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At least 91 records · Page 5

The aerodynamics of a wind-tunnel fan

The vortex blade-element theory modified to apply to an axial fan working in a duct is reviewed. Thrust and power coefficients for a fan are identified with the corresponding coefficients for airplane propellers. The relation of pressure produced by the fan to the blade-element coefficients is developed. The distribution of axial velocity of fluid through a fan is assumed to be controlled by the fan itself. The radial distribution of tangential velocity imported by the fan to fluid moving through the fan is shown to be independent of the axial-velocity distribution. A nondimensional coefficient, designated the rotation constant, is introduced. This constant is based solely upon design information. The use of the rotation constant in simplifying the design of a fan for a specific operating condition is demonstrated. Based on the use of the rotation constant, a graphical method is outlined by which the performance of a given fan in a given wind tunnel may be predicted and by which the distributions of axial velocity of the fluid through the fan under various operating conditions may be established.

THEORIES-VORTEX↗

The Direct Measurement of Engine Power on an Airplane in Flight with a Hub Type Dynamometer

This report describes tests made to obtain direct measurements of engine power in flight. Tests were made with a Bendemann hub dynamometer installed on a modified DH-4 Airplane, Liberty 12 Engine, to determine the suitability of this apparatus. This dynamometer unit, which was designed specially for use with a liberty 12 engine, is a special propeller hub in which is incorporated a system of pistons and cylinders interposed between the propeller and the engine crankshaft. The torque and thrust forces are balanced by fluid pressures, which are recorded by instruments in the cockpit. These tests have shown the suitability of this type of hub dynamometer for measurement of power in flight and for the determination of the torque and power coefficients of the propeller. (author)

Gove, W D↗

The Aerodynamic Characteristics of Four Full-Scale Propellers Having Different Plan Forms

Tests were made of four propellers, with diameters of 10 feet, having different blade plan forms. One propeller (Navy design no. 5868-r6) was of the usual present-day type and was used as a basis of comparison for the other three, which had unusual plan forms distinguished by the inward (toward the hub) location of the sections having the greatest blade width. It was found that propellers with points of maximum blade width occurring closer to the hub than on the present-day type of blade had higher peak efficiencies but lower take-off efficiencies. This results was found true for a "clean" liquid-cooled engine installation. It appears that some modification could be made to present plan forms which would produce propellers having more satisfactory aerodynamic qualities. The propellers with the inward location of the points of maximum blade width had lower thrust and power coefficients and stalled earlier than the present-day type.

Hartman, Edwin P↗

Free-Space Oscillating Pressures Near the Tips of Rotating Propellers

The theory is given for calculating the free-space oscillating pressures associated with a rotating propeller, at any point in space. Because of its complexity this analysis is convenient only for use in the critical region near the propeller tips where the assumptions used by Gutin to simplify his final equations are not valid. Good agreement was found between analytical and experimental results in the tip Mach number range 0.45 to two, three, four, five, six, on eight-blade propellers and for a range of tip clearances from 0.04 to 0.30 times the propeller diameter. If the power coefficient, tip Mach number, and the tip clearance are known for a given propeller, the designer may determine from these charts the average maximum free-space oscillating pressure in the critical region near the plane of rotation. A section of the report is devoted to the fuselage response to these oscillating pressures and indicates some of the factors to be considered in solving the problems of fuselage vibration and noise.

Hubbard, Harvey H↗

Investigation of the NACA 4-(3)(8)-045 Two-blade Propellers at Forward Mach Numbers to 0.725 to Determine the Effects of Compressibility and Solidity on Performance

As part of a general investigation of propellers at high forward speeds, tests of two 2-blade propellers having the NACA 4-(3)(8)-03 and NACA 4-(3)(8)-45 blade designs have been made in the Langley 8-foot high-speed tunnel through a range of blade angle from 20 degrees to 60 degrees for forward Mach numbers from 0.165 to 0.725 to establish in detail the changes in propeller characteristics due to compressibility effects. These propellers differed primarily only in blade solidity, one propeller having 50 percent and more solidity than the other. Serious losses in propeller efficiency were found as the propeller tip Mach number exceeded 0.91, irrespective of forward speed or blade angle. The magnitude of the efficiency losses varied from 9 percent to 22 percent per 0.1 increase in tip Mach number above the critical value. The range of advance ratio for peak efficiency decreased markedly with increase of forward speed. The general form of the changes in thrust and power coefficients was found to be similar to the changes in airfoil lift coefficient with changes in Mach number. Efficiency losses due to compressibility effects decreased with increase of blade width. The results indicated that the high level of propeller efficiency obtained at low speeds could be maintained to forward sea-level speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour.

