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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 919 records · Page 51

Computational Evaluation of an OML-based Heat Exchanger Concept for HEATheR

Feasibility of outer mold line (OML) heat exchangers for electrified aircraft is computationally explored for three different aircraft concepts within The High-efficiency Electrified Aircraft Thermal Research (HEATheR) project. OML surface temperature limits were selected based on aluminum-alloy and carbon-fiber composite materials commonly used in transport aircraft. Heat flux distribution over the aircraft OML at the surface temperature limit was evaluated with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. The candidate OML locations and the size for the implementation of the OML-based heat exchanger is down-selected using this initial analysis and other considerations including the concern for structural integrity and proximity to heat-generating electrical components. The sensitivity of the heat transfer analysis to the computational grid, aircraft angle of attack, surface temperature, and the interaction of individual OML heat exchanger patches were investigated.

CAS↗

STEReO AIAA 2021

STEReO brings together several technologies in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM), Autonomy, Communications, Human Factors, and Domain Expertise & Tools, aimed at providing scalability and flexibility, as well as operational resiliency to dynamic changes during a disaster event. Some of the concepts STEReO explores are: collaborative tools to ingest remote sensing information and distribute a common mission data set, apply ad-hoc communication networks to facilitate timely information sharing and communication of changes, vehicle-to-vehicle and onboard autonomy technologies ensure the safety and resiliency of operations, and apply NASA’s UAS traffic management system (UTM) as a public safety UAS Service Supplier (USS) to access and coordinate use of the airspace by both manned and unmanned operations. The potential benefits of STEReO include: standardized, cross-platform communication means increased interoperability and ease of cooperation/collaboration, increased situation awareness to assist in earlier detection and decision making, and scalable to size and complexity of environment, operations, and mission objectives. This presentation gives a high-level overview of the STEReO concept, what we have done so far, and a preview of what's to come.

UAS vehicles↗

High-Fidelity Aerodynamic Analysis and Optimization of the SUSAN Electrofan Concept

The Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN) Electrofan is a new single-aisle regional jet class transport aircraft being studied by NASA, which benefits from reduced fuel consumption through a reduction in the number of hydrocarbon fuel-burning engines from two to one. This is achieved through a hybrid-electric system architecture, where a series of generators are used to extract power from a fuel-consuming tail cone thruster to drive electric propulsors mounted on the wings. To support the development of these propulsion systems, which involve high levels of propulsion-airframe integration, this paper presents high-fidelity analyses through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations provided by the Launch Ascent and Vehicle Aerodynamics (LAVA) framework, which also includes capabilities for modeling the effect of active propulsors. A trade space exploration is performed to investigate the advantages of several wing mounted distributed electric propulsion system configurations, including over-wing, under-wing, and trailing-edge arrangements. For the aft fuselage propulsor, focus is on the sizing of the inlet, core, and bypass ducts. High-fidelity aerodynamic shape optimization is also used to help minimize the inlet distortion intensity experienced by the aft propulsor fan through a reshaping of the fuselage.

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Conceptual Exploration of Aircraft Configurations for the SUSAN Electrofan

This paper presents an aircraft configuration trade space exploration for NASA’s SUbsonicSingle Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Electrofan, which is a 180 passenger regional class transport aircraftthat utilizes electrified aircraft propulsion and advanced propulsion airframe integrationtechnologies to enable reduced fuel consumption and emissions. At its core is a hydrocarbonfuel-consuming aft fuselage propulsor that produces 35% of the total thrust while generatingpower to drive wing-mounted electric propulsors, which produce the remaining 65% thrust.This power is extracted from the aft fuselage propulsor via a set of generators and is managedwith the help of a rechargeable battery, classifying the propulsion system as hybrid electric.Investigated in this work are different aft fuselage propulsor concepts, several wing propulsorconfigurations, and different types of stability and control strategies that can be accommodatedby this hybrid electric system architecture, with an emphasis on aircraft performance. Resultsobtained using a low-order multidisciplinary design and analysis framework demonstrate thateven with a subset of the advanced technologies that are being considered for the SUSANElectrofan, significant improvements to fuel efficiency can be achieved.

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NSF-NASA Extreme Design & Wicked Problems Workshop

To learn how we might solve some important and challenging problems that require us to step into extreme or “wicked problem” domains. Where systems-level engineering and design are required to integrate with other domains. Connect with the external community to cross-pollinate on best methods, processes, and tools.

Innovation↗

Preliminary Assessment of a Distributed Electric Propulsion System for the SUSAN Electrofan

The SUSAN Electrofan is a new hybrid electric large regional jet aircraft concept being studied by NASA that leverages advanced propulsion system technologies such as distributed electric propulsion (DEP) and boundary-layer ingestion (BLI) to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. In order to evaluate the individual benefits of these technologies toward the SUSAN Electrofan’s wing-mounted propulsion systems, three configurations are proposed. The first consists of two underwing pylon-mounted podded propulsors and serves as a baseline, while the second features an underwing pylon-mounted DEP concept with 16 ducted fans in a mail-slot nacelle. The third and final configuration mounts the mail-slot nacelle directly onto the pressure side of the wing to also take advantage of BLI. This paper presents preliminary investigations into the design and performance of the first two propulsion system configurations. This begins with an initial propulsor and mail-slot design where the aeropropulsive design space is explored, and adverse effects are addressed through iterative geometry modifications. The propulsion system configurations are then installed onto a wing–body model to account for integration effects and assess the relative aerodynamic and shaft power performance of each concept. Results indicate the potential benefits of DEP, which come from significant reductions in total drag, provided by operation at much lower propulsor fan pressure ratios.

