conventional X-wire measurements. In the swirling flowfield, advantages of the triple wire technique over the previously used multi-position single hot-wire method are noted. The measurements obtained provide a data base with which the predictions of turbulence models in a recirculating swirling flowfield can be evaluated.

Janjua, S. I.↗

Comprehensive modeling of turbulent particulate flows using Eulerian and Lagrangian schemes

This paper addresses turbulent particle dispersion and modulation effects in dilute gas-particle turbulent flows using the Eulerian and Lagrangian modeling approaches. Gradient diffusion approximations are employed in the Eulerian formulation, while a stochastic procedure is utilized to simulate turbulent dispersion in the Lagrangian formulation. The k-epsilon turbulence model is used to characterize the time and length scales of the continuous phase turbulence. For the particle size and loading considered, the turbulence transport equations must be modified to account for the modulation effects. Models are proposed for both Eulerian and Lagrangian schemes. Comparisons and predictions are made in fully developed gas-solid pipe flow and confined coaxial jets laden with particles. For the monodispersed system investigated, Eulerian approach is less expensive and gives more consistent results than the Lagrangian approach. The Lagrangian technique should be further developed to eliminate current inherent inconsistencies especially with regard to the symmetry boundary condition.

Adeniji-Fashola, A.↗

Fuel-rich catalytic combustion of Jet-A fuel-equivalence ratios 5.0 to 8.0

Fuel-rich catalytic combustion (E.R. greater than 5.0) is a unique technique for preheating a hydrocarbon fuel to temperatures much higher than those obtained by conventional heat exchangers. In addition to producing very reactive molecules, the process upgrades the structure of the fuel by the formation of hydrogen and smaller hydrocarbons and produces a cleaner burning fuel by removing some of the fuel carbon from the soot formation chain. With fuel-rich catalytic combustion as the first stage of a two stage combustion system, enhanced fuel properties can be utilized by both high speed engines, where time for ignition and complete combustion is limited, and engines where emission of thermal NO sub x is critical. Two-stage combustion (rich-lean) has been shown to be effective for NO sub x reduction in stationary burners where residence times are long enough to burn-up the soot formed in the first stage. Such residence times are not available in aircraft engines. Thus, the soot-free nature of the present process is critical for high speed engines. The successful application of fuel-rich catalytic combustion to Jet-A, a multicomponent fuel used in gas turbine combustors, is discusssed.

Brabbs, Theodore A.↗

Adaptive computations of multispecies mixing between scramjet nozzle flows and hypersonic freestream

The objective of this paper is to compute the expansion of a supersonic flow through an internal-external nozzle and its viscous mixing with the hypersonic flow of air. The supersonic jet may be that of a multispecies gas other than air. Calculations are performed for one case where both flows are those of air, and another case where a mixture of freon-12 and argon is discharged supersonically to mix with the hypersonic airflow. Comparisons are made between these two cases with respect to gas compositions, and fixed versus flow-adaptive grids. All the computational results are compared successfully with the wind-tunnel tests results.

Baysa, Oktay↗

Cryogenic liquid-jet breakup in two-fluid atomizers

A two-fluid atomizer was used to study the breakup of liquid-nitrogen jets in nitrogen, argon, and helium atomizing gas flows. A scattered-light scanner particle sizing instrument previously developed at NASA Lewis Research Center was further developed and used to determine characteristic drop diameters for the cryogenic sprays. In the breakup regime of aerodynamic-stripping, i.e., sonic-velocity conditions, the following correlation of the reciprocal Sauter mean diameter, D(sub 32)exp -1, with the atomizing-gas flowrate, W(g), was obtained: D(sub 32)exp -1 = k(sub c)(W(g)exp 1.33), where k(sub c) is a proportionality constant evaluated for each atomizing gas. Values of k(sub c) = 120, 220, and 1100 were obtained for argon, nitrogen, and helium gasflows, respectively. The reciprocal Sauter mean diameter and gas flowrate have the units of 1/cm and g/sec, respectively. In the regime of capillary-wave breakup, or subsonic conditions, it was found that D(sub 32)exp -1 = k(g)(W(g)exp 0.75), where k = 270, 390, and 880 for argon, nitrogen, and helium gasflows, respectively.

Ingebo, Robert D.↗

A model of dust fragmentation in near-nucleus jet-like features on Comet P/Halley

A model for dusty gas flows and dust fragmentation in cometary atmospheres is developed and applied to interpret the dust intensity profiles near the nucleus of Comet P/Halley. It is found that fragmentation is not the only physical mechanism for explaining the dust intensity profiles from the 1/z dependence in the region about 1 to 40 km from the nucleus. A combination of the geometric effect and dust fragmentation is a likely explanation for the profiles.

