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Results for “Coefficient of performance”

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 901 records · Page 50

Bearing tester data compilation, analysis, and reporting and bearing math modeling

A test condition data base was developed for the Bearing and Seal Materials Tester (BSMT) program which permits rapid retrieval of test data for trend analysis and evaluation. A model was developed for the Space shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Liquid Oxygen (LOX) turbopump shaft/bearing system. The model was used to perform parametric analyses to determine the sensitivity of bearing operating characteristics and temperatures to variations in: axial preload, contact friction, coolant flow and subcooling, heat transfer coefficients, outer race misalignments, and outer race to isolator clearances. The bearing program ADORE (Advanced Dynamics of Rolling Elements) was installed on the UNIVAC 1100/80 computer system and is operational. ADORE is an advanced FORTRAN computer program for the real time simulation of the dynamic performance of rolling bearings. A model of the 57 mm turbine-end bearing is currently being checked out. Analyses were conducted to estimate flow work energy for several flow diverter configurations and coolant flow rates for the LOX BSMT.

Source record↗

Results of correlations for transition location on a clean-up glove installed on an F-14 aircraft and design studies for a laminar glove for the X-29 aircraft accounting for spanwise pressure gradient

Results of correlative and design studies for transition location, laminar and turbulent boundary-layer parameters, and wake drag for forward swept and aft swept wings are presented. These studies were performed with the use of an improved integral-type boundary-layer and transition-prediction methods. Theoretical predictions were compared with flight measurements at subsonic and transonic flow conditions for the variable aft swept wing F-14 aircraft for which experimental pressure distributions, transition locations, and turbulent boundary-layer velocity profiles were measured. Flight data were available at three spanwise stations for several values of sweep, freestream unit Reynolds number, Mach numbers, and lift coefficients. Theory/experiment correlations indicate excellent agreement for both transition location and turbulent boundary-layer parameters. The results of parametric studies performed during the design of a laminar glove for the forward swept wing X-29 aircraft are also presented. These studies include the effects of a spanwise pressure gradient on transition location and wake drag for several values of freestream Reynolds numbers at a freestream Mach number of 0.9.

Goradia, S. H.↗

Study of a Plug Nozzle for Supersonic Aircraft Concepts

A plug nozzle with a cylindrical cowl is studied. The geometry is adopted following commercial supersonic aircraft concepts considered in an ongoing NASA program. For the given cowl, the plug geometry is varied that includes shapes developed by a numerical optimization study as well as porous plugs. Experimental data on noise and flow field are discussed with an eye for minimum noise at low nozzle pressure ratios (NPR2) representing landing and takeoff (LTO) conditions. NPR up to about 4.7 is covered in the experiments. Limited thrust data with accompanying numerical simulation results are also presented. Results show that a plug designed for optimum thrust at cruise is noisier while a plug designed for optimum thrust at LTO has less noise, throughout the NPR range covered. The results also show that a plug nozzle can generate transonic tones and excess broadband noise (EBBN) at lower NPR, apart from well-known screech tones and broadband shock associated noise (BBSN) at higher NPR. A long porous plug is found to effectively suppress all these aberrant noise components while suffering less than 1% loss in thrust coefficient.

Jets↗

Low speed wind tunnel test of a propulsive wing/canard concept in the STOL configuration. Volume 2: Test data

A propulsive wind/canard model was tested at STOL operating conditions in the NASA Langley Research Center 4 x 7 meter wind tunnel. Longitudinal and lateral/directional aerodynamic characteristics were measured for various flap deflections, angles of attack and sideslip, and blowing coefficients. Testing was conducted for several model heights to determine ground proximity effects on the aerodynamic characteristics. Flow field surveys of local flow angles and velocities were performed behind both the canard and the wing. This is volume 2 of a 2 volume report. All of the test data in three appendices are presented. Appendix A presented tabulated six component force and moment data, Appendix B presents tabulated wing pressure coefficients, and Appendix C presents the flow field data.

