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At least 91 records · Page 5

Droplet breakup in accelerating gas flows. Part 2: Secondary atomization

An experimental investigation to determine the effects of an accelerating gas flow on the atomization characteristics of liquid sprays was conducted. The sprays were produced by impinging two liquid jets. The liquid was molten wax and the gas was nitrogen. The use of molten wax allowed for a quantitative measure of the resulting dropsize distribution. The results of this study, indicate that a significant amount of droplet breakup will occur as a result of the action of the gas on the liquid droplets. Empirical correlations are presented in terms of parameters that were found to affect the mass median dropsize most significantly, the orifice diameter, the liquid injection velocity, and the maximum gas velocity. An empirical correlation for the normalized dropsize distribution is also presented. These correlations are in a form that may be incorporated readily into existing combustion model computer codes for the purpose of calculating rocket engine combustion performance.

Zajac, L. J.↗

Flow processes in electric discharge drivers

The performance of an electric discharge shock tube is discussed from the point of view that the conditions at the sonic station are the primary controlling variables (likewise in comparing designs), and that the analysis of the flow on either side of the sonic station should be done separately. The importance of considering mass-flow rate in matching a given driver design to the downstream flow required for a particular shock-wave speed is stressed. It is shown that a driver based on the principle of liquid injection (of H2) is superior to one based on the Ludwieg tube, because of the greater mass-flow rate and the absence of a massive diaphragm.

Baganoff, D.↗

Review of design and operational characteristics of the 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

The past 6 years of operation with the NASA Langley 0.3 m transonic cryogenic tunnel (TCT) show that there are no insurmountable problems associated with cryogenic testing with gaseous nitrogen at transonic Mach numbers. The fundamentals of the concept were validated both analytically and experimentally and the 0.3 m TCT, with its unique Reynolds number capability, was used for a wide variety of aerodynamic tests. Techniques regarding real-gas effects were developed and cryogenic tunnel conditions can be set and maintained accurately. Cryogenic cooling by injecting liquid nitrogen directly into the tunnel circuit imposes no problems with temperature distribution or dynamic response characteristics. Experience with the 0.3 m TCT, indicates that there is a significant learning process associated with cryogenic, high Reynolds number testing. Many of the questions have already been answered; however, factors such as tunnel control, run logic, economics, instrumentation, and model technology present many new and challenging problems.

Ray, E. J.↗

Minimum Energy Test Direction Design in the Control of Cryogenic Wind Tunnels

The advent of the cryogenic wind tunnel concept is attributable to the need for high Reynolds number flow in wind tunnels. The cryogenic wind tunnel concept consists of operating the test medium of a conventional tunnel at cryogenic temperatures down to 80 K. Nitrogen gas, cooled by injected liquid nitrogen, proves to be ideal for the cryogenic tunnel test medium because of its near perfect behavior in insentropic flow. Cryogenic operation of a wind tunnel results in reduced fan power consumption and no penalty in flow dynamic pressure. In a cryogenic tunnel, the flow parameters (Reynolds number, Mach number and flow dynamic pressure) can be independently controlled by separately controlling the tunnel flow variables: total temperature, test section mass flow, and the tunnel total pressure. The problem of closed-loop control of the tunnel total temperature, flow Mach number, and total pressure is addressed and reported.

Balakrishna, S.↗

Feasibility study of LITVC for shuttle SRB

A liquid injection thrust vector control (LITVC) system for the shuttle solid rocket booster (SRB) was analyzed. The LITVC was compared with the SRB baseline flexible seal. A table of LITVC advantages and disadvantages is presented. It is concluded that the LITVC performs well at low to moderate duty cycles, but not for high duty cycle requirements.

Martin, C. L.↗

Fluid-Injection Tool for Inaccessible Areas

New tool injects liquids or gases into narrow crevices. Can be used to apply caulking and waterproofing compounds, adhesives, detergent, undercoats and oil and to aerate hard-to-reach places. Nozzle can reach into opening 1/32 inch wide to depth of more than 4 inches. Although thin, device is rigid and strong.