Konno, Ichishiro↗

Hybrid Electric Transit Bus

A government, industry, and university cooperative is developing an advanced hybrid electric city transit bus. Goals of this effort include doubling the fuel economy compared to current buses and reducing emissions to one-tenth of current EPA standards. Unique aspects of the vehicle's power system include the use of ultra-capacitors as an energy storage system, and a planned natural gas fueled turbogenerator developed from a small jet engine. Power from both the generator and energy storage system is provided to a variable speed electric motor attached to the rear axle. At over 15000 kg gross weight, this is the largest vehicle of its kind ever built using ultra-capacitor energy storage. This paper describes the overall power system architecture, the evolution of the control strategy, and its performance over industry standard drive cycles.

Viterna, Larry A.↗

Modeling Macro- and Micro-Scale Turbulent Mixing and Chemistry in Engine Exhaust Plumes

Simulation of turbulent mixing and chemical processes in the near-field plume and plume-vortex regimes has been successfully carried out recently using a reduced gas phase kinetics mechanism which substantially decreased the computational cost. A detailed mechanism including gas phase HOx, NOx, and SOx chemistry between the aircraft exhaust and the ambient air in near-field aircraft plumes is compiled. A reduced mechanism capturing the major chemical pathways is developed. Predictions by the reduced mechanism are found to be in good agreement with those by the detailed mechanism. With the reduced chemistry, the computer CPU time is saved by a factor of more than 3.5 for the near-field plume modeling. Distributions of major chemical species are obtained and analyzed. The computed sensitivities of major species with respect to reaction step are deduced for identification of the dominant gas phase kinetic reaction pathways in the jet plume. Both the near field plume and the plume-vortex regimes were investigated using advanced mixing models. In the near field, a stand-alone mixing model was used to investigate the impact of turbulent mixing on the micro- and macro-scale mixing processes using a reduced reaction kinetics model. The plume-vortex regime was simulated using a large-eddy simulation model. Vortex plume behind Boeing 737 and 747 aircraft was simulated along with relevant kinetics. Many features of the computed flow field show reasonable agreement with data. The entrainment of the engine plumes into the wing tip vortices and also the partial detrainment of the plume were numerically captured. The impact of fluid mechanics on the chemical processes was also studied. Results show that there are significant differences between spatial and temporal simulations especially in the predicted SO3 concentrations. This has important implications for the prediction of sulfuric acid aerosols in the wake and may partly explain the discrepancy between past numerical studies (that employed parabolic or temporal approximations) and the measured data. Finally to address the major uncertainty in the near-field plume modeling related to the plume processing of sulfur compounds and advanced model was developed to evaluate its impact on the chemical processes in the near wake. A comprehensive aerosol model is developed and it is coupled with chemical kinetics and the axisymmetric turbulent jet flow models. The integrated model is used to simulate microphysical processes in the near-field jet plume, including sulfuric acid and water binary homogeneous nucleation, coagulation, non-equilibrium heteromolecular condensation, and sulfur-induced soot activation. The formation and evolution of aerosols are computed and analyzed. The computed results show that a large number of ultra-fine (0.3--0.6 nm in radius) volatile HSO4 - HO embryos are generated in the near-field plume. These embryos further grow in size by self coagulation and condensation. Soot particles can be activated by both heterogeneous nucleation and scavenging of H2SO4-H2O aerosols. These activated soot particles can serve as water condensation nuclei for contrail formation. Conditions under which ice contrails can form behind aircrafts are studied. The sensitivities of the threshold temperature for contrail formation with respect to aircraft propulsion efficiency, relative humidity, and ambient pressure are evaluated. The computed aerosol properties for different extent of fuel sulfur conversion to S(VI) (SO3 and H2SO4) in engine are examined and the results are found to be sensitive to this conversion fraction.