Stack, John↗

HZETRN: Description of a free-space ion and nucleon transport and shielding computer program

The high-charge-and energy (HZE) transport computer program HZETRN is developed to address the problems of free-space radiation transport and shielding. The HZETRN program is intended specifically for the design engineer who is interested in obtaining fast and accurate dosimetric information for the design and construction of space modules and devices. The program is based on a one-dimensional space-marching formulation of the Boltzmann transport equation with a straight-ahead approximation. The effect of the long-range Coulomb force and electron interaction is treated as a continuous slowing-down process. Atomic (electronic) stopping power coefficients with energies above a few A MeV are calculated by using Bethe's theory including Bragg's rule, Ziegler's shell corrections, and effective charge. Nuclear absorption cross sections are obtained from fits to quantum calculations and total cross sections are obtained with a Ramsauer formalism. Nuclear fragmentation cross sections are calculated with a semiempirical abrasion-ablation fragmentation model. The relation of the final computer code to the Boltzmann equation is discussed in the context of simplifying assumptions. A detailed description of the flow of the computer code, input requirements, sample output, and compatibility requirements for non-VAX platforms are provided.

Wilson, John W.↗

Altitude-Wind-Tunnel Investigation of Performance of Several Propellers on YP-47M Airplane at High Blade Loadings: Curtiss 732-1C2-0 Four-Blade Propeller - 4

An altitude-wind-tunnel investigation has been made to determine the performance of a Curtiss 732-1C2-0 four-blade propeller on a YP-47M airplane at high blade loadings and engine power. Propeller characteristics were obtained for a range of power coefficients from 0.30 to 1.00 at free-stream Mach numbers of 0.40 and .50.

Saari, Martin J.↗

Implementation of a Body Force Model in OVERFLOW for Propulsor Simulations

We present an implementation of a propulsor model based on body force method into the OVERFLOW computational fluid dynamics code to model turbofan engines and propulsors of similar type. The model estimates the forces imparted on the fluid by the blade camber surfaces as a body force source terms in the momentum and energy equations over grids that represent the rotor and stator of a fan stage. We tested the implementation on three cases: 1) Source Diagnostics Test (SDT) fan with R4 rotors, which has extensive test data on aerodynamic performance and rotor wake surveys, 2) A stand-alone Aeronaut TF8000 propulsor which is an off-the-shelf propulsor used on model aircraft and 3) The D8 aircraft model with TF8000 propulsors placed in a wind tunnel. Despite missing some of the features in the velocity profiles near the endwalls (i.e. hub and casing surfaces), the OVERFLOW simulations with body force model predicted area-averaged flow speed and total pressure rise through the SDT propulsor within a few percent of the LDV (Laser Doppler Velocimetry) measurements. In the case of TF8000 propulsor on the D8 airframe, the model under-predicted mechanical power coefficient by several percent of the wind tunnel test results when the horizontal force balance condition over the airframe is targeted by tuning rotor speed. By investigating the upstream influence of the rotor swirl, it was found out that the induced swirl velocity effects upstream were relatively small and they rapidly vanished before reaching one fan diameter upstream of the fan face. The body force model provided insights on aerothermodynamics and aeromechanics of boundary layer ingesting propulsor; these insights could not be obtained by using the uniform pressure jump model.

Propulsor↗

Wind Tunnel Testing of Active Flow Control on High-Lift Common Research Model

A 10%-scale high-lift version of the Common Research Model (CRM-HL) and an Active Flow Control (AFC) version of the model equipped with a simple-hinged flap (CRM-SHLAFC) were successfully tested. The tests were performed in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel (14x22) at the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). The CRM-HL has a set of 37° inboard and outboard single-element Fowler flaps. The CRM-SHL-AFC has a set of 50° inboard and 55° outboard simple-hinged flaps equipped with integrated modular AFC cartridges on the flap shoulder. Both high-lift configurations share the same 30° slats and engine nacelle. Three new types of AFC devices were examined: the Double-Row Sweeping Jets (DRSWJ), the Alternating Pulsed Jets (APJ), and the High Efficiency Low Power (HELP) actuators. The DRSWJ and the APJ actuators used two rows of unsteady jets, whereas the HELP actuators used a combination of unsteady and steady jets, to overcome strong adverse pressure gradients while minimizing the mass flow usage. Nozzle pressure ratio, mass flow consumption and the power coefficient, which takes account of both supply air pressure and mass flow usage for the actuators, were used for judging the performance efficiency of the AFC devices. A prestall lift performance degradation for the CRM-HL configuration was resolved with a properly placed nacelle chine. The configuration with nacelle chine was chosen as the representative reference conventional high-lift case for comparison with the CRMSHL- AFC. The AFC-induced lift coefficient increment (DCL) was maintained for the entire lift curve over the CRM-SHL-AFC case with no AFC for almost all flow-control cases examined. The lift curve of the reference CRM-HL have a slightly steeper slope compared to those of the CRM-SHL-AFC configurations. The HELP actuation concept was extremely effective in controlling flow separation in the “linear region” of the curves comparing lift coefficient to mass flow rate. The HELP actuation achieved a targeted DCL of 0.50 using a moderate amount of mass flow and supply air pressure. The CRM-SHL-AFC configuration equipped with HELP actuation was able to match or exceed the lift performance of the reference conventional high-lift configuration (i.e., CRM-HL equipped with a nacelle chine), thus meeting the NASA Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) project goal.

