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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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Economic feasibility of methanol or methyl fuel produced from coal using existing technology is discussed. Other factors considered include environmental, safety, toxicity, transportation, so storage, ease of burning, and retrofitting of present boilers. Demonstrations of its uses as a boiler fuel and as a turbine fuel are cited.
The thickness of the upper surface of 64 airfoils was increased from the leading edge to the position of maximum thickness. The modifications were generated using a numerical optimization routine coupled with an aerodynamic analysis code. The type of modification presented can be used for aircraft design or for the retrofit of current aircraft to improve the stall characteristics and climb performance. The coordinates of the modified airfoils are presented with plots of the forward 45% of the profiles and pressure distributions for both the modified and unmodified sections at an angle of attack of 14 degrees.
A numerical computation scheme has been developed to determine the sound generated by propellers. A comparison of these calculations to the noise data taken in the flight test of a propeller driven aircraft shows good agreement. The method is then applied in a parametric study of fixed pitch propellers designed to reduce noise. All these techniques reduce noise while maintaining shaft speed so that the method presented here may be used in a retrofit option for the general aviation fleet.
A method for solving the Navier-Stokes equations based on splitting the velocity vector into its rotational and irrotational parts has recently been applied successfully to internal flow computations. In this paper, the applicability of the method to external flows is examined by studying two model problems; laminar incompressible flow over semiinfinite and finite flat plates. For these problems the procedure accurately reproduces the known solutions and is computationally very efficient even at high Reynolds numbers. Computational aspects of the method are discussed along with the possibility of using the procedure to retrofit a viscous capability into existing transonic potential flow codes.
Florida Solar Energy Center has retrofitted office building, approximately 5,000 square feet of area, with solar heating and air-conditioning. Information on operation, installation, controls, and hardware for system is contained in 164 page report. Document includes manufacturer's product literature and detailed drawings.
Fuel consumption of commercial aircraft is considered. Fuel saving and retention components for new production and retrofit of JT9D, JT8D, and CF6 engines are reviewed. The manner in which the performance improvement concepts were selected for development and a summary of the current status of each of the 16 selected concepts are discussed.
The 'low nitrogen oxides heavy fuel combustor' program is described. Main program objectives are to generate and demonstrate the technology required to develop durable gas turbine combustors for utility and industrial applications, which are capable of sustained, environmentally acceptable operation with minimally processed petroleum residual fuels. The program will focus on 'dry' reductions of oxides of nitrogen, improved combustor durability, and satisfactory combustion of minimally processed petroleum residual fuels. Other technology advancements sought include: fuel flexibility for operation with petroleum distillates, blends of petroleum distillates and residual fuels, and synfuels (fuel oils derived from coal or shale); acceptable exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, sulfur oxides and smoke; and retrofit capability to existing engines.
The results of a test program to evaluate a compact, high performance, fixed ratio traction drive are presented. This transmission, the Nasvytis Multiroller Traction Drive, is a fixed ratio, single stage planetary with two rows of stepped planet rollers. Two versions of the drive were parametrically tested back-to-back at speeds to 73,000 rpm and power levels to 180 kW (240 hp). Parametric tests were also conducted with the Nasvytis drive retrofitted to an automotive gas turbine engine. The drives exhibited good performance, with a nominal peak efficiency of 94 to 96 percent and a maximum speed loss due to creep of approximately 3.5 percent.
A method for solving the Navier-Stokes equations based on splitting the velocity vector into its rotational and irrotational parts was sucessfully applied to internal flow computations. The applicability of the method to external flows is examined by studying several model problems. The model problems are those of laminar and turbulent incompressible flow past a semi-infinite flat plate and laminar incompressible flow past a finite flat plate. For these problems, the procedure accurately reproduces the known solutions and is computationally very efficient even at high Reynolds numbers. Computational aspects of the method are discussed along with the possibility of using the procedure to retrofit a viscous capability into existing potential flow codes.
The retrofitted solar heating and cooling system installed at the Florida Solar Energy Center is described. The system was designed to supply approximately 70 percent of the annual cooling and 100 percent of the heating load. The project provides unique high temperature, nonimaging, nontracking, evacuated tube collectors. The design of the system was kept simple and employs five hydronic loops. They are energy collection, chilled water production, space cooling, space heating and energy rejection. Information is provided on the system's acceptance test results operation, controls, hardware and installation, including detailed drawings.