Stewart, V. R.↗

Dynamics of a turbojet engine considered as a quasi-static system

A determination of the dynamic characteristics of a typical turbojet engine with a centrifugal compressor, a sonic-flow turbine-nozzle diaphragm, and fixed area exhaust nozzle is presented. A generalized equation for transient behavior of the engine was developed; this equation was then verified by calculations using compressor and turbine performance charts extrapolated from equilibrium operating data and by experimental data obtained from an engine operated under transients in fuel flow. The results indicate that a linear differential equation for engine acceleration as a function of fuel flow and engine speed for operation near a steady-state operating condition can be written. The coefficients of this equation can be obtained either from actual transient data or, with a fair degree of accuracy, from the steady-state performance maps of the compressor and turbine, and can be corrected for altitude in the same manner that steady-state performance data are corrected.

Otto, Edward W↗

Performance Metrics for the Assessment of Satellite Data Products: An Ocean Color Case Study

Performance assessment of ocean color satellite data has generally relied on statistical metrics chosen for their common usage and the rationale for selecting certain metrics is infrequently explained. Commonly reported statistics based on mean squared errors, such as the coefficient of determination (r2), root mean square error, and regression slopes, are most appropriate for Gaussian distributions without outliers and, therefore, are often not ideal for ocean color algorithm performance assessment, which is often limited by sample availability. In contrast, metrics based on simple deviations, such as bias and mean absolute error, as well as pair-wise comparisons, often provide more robust and straightforward quantities for evaluating ocean color algorithms with non-Gaussian distributions and outliers. This study uses a SeaWiFS chlorophyll-a validation data set to demonstrate a framework for satellite data product assessment and recommends a multimetric and user-dependent approach that can be applied within science, modeling, and resource management communities.

remote sensing↗

Aqua MODIS Thermal Emissive Band On-Orbit Calibration, Characterization, and Performance

The NASA's Earth Observing System Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) has continued to operate with satisfactory performance since its launch in May 2002, exceeding its nominal six-year design lifetime. Its continuous Earth observations have been used to generate many science data products for studies of the Earth's, system. MODIS has 36 spectral bands; 20 reflective solar bands and 16 thermal emissive bands (TEBs). All TEB observations are made at 1-km nadir spatial resolution with spectral wavelengths from 3.7 to 14.4 pm. Primary applications of MODIS TEB 'include surface, cloud, and atmospheric temperatures, water vapor, and cloud top altitude. MODIS TEB on-orbit calibration uses a quadratic algorithm with its calibration coefficients derived using an onboard blackbody (BB). This paper will present Aqua MODIS TEB on-orbit calibration, characterization, and performance over its six-year mission. Examples of instrument thermal behavior, BB temperature stability, detector short-term stability, and changes in long-term response (or system gain) will be presented. Comparisons will also be made with Terra MODIS, launched in December 1999. On-orbit results show that Aqua MODIS and its focal plane temperatures have behaved normally. BB temperature has remained extremely stable with typical scan -to-scan variations of less than +/-0.15 mK. Most TEB detectors continue to exceed their specified signal-to-noise ratio requirements, exhibiting excellent short-term stability and calibration accuracy. Excluding a few noisy detectors, either identified prelaunch or occurring postlaunch, on-orbit changes in TEB responses have been less than 0.5% on an annual basis. By comparison; the overall Aqua TEB performance has been better than that of Terra MODIS,

Xiong, Xiaoxiong↗

Multidisciplinary Probabilistic Heat Transfer/Structural Analysis Code Developed: NESTEM

High-Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) engine combustor liners are subjected to complex thermal environments and have to endure these for thousands of hours with assured reliability. In the past, several deterministic analyses have been performed, including detailed heat transfer analyses to obtain thermal profiles and deterministic stress analyses to identify critical locations of high stresses. Actual rig tests also have been performed for segments by simulating these loading situations as closely as possible. However, it is well known that many uncertainties exist in loading (primarily thermal loads due to heat transfer), boundary conditions (end fixity unknowns), and material properties (moduli, thermal-expansion coefficients, and conductivities). The present in-house effort at the NASA Lewis Research Center is directed toward accounting for these in a formal way to assess the performance of liner components under complex and uncertain loading conditions as well as subject to other geometry- and material-related uncertainties.