Menon, Suresh↗

Cosmic Journeys. To the Edge of Gravity, Space and Time: Structure and Evolution of the Universe Roadmap: 2003-2023

The Roadmap for the Structure and Evolution of the Universe (SEU) Theme embraces three fundamental, scientific quests: (1) To explain structure in the Universe and forecast our cosmic destiny, (2) To explore the cycles of matter and energy in the evolving Universe, (3) To examine the ultimate limits of gravity and energy in the Universe. We develop these quests into six focused research campaigns: (1) Identify dark matter and learn how it shapes galaxies and systems of galaxies, (2) Explore where and when the chemical elements were made (3) Understand the cycles in which matter, energy, and magnetic field are exchanged between stars and the gas between stars, (4) Discover how gas flows in disks and how cosmic jets are formed, (5) Identify the sources of gamma-ray bursts and high-energy cosmic rays, (6) Measure how strong gravity operates near black holes and how it affects the early Universe. These campaigns lead to a portfolio of future major missions of great scientific interest and popular appeal, strongly endorsed by the scientific community. Many have undergone significant initial study. Some are in a state of readiness that make them ideal candidates for the present Office of Space Science Strategic Plan; others may well feature in the next Plan. Each provides a golden scientific opportunity to advance our understanding of the Universe. We have identified three top-priority near-term science objectives together with missions to accomplish these goals. The three problems span a diverse range of subdisciplines, of observational technique, of timescales, and of cost, and are thus complementary, forming a coherent core program for the SEU theme in the 2003-2007 timeframe.These are : (1) Obtain precise measures of the chemical composition and physical conditions in objects ranging from the closest stars to the most distant quasars, (2) Utilize gravitational radiation as a probe of supermassive blackholes throughout the universe, (3) determine the nature of the highest energy cosmic rays. We also describe a small number of exciting missions which are strong candidates for new start status in the midterm, 2008-2013, pending technology development. These missions tackle fundamental problems through the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from the radio through gamma rays, and in many cases develop fascinating technologies with applicability not only elsewhere in NASA but outside of space science as well. Finally, we describe a set of "vision missions," which stretch our scientific imagination and set technology challenges for our field.

Source record↗

Molecular Spectroscopy in Astrophysics: The Case of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

The role of molecular spectroscopy in astrophysics and astrochemistry is discussed in the context of the study of large, complex, carbon-bearing molecules, namely, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons or PAHs. These molecular species are now thought to be widespread in the interstellar medium in their neutral and ionized forms. Identifying the carriers responsible for unidentified interstellar spectral bands will allow to derive important information on cosmic elemental abundances as well as information on the physical conditions (density, temperature) reigning in specific interstellar environments. These, in turn, are key elements for a correct understanding of the energetic mechanisms that govern the origin and the evolution of the interstellar medium. A multidisciplinary approach - combining astronomical observations with laboratory simulations and theoretical modeling - is required to address these complex issues. Laboratory spectra of several PAHs, isolated at low temperature in inert gas matrices or seeded in a supersonic jet expansion, are discussed here and compared to the astronomical spectra of reddened, early type, stars. The electronic spectroscopy of PAHs in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared domains is reviewed and an assessment of the potential contribution of PAHs to the interstellar extinction in the ultraviolet and in the visible is discussed.

Salama, Farid↗

Interactions of Water Vapor with Oxides at Elevated Temperatures

Many volatile metal hydroxides form by reaction of the corresponding metal oxide with water vapor. These reactions are important in a number of high temperature corrosion processes. Experimental methods for studying the thermodynamics of metal hydroxides include: gas leak Knudsen cell mass spectrometry, free jet sampling mass spectrometry, transpiration and hydrogen-oxygen flame studies. The available experimental information is reviewed and the most stable metal hydroxide species are correlated with position in the periodic table. Current studies in our laboratory on the Si-O-H system are discussed.

Jacobson, Nathan↗

Process for preparing tapes from thermoplastic polymers and carbon fibers

The instant invention involves a process for use in preparing tapes or rovings, which are formed from a thermoplastic material used to impregnate longitudinally extended bundles of carbon fibers. The process involves the steps of (a) gas spreading a tow of carbon fibers; (b) feeding the spread tow into a crosshead die; (c) impregnating the tow in the die with a thermoplastic polymer; (d) withdrawing the impregnated tow from the die; and (e) gas cooling the impregnated tow with a jet of air. The crosshead die useful in the instant invention includes a horizontally extended, carbon fiber bundle inlet channel, means for providing melted polymer under pressure to the die, means for dividing the polymeric material flowing into the die into an upper flow channel and a lower flow channel disposed above and below the moving carbon fiber bundle, means for applying the thermoplastic material from both the upper and lower channels to the fiber bundle, and means for withdrawing the resulting tape from the die.