A unique inverting flap system was investigated on a large scale deflected slipstream model in the Ames 40 by 80 foot wind tunnel. The subject tests utilized 33% chord double-slotted flaps on a low aspect ratio wing that was fully immersed in the propeller slipstream. Evaluation of the flap effectiveness is aided by comparisons with the results of tests of other flap systems on the same twin propeller, twin tail boom STOL utility aircraft mode. No extreme or abrupt force or moment increments were encountered when the flaps were deflected through a wide range, corresponding to the complete retraction/extension spectrum. The lift and descent capability of the inverting flaps compared very favorably with that of the other flap systems that have been tested on this model, including some with much greater mechanical complexity. As expected, the flaps caused large nose down, pitching moment increments at the high lift settings; however, the trimmed characteristics are still competitive with those obtained from the more complicated flap systems. It is believed that these flaps may have promising potential application to the design of relatively simple STOL utility aircraft with improved performance capabilities. In addition, they may merit consideration as retrofits to existing aircraft with less effective flap systems.
The solar energy system located at the North Dallas High School, Dallas, Texas is discussed. The system is designed as a retrofit in a three story with basement, concrete frame high school building. Extracts from the site files, specification references for solar modification to existing building heating and domestic hot water systems, drawings, installation, operation and maintenance instructions are included.
Open-cycle MHD is one of the major R&D efforts in the Department of Energy's program to meet the national goal of reducing U.S. dependence on oil through increased utilization of coal. MHD offers an effective way to use coal to produce electric power at low cost in a highly efficient and environmentally acceptable manner. Open-cycle MHD plants are categorized by the MHD combustor oxidizer, its temperature and the method of preheat. The paper discusses MHD baseline plant design, open-cycle MHD plant in the Energy Conversion Alternatives Study (ECAS), early commercial MHD plants, conceptual studies of the engineering test facility, retrofit (addition of an MHD topping cycle to an existing steam plant), and other potential applications and concepts. Emphasis is placed on a survey of both completed and ongoing studies to define both commercial and pilot plant design, cost, and performance.
The Engine Component Improvement (ECI) Program is NASA sponsored and is specifically directed at reducing the fuel consumption of commercial aircraft in the near-term. As part of the ECI program, a Performance Improvement (PI) effort aimed at developing fuel saving and retention components for new production and retrofit of JT9D, JT8D, and CF6 engines is underway. This paper reviews the manner in which the PI concepts were selected for development and summarizes the current status of each of the 16 NASA selected concepts.
The paper deals with the 'Low NO/x/ Heavy Fuel Combustor Program'. Main program objectives are to generate and demonstrate the technology required to develop durable gas turbine combustors for utility and industrial applications, which are capable of sustained, environmentally acceptable operation with minimally processed petroleum residual fuels. The program will focus on 'dry' reductions of oxides of nitrogen (NO/x/), improved combustor durability and satisfactory combustion of minimally processed petroleum residual fuels. Other technology advancements sought include: fuel flexibility for operation with petroleum distillates, blends of petroleum distillates and residual fuels, and synfuels (fuel oils derived from coal or shale); acceptable exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, sulfur oxides and smoke; and retrofit capability to existing engines.
Recent flight and wind tunnel evaluations of winglets mounted on general aviation airplanes have shown improvements in cruise fuel efficiency, and climbing and turning performance. Some of these analyses have also uncovered various effects of winglets on airplane handling qualities. Retrofitting an airplane with winglets can result in reduced cross wind take-off and landing capabilities. Also, winglets can have a detrimental effect on the lateral directional response characteristics of aircraft which have a moderate to high level of adverse yaw due to aileron. Introduction of an aileron-rudder-interconnect, and reduction of the effective dihedral by canting-in of the winglets, or addition of a lower winglet can eliminate these flying quality problems.
The results of a test program to evaluate a compact, high performance, fixed-ratio traction drive are presented. This transmission, the Nasvytis Multiroller Traction Drive, is a fixed-ratio, single-stage planetary with two rows of stepped planet-rollers. Two versions of the drive were parametrically tested back-to-back at speeds to 73,000 rpm and power levels to 180 kW (240 hp). Parametric tests were also conducted with the Nasvytis drive retrofitted to an automotive gas turbine engine. The drives exhibited good performance, with a nominal peak efficiency of 94 to 96 percent and a maximum speed loss due to creep of approximately 3.5 percent.
Report on installation, operation and performance of a solar-heating system installed at the Troy-Miami County Public Library in Troy, Ohio. Solar retrofit system complements passive solar-energy system and interfaces with existing heat, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.