Myers, J. E.↗

Sensitivity analysis of cool-down strategies for a transonic cryogenic tunnel

Guidelines and suggestions substantiated by real-time simulation data to ensure optimum time and energy use of injected liquid nitrogen for cooling the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (TCT) are presented. It is directed toward enabling operators and researchers to become cognizant of criteria for using the 0.3-m TCT in an energy- or time-efficient manner. Operational recommendations were developed based on information collected from a validated simulator of the 0.3-m TCT and experimental data from the tunnel. Results and trends, however, can be extrapolated to other similarly constructed cryogenic wind tunnels.

Thibodeaux, J. J.↗

Liquid Transfer Cryogenic Test Facility: Initial hydrogen and nitrogen no-vent fill data

The Liquid Transfer Cryogenic Test Facility is a versatile testbed for ground-based cryogenic fluid storage, handling, and transfer experimentation. The test rig contains two well instrumented tanks, and a third interchangeable tank, designed to accommodate liquid nitrogen or liquid hydrogen testing. The internal tank volumes are approx. 18, 5, and 1.2 cu. ft. Tank pressures can be varied from 2 to 30 psia. Preliminary no vent fill tests with nitrogen and hydrogen were successfully completed with the test rig. Initial results indicate that no vent fills of nitrogen above 90 percent full are achievable using this test configuration, in a 1-g environment, and with inlet liquid temperatures as high as 143 R, and an average tank wall temperature of nearly 300 R. This inlet temperature corresponds to a saturation pressure of 19 psia for nitrogen. Hydrogen proved considerably more difficult to transfer between tanks without venting. The highest temperature conditions resulting in a fill level greater than 90 percent were with an inlet liquid temperature of 34 R, and an estimated tank wall temperature of slightly more than 100 R. Saturation pressure for hydrogen at this inlet temperature is 10 psia. All preliminary no vent fill tests were performed with a top mounted full cone nozzle for liquid injection. The nozzle produces a 120 degree conical droplet spray at a differential pressure of 10 psi. Pressure in the receiving tank was held to less than 30 psia for all tests.

Moran, Matthew E.↗

CFD evaluation of an advanced thrust vector control concept

A potential concept that can offer an alternate method for thrust vector control of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster is the use of a cylindrical probe that is inserted (on demand) through the wall of the rocket nozzle. This Probe Thrust Vector Control (PTVC) concept is an alternate to that of a gimbaled nozzle or a Liquid Injection Thrust Vector (LITVC) system. The viability of the PTVC concept can be assessed either experimentally and/or with the use of CFD. A purely experimental assessment can be time consuming and expensive, whereas a CFD assessment can be very time- and cost-effective. Two key requirements of the proposed concept are PTVC vectoring performance and the active cooling requirements for the probe to maintain its thermal and structural integrity. An active thermal cooling method is the injection of coolant around the pheriphery of the probe. How much coolant is required and how this coolant distributes itself in the flow field is of major concern. The objective of the work reported here is the use of CFD to answer these question and in the design of test hardware to substantiate the results of the CFD predictions.

Tiarn, Weihnurng↗

Experimental and theoretical comparison of the Probe Thrust Vector Control concept

A concept that offers an alternate method for thrust vector control of liquid or solid propellant rockets is the use of a solid body or probe that is inserted on demand through the wall of the rocket nozzle. This Probe Thrust Vector Control (PTVC) concept is an alternative to that of a gimbaled nozzle or a Liquid Injection Thrust Vector control system. The viability of the PTVC concept can be assessed either experimentally and/or with the use of CFD. A purely experimental assessment is time consuming and expensive, whereas a CFD assessment is time- and cost-effective. Two key requirements of the concept are PTVC vectoring performance and active cooling requirements for the probe to maintain its thermal and structural integrity. The objective of the work reported here is presentation of experimental subscale cold flow tests and comparison of these tests with CFD predictions and the response time of the PTVC system.