Chung, Tai-Shung↗

Distributed Propulsion Vehicles

Since the introduction of large jet-powered transport aircraft, the majority of these vehicles have been designed by placing thrust-generating engines either under the wings or on the fuselage to minimize aerodynamic interactions on the vehicle operation. However, advances in computational and experimental tools along with new technologies in materials, structures, and aircraft controls, etc. are enabling a high degree of integration of the airframe and propulsion system in aircraft design. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been investigating a number of revolutionary distributed propulsion vehicle concepts to increase aircraft performance. The concept of distributed propulsion is to fully integrate a propulsion system within an airframe such that the aircraft takes full synergistic benefits of coupling of airframe aerodynamics and the propulsion thrust stream by distributing thrust using many propulsors on the airframe. Some of the concepts are based on the use of distributed jet flaps, distributed small multiple engines, gas-driven multi-fans, mechanically driven multifans, cross-flow fans, and electric fans driven by turboelectric generators. This paper describes some early concepts of the distributed propulsion vehicles and the current turboelectric distributed propulsion (TeDP) vehicle concepts being studied under the NASA s Subsonic Fixed Wing (SFW) Project to drastically reduce aircraft-related fuel burn, emissions, and noise by the year 2030 to 2035.

Kim, Hyun Dae↗

2.3.4.104 - Lignin Conversion to Sustainable Aviation Fuel Blendstocks

The Lignin Conversion to Sustainable Aviation Fuel Blendstocks (LigSAF) project focuses on the conversion of lignin-rich streams to deoxygenated aromatic and cycloalkane blendstocks in the jet fuel range. This work is done in close collaboration with the BETO-funded Lignin-First Biorefinery Development project and industrial scale-up partners, and the work is closely guided by analysis to develop cost-effective and sustainable routes to produce lignin-based SAF blendstocks. To date, we have demonstrated the continuous catalytic conversion of a lignin oil from poplar to deoxygenated aromatic products at -85% C-mol yield. This hydrodeoxygenation process uses a stable, earth-abundant catalyst and requires no solvent. We have also established a baseline process model and associated techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment that together demonstrate the potential to achieve cost parity with fossil carbon-based jet fuel at -70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Current work is focused on expanding the slate of feedstocks for hydrodeoxygenation to include lignin oils from softwoods, agricultural residues, and grasses as well as from hydrolysis lignin substrates from biochemical conversion and pulp-and-paper processes. We are also undertaking catalyst development efforts to tune the reaction selectivity from aromatic compounds to cycloalkanes. Lastly, we are investigating reaction engineering strategies to slurry solids for hydrodeoxygenation reactions.

aromatics↗

Experimental investigation of a single flush-mounted hypermixing nozzle

The results of an experimental wind tunnel investigation of a circular supersonic jet (m sub j = 3.47) injected at a 10 degree angle into a supersonic freestream. The jet penetrates a boundary layer, which has a thickness approximately the same as the jet nozzle exit diameter. Measurements were made for nominal freestream Mach numbers of 1.6, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0. Three jet total pressures were run at each freestream Mach number, resulting in twelve separate operating conditions. Mean data accumulated by means of static and total pressure probe instrumentation are presented at two axial stations: seven jet nozzle diameters upstream and 15 jet nozzle diameters downstream from where the centerline of the nozzle intersects the wind tunnel wall. For one condition at each freestream Mach number, the jet air was seeded with a hydrocarbon trace gas and the flow was sampled at the downstream measurement plane to quantify the mean mixing of the two streams. Surface oil flow visualization was also used to investigate the flow interaction. All results are for air-to-air mixing. The measurements indicate the presence of two pairs contra-rotating vortices. One pair follows the jet trajectory and tends to split the jet into two streams. A smaller pair, rotating in an opposite sense, develops in the near wall region. Reported results include Mach number and volume fraction distributions in the cross plane, as well as jet penetration and mixing efficiency.

Davis, David O.↗

Reproducible direct exposure environmental testing of metal-based magnetic media

A flow geometry and flow rate for mixed flowing gas testing is proposed. Use of an impinging jet of humid polluted air can provide a uniform and reproducible exposure of coupons of metal-based magnetic media. Numerical analysis of the fluid flow and mass transfer in such as system has shown that samples confined within a distance equal to the nozzle radius on the surface of impingement are uniformly accessible to pollutants in the impinging gas phase. The critical factor is the nozzle height above the surface of impingement. In particular, the uniformity of exposure is less than plus/minus 2% for a volumetric flow rate of 1600 cm(exp 3)/minute total flow with the following specifications: For a one inch nozzle, the height of the nozzle opening above the stage should be 0.177 inches; for a 2 inch nozzle - 0.390 inches. Not only is the distribution uniform, but one can calculate the maximum delivery rate of pollutants to the samples for comparison with the observed deterioration.

Sides, Paul J.↗