ARMD↗

Conceptual Design of the Hybrid-Electric Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN) Electrofan Transport Aircraft

This paper presents an update to the conceptual design of NASA’s Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN) Electrofan transport aircraft—a 180 passenger, Mach 0.785 hybrid-electric regional jet with an economy range of 750 nmi and a design range of 2,500 nmi. The concept employs a series hybrid-electric powertrain driven by a fuel-burning aft fuselage propulsor that is connected to Megawatt-class power generators to convert additional mechanical shaft power to electric power. This electric power is used to support wing-mounted electric propulsors. The aft fuselage turbofan leverages boundary layer ingestion (BLI) and is designed to deliver 35% of the total aircraft thrust, while the wing propulsors assume underwing distributed electric propulsion (DEP) arrangements and are responsible for the remaining 65% thrust. Investigated in this work is the fuel burn performance of the SUSAN Electrofan when incorporating new weight and efficiency estimates for the power, battery, and thermal systems. An updated unified engine deck is also included, which accounts for the high effective bypass ratio made possible by the DEP systems and turbofan BLI effects to first order. Multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization (MDAO) is performed through an updated conceptual design environment, and comparisons are made to a Boeing 737 MAX 8-like reference aircraft performing similar missions, as well as a variant resized for 2,500 nmi.

CAS↗

Towards Aerodynamic Shape Optimization Using an Immersed Boundary Overset Grid Method

Traditional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes grid methods applied to aerodynamic shapeoptimization can struggle with the deformation of surface and volume grids at componentintersections, such as at wing-fuselage junctions. To overcome this, we propose an approachwhich utilizes curvilinear overset grids for the discretization of the domain, with the presenceof the body modeled using an immersed boundary method. This approach handles complexgeometries without the need for their explicit integration into the grid. The goal of this approachis to reduce grid generation time and allow for greater geometric freedom for component-basedaerodynamic shape optimization. Two different methods are presented: a source-term-basedand a ghost-node-based immersed boundary method. Flow analyses and adjoint solutionsobtained using the proposed methods show promising comparisons with standard body-fittedgrid methods. Preliminary aerodynamic shape optimization results obtained using one of theimmersed boundary methods are also presented.

TTT↗

High-Fidelity Aeropropulsive Assessment of Distributed Electric Propulsion and Boundary Layer Ingestion for the SUSAN Electrofan

This paper presents a high-fidelity aeropropulsive assessment of the SUSAN Electrofan’s distributed electric propulsion (DEP) and boundary layer ingestion (BLI) aft fuselage turbofan technologies. This is achieved through the application of computational tools for aerodynamic and aeropropulsive design and analysis based on the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations. Representative aircraft models are first developed in 3D for the SUSAN Electrofan concept, a non-DEP variant, and a year 2020 technology level reference aircraft based on the Boeing 737-8. These include airframes developed through the application of RANS-based aerodynamic shape optimization, with the objective of drag minimization at cruise while subject to constant lift and zero pitching moment constraints. Wing propulsors are also included and modeled as free-flying ducted fans. These are developed through RANS-based aeropropulsive shape optimization, with the objective of shaft power minimization while subject to constant net thrust and maximum fan face Mach number constraints. An iterative power balance method is then used to trim each of the decoupled aircraft configurations, providing estimates of relative aerodynamic performance, shaft power, and range efficiency. Results also include power on and off analyses, which indicate reduced thrust-induced drag for the SUSAN Electrofan’s DEP and BLI aft fuselage turbofan propulsors when compared to those of the Boeing 737-8-like reference aircraft.

CAS↗

High-Fidelity Aeropropulsive Optimization of a Mail-Slot Distributed Electric Propulsion System for the SUSAN Electrofan

Hybrid- and all-electric aircraft concepts use electric motors for power rather than a conventional jet engine. Electric propulsors open the door to new ways to synergistically integrate the propulsion system with the airframe. For example, many small electric propulsors can be distributed along the wing to increase the effective bypass ratio for better overall efficiency. Furthermore, these propulsors can be attached to the wing surface for boundary layer ingestion(BLI) to further the efficiency gains. However, these novel methods of aeropropulsive integration also create challenges such as nonuniform inflow and complex nacelle geometries. Here we use gradient-based aerodynamic shape optimization to address the design challenges of the wing-mounted distributed electric propulsion system of the Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN)concept. In doing so, we aim to more accurately benchmark the flow power of SUSAN’s mail slot propulsors relative to a conventional propulsion system in both an isolated and BLI configuration. Our preliminary results found relative to an optimized podded propulsor the optimized mailslot and BLI mailslot design required 8% and 17% more flow power respectively.The methods and key design insights also apply to other aircraft concepts that utilize distributed electric propulsion and boundary layer ingestion.

CAS↗