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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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At least 91 records · Page 5

Affect of Brush Seals on Wave Rotor Performance Assessed

The NASA Lewis Research Center's experimental and theoretical research shows that wave rotor topping can significantly enhance gas turbine engine performance levels. Engine-specific fuel consumption and specific power are potentially enhanced by 15 and 20 percent, respectively, in small (e.g., 400 to 700 hp) and intermediate (e.g., 3000 to 5000 hp) turboshaft engines. Furthermore, there is potential for a 3- to 6-percent specific fuel consumption enhancement in large (e.g., 80,000 to 100,000 lbf) turbofan engines. This wave-rotor-enhanced engine performance is accomplished within current material-limited temperature constraints. The completed first phase of experimental testing involved a three-port wave rotor cycle in which medium total pressure inlet air was divided into two outlet streams, one of higher total pressure and one of lower total pressure. The experiment successfully provided the data needed to characterize viscous, partial admission, and leakage loss mechanisms. Statistical analysis indicated that wave rotor product efficiency decreases linearly with the rotor to end-wall gap, the square of the friction factor, and the square of the passage of nondimensional opening time. Brush seals were installed to further minimize rotor passage-to-cavity leakage. The graph shows the effect of brush seals on wave rotor product efficiency. For the second-phase experiment, which involves a four-port wave rotor cycle in which heat is added to the Brayton cycle in an external burner, a one-dimensional design/analysis code is used in conjunction with a wave rotor performance optimization scheme and a two-dimensional Navier-Stokes code. The purpose of the four-port experiment is to demonstrate and validate the numerically predicted four-port pressure ratio versus temperature ratio at pressures and temperatures lower than those that would be encountered in a future wave rotor/demonstrator engine test. Lewis and the Allison Engine Company are collaborating to investigate wave rotor integration in an existing turboshaft engine. Recent theoretical efforts include simulating wave rotor dynamics (e.g., startup and load-change transient analysis), modifying the one-dimensional wave rotor code to simulate combustion internal to the wave rotor, and developing an analytical wave rotor design/analysis tool based on macroscopic balances for parametric wave rotor/engine analysis.

Source record↗

Brush Seal Arrangement for the RS-68 Turbopump Set

The nature of the RS-68 turbopumps requires that the hydrogen seals separating the pump from the turbine must have extremely low levels of leakage and be contained in small packages. Conventional seal technologies are not able to reasonably satisfy such design requirements. A review of experimental measurements and analysis publications suggests that brush seals are well suited for the design requirements. Brush seals are shown to have less leakage than conventional labyrinth and damper seals and have no adverse effects on the rotordynamics of the machine. The bulk-flow analysis presented by Hendricks et al. is used as a guideline to create a spreadsheet that provides mass flow through the seal and heat generated by the rubbing contact of the bristles on the shaft. The analysis is anchored to published data for LN2 and LH2 leakage tests. Finally, the analysis is used to design seals for both applications. It is observed that the most important analysis parameter is the thickness of the bristle pack and its relationship to seal clearance, lay angle and pressure drop.

Nunez, D.↗

The synergistic effects of slip ring-brush design and materials

The design, fabrication, and subsequent testing of four power slip rings for synchronous orbit application are described. The synergistic effects of contact materials and slip ring-brush design are studied by means of frequent and simultaneous recording of friction, wear, and electrical noise. Data generated during the test period are presented along with post test analysis data.

Lewis, N. E.↗

Contouring pile-brush seals

Variety of shapes are produced by simple flat machining. Freeze-cut method is cost-efficient by eliminating necessity to cut brushes individually.

Norwood, L. B.↗

Friction and wear characteristics of wire-brush skids

The testing technique consisted of towing the skids with a ground test vehicle over asphalt and concrete surfaces at ground speeds up to 80 km/hr (50 mph) and bearing pressures up to 689 kPa (100 psi) over sliding distances up to 1585 m (5200 ft). Results indicate that the friction coefficient developed by wire brush skids is essentially independent of ground speed, is slightly increased with increasing bearing pressure, is noticeably affected by surface texture, and is not degraded by surface wetness. Skid wear is shown to increase with increasing bearing pressure and with increasing ground speed and is dependent on the nature of the surface. Runway surface damage caused by the skids was in the form of an abrasive scrubbing action rather than physical damage.

Dreher, R. C.↗

Infrared radiation emerging from smoke produced by brush fires

The IR radiative transport properties of brush fire smoke clouds, computed for a model with finite horizontal dimensions as well as the more common plane-parallel model, are presented. The finite model is a three-dimensional version of the two-stream approximation applied to cubic clouds of steam, carbon, and silicates. Assumptions are made with regard to the shape and size distributions of the smoke particles. It is shown that 11.5-micron radiometry can detect fires beneath smoke clouds if the path integrated mass density of the smoke is less than or equal to 3 g/sq m.

Weinman, J. A.↗

Thermal Brushes For Memory-Metal Actuators

Thermoelectric elements with wire-brush contacts remove heat from or add heat to memory-metal actuators and thereby enable them to respond faster than previously possible. Memory-metal actuator formed to shape while hot, then to another shape while cold. When cold actuator heated so temperature rises above critical point, snaps from cold shape to hot shape. Upon cooling, actuator returns to cold shape, ready for another cycle. Clearly, faster actuator is heated and cooled, the faster it operates.

Wood, Charles↗

Simulation of brush insert for leading-edge-passage convective heat transfer

Current and proposed high speed aircraft have high leading edge heat transfer (to 160 MW/sq m, 100 Btu/sq in/sec) and surface temperatures to 1370 K (2000 F). Without cooling, these surfaces could not survive. In one proposal the coolant hydrogen is circulated to the leading edge through a passage and returned to be consumed by the propulsion system. Simulated flow studies and visualizations have shown flow separation within the passage with a stagnation locus that isolates a zone of recirculation at the most critical portion of the passage, namely the leading edge itself. A novel method is described for mitigating the flow separation and the isolated recirculation zones by using a brush insert in the flow passage near the leading edge zone, thus providing a significant increase in heat transfer.

Hendricks, R. C.↗

Brush Seal Would Impede Flow Of Hot Gas

Proposed brush seal helps prevent recirculating flow of hot combustion gases from reaching bellows seal located deep in gap in wall of combustion chamber. More durable, more tolerant of irregularities, and easier to install. Seals also helpful in impeding deleterious flows of hot gases in other combustion chambers such as those of furnaces and turbomachines.

Carroll, Paul F.↗

Ceramic brush seals development

The following topics are discussed in this viewgraph presentation: ceramic brush seals, research and development, manufacturing, brazed assembly development, controlling braze flow, fiber selection, and braze results.

Howe, Harold↗