Lin, John C.↗

Wind Tunnel Testing of High Efficiency Low Power (HELP) Actuation for Active Flow Control

A High Efficiency Low Power (HELP) methodology has been successfully developed and tested on an active flow control (AFC) version of the 10%-scale high-lift Common Research Model (CRM-HL) at the NASA Langley Research Center 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel (14x22). The AFC variant of the CRM-HL, designated as CRM-SHL-AFC, was integrated with modular HELP actuator cartridges on the shoulder of its highly deflected (≥50°) simplehinged flaps. A reference conventional CRM-HL configuration equipped with Fowler flaps and a nacelle chine was chosen to provide the targeted lift enhancement goals and for comparison with the results of the CRM-SHL-AFC. The current data are presented with the Transonic Wall Interference Correction System (TWICS) method applied. The HELP actuators, which use a combination of unsteady sweeping jets and steady discrete jets in tandem, were designed to overcome strong adverse pressure gradients, while minimizing the pneumatic power usage. The power coefficient (C(sub π)), which takes account of both supply air pressure and mass flow usage for the AFC actuators, is a useful parameter for judging the actuators’ performance efficiency and perhaps for scaling-up of the AFC system. Full HELP actuation coverage with a constant spanwise nozzle pressure ratio (NPR) was able to achieve the lift enhancement goals for the entire lift curve and was found to be the most effective AFC case. For the most effective case, mass flow rates greater than ~0.91 lbm/s and NPR values greater than ~1.8 (corresponding to C(sub π) = 0.18) are needed to achieve the lift enhancement goal at α = 9°, whereas mass flow rates greater than ~1.23 lbm/s and NPR values greater than ~2.3 (corresponding to C(sub π) = 0.3) are needed to achieve the lift enhancement goal at α = 17°. Surface pressure distributions indicate that the HELP actuation on the flap shoulder increased the suction pressures (and flow circulation) globally in both the streamwise and the spanwise directions, and thereby enhanced the lift over the entire high-lift system. The CRM-SHLAFC configuration equipped with HELP actuation was able to match or exceed the lift performance of the reference conventional CRM-HL, thus meeting the objective of the research.

John C Lin↗

Shock-Buffet Prediction Report in Support of the High Angle Working Group at the Third Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop

This paper presents a summary of the computational shock-buffet results associated with the third Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop (AePW-3) High-Angle Working Group. The computational results are compared against experimental data collected during the Oscillating Turn Table (OTT) Benchmark Supercritical Wing (BSCW) test campaign conducted in NASA Langley Research Center Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT) in early 2000. In addition to experimental forced oscillation data, unsteady pressure data was collected at a single spanwise station at transonic Mach numbers, several values of dynamic pressure, and fixed angles of attack. It is acknowledged that the current experimental data are limited, but future experiments are planned to obtain pressure data at two wingspan stations in addition to unsteady Pressure Sensitive Paint (uPSP). With that, the computational results presented here are considered to be semi-blind. The results are presented in the form of time-varying pressure coefficients, running-mean values of the pressure coefficients, Power Spectral Density (PSD) and Strouhal number computations. The results are split into two parts. In the first part, the computational results obtained by each team using their flow solvers and grids are compared. In the second part, a single computational tool was used to compute unsteady pressure on participant-generated grids. In addition, a description of each participating team’s software and methods is included.