Cavalleri, Robert↗

Enhancement of the no-vent fill process

This paper presents an analytical and experimental evaluation of an enhanced techniques for no-vent fill. The method entails injecting liquid through the top of the receiver vessel, thereby increasing surface area and agitation of the ullage/liquid interface. Both of these factors promote condensation induced ullage collapse, and reduce compressive impedance to the incoming liquid. The enhanced process was analyzed by modifying the surface area algorithm of an existing tank thermodynamic code to model a downward-pointing, conical jet impringing on a steadily rising liquid surface. Transient pressure and temperature measurements from several tests with Freon-114 were input into the revised model to calculate condensation rate as a function of fill level. By expressing these rates in dimensionless form (i.e., in terms of Stanton number and Prandtl number), an empirical correlation similar to the submerged jet model of Brown and Sonin (1989) was derived. This provided a basis for developing an expression which relates top fill to bottom fill performance.

Vaughan, David A.↗

Influence of ambient air pressure on effervescent atomization

The influence of ambient air pressure on the drop-size distributions produced in effervescent atomization is examined in this article. Also investigated are the effects on spray characteristics of variations in air/liquid mass ratio, liquid-injection pressure, and atomizer discharge-orifice diameter at different levels of ambient air pressure. It is found that continuous increase in air pressure above the normal atmospheric value causes the mean drop-size to first increase up to a maximum value and then decline. An explanation for this characteristic is provided in terms of the various contributing factors to the overall atomization process. It is also observed that changes in atomizer geometry and operating conditions have little effect on the distribution of drop-sizes in the spray.

Chen, S. K.↗

Hybrid propulsion based on fluid-controlled solid gas generators

The use of fuel-rich solid (gas generator-type) propellants for hybrid propulsion affords some design and utilization efficiency advantages. Both forward and aft liquid injection control concepts are evaluated from the operational standpoints of ballistics, throttling, stability and extinguishment. Steady-state and non-steady ballistics analyses are employed for this evaluation. Stability of solid motor operation is enhanced by fluid injection with adequate injector pressure drop. Efficient throttling and reliable extinguishment are attained through a combination of solid propellant combustion tailoring, grain design, control valves and sensors. Initial results from a laboratory-scale slab combustor, combining a gas generator propellant with gaseous oxygen injection, are also presented.

Cohen, Norman S.↗

Performance of 4600-pound-thrust centrifugal-flow-type turbojet engine with water-alcohol injection at inlet

An experimental investigation of the effects of injecting a water-alcohol mixture of 2:1 at the compressor inlet of a centrifugal-flow type turbojet engine was conducted in an altitude test chamber at static sea-level conditions and at an altitude of 20,000 feet with a flight Mach number of 0.78 with an engine operating at rated speed. The net thrust was augmented by 0.16 for both flight conditions with a ratio of injected liquid to air flow of 0.05. Further increases in the liquid-air ratio did not give comparable increases in thrust.

Glasser, Philip W↗

Numerical Simulations of Two-Phase Reacting Flow in a Single-Element Lean Direct Injection (LDI) Combustor Using NCC

A series of numerical simulations of Jet-A spray reacting flow in a single-element lean direct injection (LDI) combustor have been conducted by using the National Combustion Code (NCC). The simulations have been carried out using the time filtered Navier-Stokes (TFNS) approach ranging from the steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS), unsteady RANS (URANS), to the dynamic flow structure simulation (DFS). The sub-grid model employed for turbulent mixing and combustion includes the well-mixed model, the linear eddy mixing (LEM) model, and the filtered mass density function (FDF/PDF) model. The starting condition of the injected liquid spray is specified via empirical droplet size correlation, and a five-species single-step global reduced mechanism is employed for fuel chemistry. All the calculations use the same grid whose resolution is of the RANS type. Comparisons of results from various models are presented.