Murthy, Pappu L. N.↗

Fourier spectrum of beams chopped by circular apertures.

The circular apertures in the case investigated are uniformly spaced. It is assumed that modulation does not alter beam collimation and that diffraction from aperture edges can be neglected. It is also assumed that the diameter of the apertures is equal to the spacing between the trailing edge and the leading edge of successive apertures. The motion of apertures across the beam is rectilinear. Calculations have been performed for both homogeneous and bivariate normal intensity distributions. The absolute values of the first six Fourier coefficients are plotted as a function of the beam radius normalized to aperture radius.

Cohen, S. C.↗

Combined environmental effects on polymers

A series of space simulation tests on FEP Teflon and other polymeric thermal control coatings was conducted using UV, electrons, protons and Lyman-alpha wavelength vacuum UV radiation. Interest was centered on simulating synchronous altitude radiation environment conditions. Physical changes in materials included loss of specularity and introduction of a high density of photographable tracking defects on a microscopic scale. An example shows the discharge of trapped electrons when dielectric strength is exceeded. This leaves a portion of the Teflon volume no longer clear, but diffusely transmitting and reflecting. Thermophysical changes included degradation of solar absorptance coefficients as much as five-fold. The situation that prevails for earth orbit contrasted with polymer performance in the solar wind. It is suggested that conductive overcoatings be developed for polymers and other flexible materials, comparable or superior to those available for fused silica SSMs.

Fogdall, L. B.↗

The Goddard Space Flight Center high efficiency cell development and evaluation program

Laboratory tests and flight experiments showed that solar cells can be produced in quantity, that they are suitable for space flight applications, and that the power produced ranged from 20 to 35% more than that of conventional cells. In a benign flight environment, the cells degraded at approximately the same rate as conventional cells. In synchronous orbit, the rate exceeded that of conventional cells, but high efficiency cells still showed significant power advantage after two years. Irradiation test results showed the voltage-temperature coefficients to be comparable to conventional cells. However, current-temperature coefficients were not only higher initially, but also increased significantly with irradiation. Although thin cells with good performance characteristics were made, significant problem areas pertinent to production were disclosed, particularly for cells with thickness of 0.100 mm or less. The overall program led to the use of advanced high efficiency cells on the International Sun-Earth Explorer solar panels.

Slifer, L. W.↗

Fresnel drag effect in fiber optic gyroscope

Consideration is given to the development of a low-noise fiber-optic ring interferometer gyroscope. A technique for measuring the Fresnel drag coefficient of optical fibers is described, and the accuracy of the technique is considered. An experiment is performed which allows verification of the Einstein velocity addition theorem to the first nonlinear term. An experimental setup for measuring Fresnel drag is described: it consists of a Sagnac interferometer and a Fresnel drag measurement configuration.

Vali, V.↗

Evaluation of MOSTAS computer code for predicting dynamic loads in two bladed wind turbines

Calculated dynamic blade loads were compared with measured loads over a range of yaw stiffnesses of the DOE/NASA Mod-O wind turbine to evaluate the performance of two versions of the MOSTAS computer code. The first version uses a time-averaged coefficient approximation in conjunction with a multi-blade coordinate transformation for two bladed rotors to solve the equations of motion by standard eigenanalysis. The second version accounts for periodic coefficients while solving the equations by a time history integration. A hypothetical three-degree of freedom dynamic model was investigated. The exact equations of motion of this model were solved using the Floquet-Lipunov method. The equations with time-averaged coefficients were solved by standard eigenanalysis.