Pawel Chwalowski↗

Design Space Exploration for Novel Reduced-Vortex Turbine Rotors Using Free Vortex Wake Methods

In this work, we explore the use of mid-fidelity free vortex wake (FVW) tools, namely NREL's cOnvecting LAgrangian Filaments (OLAF) tool, to design and analyze wind turbine rotor blades. The goal of the exercise is to determine whether designs exist that out-perform traditional blade designs, which are optimized using the Blade-Element Momentum (BEM) method. We find that using design of experiments to generate simple modifications of the blade tip, OLAF predicts higher performance in terms of power coefficient for redesigned blades that are non-optimal according to BEM. We then use optimization methods with OLAF in the loop to attempt to automatically find OLAF-optimal designs. We analyze the results of these optimizations, demonstrating that some roadblocks exist before OLAF and FVW tools can be used to automatically find FVW-optimal blade designs that might exceed the performance of BEM-optimal blade designs.

blade design↗

Localized Flow Modification to Increase Power Capture of a Small-Scale Floating Undershot Waterwheel

The goal of the work described in this thesis is to design a flow augmentation device to increase the power capture and efficiency of a small-scale floating Under-Shot Water Wheel (USWW) currently being developed by Florida Atlantic University research funded by the U.S Department of Energy. The flow concentrator subsystem is intended to maximize the kinetic energy extracted by the marine hydrokinetic (MHK) energy collection device through modification of the local flow field across the capture plane. The primary objective is to increase the velocity and/or rate of mass inflow through the turbine through inserting a streamlined body in the region of interest. By utilizing the resulting flow field to increase hydraulic forcing on the waterwheel blades, the torque and/or RPM of the USWW can be increased. Based on experimental testing in the FAU wave tank at 1:5 prototype scale (280 mm wheel diameter) the flow concentrator was shown to produce an increase in device power coefficient of 17-55% measured over a velocity range of 0.16-0.45 m/s.

Hess, Sullivan↗

MODELING, IMPLEMENTATION AND CONTROL OF A CVT BASED PTO FOR A SMALL SCALE MHK-TURBINE IN LOW FLOW SPEED OPERATION

Modeling, implementation, field testing and control of a power takeoff (PTO) device equipped with a ball-type continuously variable transmission (B-CVT) for a small marine hydrokinetic (MHK) turbine deployed from a floating unmanned autonomous mobile catamaran platform is described. The turbine is a partially submerged multi-blade undershot waterwheel (USWW). A validated numerical torque model for the MHK turbine has been derived and a speed controller has been developed, implemented and tested in the field. The dependance of the power generated as a function of number and submergence level of turbine blades has been investigated and the number of blades that maximizes power production is determined. Bench and field testing in support of characterizing the power conversion capabilities of MHK turbine and PTO are described. Detailed results of the final torque and power coefficient models, the controls architecture, and the MHK turbine performance with varying numbers of blades are provided.

Pimentel, Hugo↗

Effect of surface deposits on electromagnetic waves propagating in uniform ducts

A finite-element Galerkin formulation was used to study the effect of material surface deposits on the reflective characteristics of straight uniform ducts with PEC (perfectly electric conducting) walls. Over a wide frequency range, the effect of both single and multiple surface deposits on the duct reflection coefficient were examined. The power reflection coefficient was found to be significantly increased by the addition of deposits on the wall.

Baumeister, Kenneth J.↗

Effect of surface deposits on electromagnetic propagation in uniform ducts

A finite-element Galerkin formulation has been used to study the effect of material surface deposits on the reflective characteristics of straight uniform ducts with PEC (perfectly electric conducting) walls. Over a wide frequency range, the effect of both single and multiple dielectric surface deposits on the duct reflection coefficient were examined. The power reflection coefficient was found to be significantly increased by the addition of deposits on the wall.

Baumeister, Kenneth J.↗

Turbulence in the Wake of a Thin Airfoil at Low Speeds

Experiments have been made to determine the nature of turbulence in the wake of a two-dimensional airfoil at low speeds. The experiments were motivated by the need for data which can be used for analysis of the tail-buffeting problem in aircraft design. Turbulent intensity and power spectra of the velocity fluctuations were measured at a Reynolds number of 1.6 x 10(exp 5) for several angles of attack. Total-head measurements were also obtained in an attempt to relate steady and fluctuating wake properties. Mean-square downwash was found to have nearly the same dependence on vertical position in the wake as that shown by total-head loss. For this particular wing, turbulent intensity, integrated across the wake, increased roughly as the 3/2 power of the drag coefficient. Power-spectrum measurements indicated a decrease in frequency as wing angle of attack was increased. The average frequency in the wake was proportional to the ratio of mean wake velocity to wake width.

Campbell, George S.↗

Experimental and analytical sonic nozzle discharge coefficients for Reynolds numbers up to 8 x 10 to the 6th power

Sonic discharge coefficients are presented for two different geometry flow nozzles using nitrogen gas at high pressures where real gas corrections are significant. Throat Reynolds number range extended up to 8 million. Experimentally obtained coefficients for a nozzle with a continuous and finite radius of curvature agreed with those obtained analytically to within 0.2 percent. Experimental coefficients for a long radius ASME nozzle agreed to within 1/4 percent to an empirical equation representing the most probable subsonic discharge coefficient.

Szaniszlo, A. J.↗