Liu, Nan-Suey↗

GEER Status Update

History: The Glenn Extreme Environments Rig (GEER) first became operational in the early part of 2015. Since that time GEER has completed a number of scientific tests and has undergone improvements in the chemical delivery system and analytics following a year of operations experience. Recent Updates: In June 2016, the GEER process system was rebuilt to provide a more robust system, higher accuracy and new capabilities. New insulation was installed on the exterior of the pressure vessel and gas lines. The newly revamped GEER plumbing system can provide extremely precise custom gas mixtures using any gas desired by the investigator in any combination. GEER can heat the resulting mixture up to 500 deg C and 1500 psia. The 304 stainless steel vessel walls were polished to reduce corrosion rate and reduce unwanted chemical reactions. The process lines were replaced with high purity Sulfinert coated tubing. The GEER team added the ability to individually boost specialty gases to GEER thus allowing operators to make very precise changes to the gas chemistry inside of GEER during a test while at high temperature and pressure. High accuracy mass flow meters were added to further improve gas mixing accuracy and precision. An in-line, integrated Inficon MicroGC Fusion was added for real time gas analysis along with a high purity gas sampling system, providing fully automated, real time analysis of the gas chemistry inside of GEER in minutes. This complements a co-located mass spectrometer and both are used for regular monitoring of the vessel chemistry. All internal vessel components were replaced with polished 304SS equivalents. Hot vent down capability was increased. Finally, an automated liquid injection system was added and is rated for max vessel operating conditions of (1500 psia, 500 C). Recent Results and Publications: In May 2016, GEER completed a test that exposed high temperature electronics to Venus surface conditions for 21.5 days. This demonstrated the potential for operating robotic spacecraft in the Venus environment without the need for thermal or environmental protection. Results from this test were published in December 2016 and received national media attention. In April 2017 GEER implemented an 80 day test at Venus surface conditions to simulate chemical weathering of expected Venus minerals. This test supported a ROSES award to a team led by Prof. Ralph Harvey of Case Western Reserve University. The test concluded in July 2017 and nearly doubled previous operation record of 42 days at Venus surface conditions. Preliminary results of these and previous experiments were presented at the recent Venus Modeling Workshop. In June 2017, NASA TM2017-219437 "Chemical and Microstructural Changes in Metallic and Ceramic Materials Exposed to Venusian Surface Conditions" was published. This report provides an extensive and valuable resource detailing the behavior of a variety of engineering materials at Venus surface conditions. Community Involvement: An external science advisory panel has been formed.

Kremic, Tibor↗

Mars Ascent Vehicle Hybrid Propulsion Development

Hybrid propulsion is being investigated as a propulsion method for a possible Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) application. MAV is part of a proposed larger Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign plan to bring samples from Mars to earth for examination. The Mars Ascent Vehicle would launch Mars surface samples found and packaged by the Mars 2020 mission to orbit around Mars. This version of hybrid propulsion is based on a wax based solid fuel, called SP7A, and a Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen oxidizer, MON-25. SP7 is a new fuel formulation developed by Space Propulsion Group and was modified for this application to be resistant to Mars temperature extremes and modified again to lower the regression rate to become SP7A. MON-25 was chosen for its low freezing temperature. Due to cost constraints, MON-3 was the oxidizer used during testing through 2018. In 2019, full scale hybrid testing with MON-25 commenced in Mojave, CA by Whittinghill Aerospace. One flight motor will be subjected to thermal cycling in a vacuum and later fired in a vacuum to demonstrate the proposed Liquid Injection Thrust Vector Control system performance at White Sands Test Facility (WSTF). In addition, there will be MON-25 characterization work done at Purdue University and WSTF. Additional testing of subscale and full scale motors will be conducted with MON-3 with fuel grain stress, fuel grain support and case design test objectives by Space Propulsion Group Inc. of Butte, MT. This paper documents some of the testing, issues and accomplishments with the MAV hybrid propulsion option that is being considered (along with a two-stage solid propulsion option).

Story, G. T.↗

Mars Ascent Vehicle Hybrid Propulsion Development

Mars Ascent Vehicle Study Agenda: Potential Mars Sample Return (MSR); Potential Hybrid Design; 2019 Preliminary Architecture Assessment; Propellant Combination - Fuel; Propellant Combination - Oxidizer; Full Scale Testing thru 2018; Hypergolic Ignition; TEA/TEB (triethylaluminum/triethylborane) Ignition; Solid Hypergolic Additives; 2018 test - longest duration test; 2019 test; Liquid Injection Thrust Vector Control; White Sands Test Facility; FY19 and Future Work; Summary.

Story, George↗