Kaza, K. R. V.↗

Evaluation of MOSTAS computer code for predicting dynamic loads in two-bladed wind turbines

Calculated dynamic blade loads are compared with measured loads over a range of yaw stiffnesses of the DOE/NASA Mod-0 wind turbine to evaluate the performance of two versions of the MOSTAS computer code. The first version uses a time-averaged coefficient approximation in conjunction with a multiblade coordinate transformation for two-bladed rotors to solve the equations of motion by standard eigenanalysis. The results obtained with this approximate analysis do not agree with dynamic blade load amplifications at or close to resonance conditions. The results of the second version, which accounts for periodic coefficients while solving the equations by a time history integration, compare well with the measured data.

Kaza, K. R. V.↗

Laser-heated thruster

The development of computer codes for the thrust chamber of a rocket of which the propellant gas is heated by a CW laser beam was investigated. The following results are presented: (1) simplified models of laser heated thrusters for approximate parametric studies and performance mapping; (3) computer programs for thrust chamber design; and (3) shock tube experiment to measure absorption coefficients. Two thrust chamber design programs are outlined: (1) for seeded hydrogen, with both low temperature and high temperature seeds, which absorbs the laser radiation continuously, starting at the inlet gas temperature; and (2) for hydrogen seeded with cesium, in which a laser supported combustion wave stands near the gas inlet, and heats the gas up to a temperature at which the gas can absorb the laser energy.

Kemp, N. H.↗

Segmented vortex flaps

Segmented vortex flaps were suggested as a means of delaying the vortex spill-over causing thrust loss over the outboard region of single-panel flaps. Also proposed was hinge-line setback for exploiting leading-edge suction in conjunction with vortex flaps to improve the overall thrust per unit flap area. These two concepts in combination were tested on a 60-deg cropped delta wing model. Significant improvement in flap efficiency was indicated by a reduction of the flap/wing area from 11.4% of single-panel flap to 6.3% of a two segment delta flap design, with no lift/drag penalty at lift coefficients between 0.5 and 0.7. The more efficient vortex flap arrangement of this study should benefit the performance attainable with flaps of given area on wings of moderate leading-edge sweep.

Rao, D. M.↗

An experimental and theoretical analysis of the aerodynamic characteristics of a biplane-winglet configuration

Improving the aerodynamic characteristics of an airplane with respect to maximizing lift and minimizing induced and parasite drag are of primary importance in designing lighter, faster, and more efficient aircraft. Previous research has shown that a properly designed biplane wing system can perform superiorly to an equivalent monoplane system with regard to maximizing the lift-to-drag ratio and efficiency factor. Biplanes offer several potential advantages over equivalent monoplanes, such as a 60-percent reduction in weight, greater structural integrity, and increased roll response. The purpose of this research is to examine, both theoretically and experimentally, the possibility of further improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the biplanes configuration by adding winglets. Theoretical predictions were carried out utilizing vortex-lattice theory, which is a numerical method based on potential flow theory. Experimental data were obtained by testing a model in the Pennsylvania State University's subsonic wind tunnel at a Reynolds number of 510,000. The results showed that the addition of winglets improved the performance of the biplane with respect to increasing the lift-curve slope, increasing the maximum lift coefficient, increasing the efficiency factor, and decreasing the induced drag. A listing of the program is included in the Appendix.

Gall, P. D.↗

Ensemble formulation of surface fluxes and improvement in evapotranspiration and cloud parameterizations in a GCM

The influence of some modifications to the parameters of the current general circulation model (GCM) is investigated. The aim of the modifications was to eliminate strong occasional bursts of oscillations in planetary boundary layer (PBL) fluxes. Smoothly varying bulk aerodynamic friction and heat transport coefficients were found by ensemble averaging of the PBL fluxes in the current GCM. A comparison was performed of the simulations of the modified model and the unmodified model. The comparison showed that the surface fluxes and cloudiness in the modified model simulations were much more accurate. The planetary albedo in the model was also realistic. Weaknesses persisted in the models positioning of the Inter-tropical convergence zone (ICTZ) and in the temperature estimates for polar regions. A second simulation of the model following reparametrization of the cloud data showed improved results and these are described in detail.

Sud, Y. C.↗