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At least 109 records · Page 6

NASA/GE Energy Efficient Engine low pressure turbine scaled test vehicle performance report

The low pressure turbine for the NASA/General Electric Energy Efficient Engine is a highly loaded five-stage design featuring high outer wall slope, controlled vortex aerodynamics, low stage flow coefficient, and reduced clearances. An assessment of the performance of the LPT has been made based on a series of scaled air-turbine tests divided into two phases: Block 1 and Block 2. The transition duct and the first two stages of the turbine were evaluated during the Block 1 phase from March through August 1979. The full five-stage scale model, representing the final integrated core/low spool (ICLS) design and incorporating redesigns of stages 1 and 2 based on Block 1 data analysis, was tested as Block 2 in June through September 1981. Results from the scaled air-turbine tests, reviewed herein, indicate that the five-stage turbine designed for the ICLS application will attain an efficiency level of 91.5 percent at the Mach 0.8/10.67-km (35,000-ft), max-climb design point. This is relative to program goals of 91.1 percent for the ICLS and 91.7 percent for the flight propulsion system (FPS).

Bridgeman, M. J.↗

Generalization of low pressure, gas-liquid, metastable sound speed to high pressures

A theory is developed for isentropic metastable sound propagation in high pressure gas-liquid mixtures. Without simplification, it also correctly predicts the minimum speed for low pressure air-water measurements where other authors are forced to postulate isothermal propagation. This is accomplished by a mixture heat capacity ratio which automatically adjusts from its single phase values to approximately the isothermal value of unity needed for the minimum speed. Computations are made for the pure components parahydrogen and nitrogen, with emphasis on the latter. With simplifying assumptions, the theory reduces to a well known approximate formula limited to low pressure.

Bursik, J. W.↗

Energy Efficient Engine Low Pressure Subsystem Aerodynamic Analysis

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the capability to analyze the aerodynamic performance of the complete low pressure subsystem (LPS) of the Energy Efficient Engine (EEE). Detailed analyses were performed using three- dimensional Navier-Stokes numerical models employing advanced clustered processor computing platforms. The analysis evaluates the impact of steady aerodynamic interaction effects between the components of the LPS at design and off- design operating conditions. Mechanical coupling is provided by adjusting the rotational speed of common shaft-mounted components until a power balance is achieved. The Navier-Stokes modeling of the complete low pressure subsystem provides critical knowledge of component acro/mechanical interactions that previously were unknown to the designer until after hardware testing.

Hall, Edward J.↗

Energy Efficient Engine Low Pressure Subsystem Flow Analysis

The objective of this project is to provide the capability to analyze the aerodynamic performance of the complete low pressure subsystem (LPS) of the Energy Efficient Engine (EEE). The analyses were performed using three-dimensional Navier-Stokes numerical models employing advanced clustered processor computing platforms. The analysis evaluates the impact of steady aerodynamic interaction effects between the components of the LPS at design and off-design operating conditions. Mechanical coupling is provided by adjusting the rotational speed of common shaft-mounted components until a power balance is achieved. The Navier-Stokes modeling of the complete low pressure subsystem provides critical knowledge of component aero/mechanical interactions that previously were unknown to the designer until after hardware testing.

Hall, Edward J.↗

Energy efficient engine. Low pressure turbine test hardware detailed design report

The low pressure turbine for the energy efficient engine is a five-stage configuration with moderate aerodynamic loading incorporating advanced features of decambered airfoils and extended blade overlaps at platforms and shrouds. Mechanical integrity of 18,000 hours on flowpath components and 36,000 hours on all other components is achieved along with no aeromechanical instabilities within the steady-state operating range. Selection of a large number (156) of stage 4 blades, together with an increased stage 4 vane-to-blade gap, assists in achieving FAR 36 acoustic goals. Active clearance control (ACC) of gaps at blade tips and interstage seals is achieved by fan air cooling judiciously applied at responsive locations on the casing. This ACC system is a major improvement in preventing deterioration of the 0.0381 cm (0.015 in.) clearances required to meet the integrated-core/low-spool turbine efficiency goal of 91.1% and the light propulsion system efficiency goal of 91.7%.

Cherry, D. G.↗

Flow fields of low pressure vent exhausts

The flow field produced by low pressure gas vents are described based on experimental data obtained from tests in a large vacuum chamber. The gas density, pressure, and flux at any location in the flow field are calculated based on the vent plume description and the knowledge of the flow rate and velocity of the venting gas. The same parameters and the column densities along a specified line of sight traversing the plume are also obtained and shown by a computer-generated graphical representation. The fields obtained with a radially scanning Pitot probe within the exhausting gas are described by a power of the cosine function, the mass rate and the distance from the exit port. The field measurements were made for gas at pressures ranging from 2 to 50 torr venting from pipe fittings with diameters of 3/16 inch to 1-1/2 inches I.D. (4.76 mm to 38.1 mm). The N(2) mass flow rates ranged from 2E-4 to 3.7E-1 g/s.

Scialdone, John J.↗

Flow fields of low pressure vent exhausts

The flow field produced by low pressure gas vents are described based on experimental data obtained from tests in a large vacuum chamber. The gas density, pressure, and flux at any location in the flow field are calculated based on the vent plume description and the knowledge of the flow rate and velocity of the venting gas. The same parameters and the column densities along a specified line of sight traversing the plume are also obtained and shown by a computer generated graphical representation. The fields obtained with a radically scanning Pitot probe within the exhausting gas are described by a power of the cosine function, the mass rate, and the distance from the exit port. The field measurements were made for gas at pressures ranging from 2 to 50 torr venting from pipe fittings with diameters to 3/16 to 1-1/2 inches I.D. (4.76 to 38.1 mm). The N2 mass flow rates ranged from 2E-4 to 3.7E-1 g/s.

Scialdone, John J.↗

Study of Boundary Layer Development in a Two-Stage Low-Pressure Turbine

Experimental data from jet-engine tests have indicated that unsteady blade row interactions and separation can have a significant impact on the efficiency of low-pressure turbine stages. Measured turbine efficiencies at takeoff can be as much as two points higher than those at cruise conditions. Several recent studies have revealed that Reynolds number effects may contribute to the lower efficiencies at cruise conditions. In the current study numerical simulations have been performed to study the boundary layer development in a two-stage low-pressure turbine, and to evaluate the transition models available for low Reynolds number flows in turbomachinery. The results of the simulations have been compared with experimental data, including airfoil loadings and integral boundary layer quantities. The predicted unsteady results display similar trends to the experimental data, but significantly overestimate the amplitude of the unsteadiness. The time-averaged results show close agreement with the experimental data.

Dorney, Daniel J.↗

Size-tunable silver nanoparticle synthesis in glycerol driven by a low-pressure nonthermal plasma

Silver nanoparticles (NPs) are extensively used in electronic components, chemical sensors, and disinfection applications, in which many of their properties depend on particle size. However, control over silver NP size and morphology still remains a challenge for many synthesis techniques. Here, in this work, we demonstrate the surfactant-free synthesis of silver NPs using a low-pressure inductively coupled nonthermal argon plasma. Continuously forming droplets of silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) precursor dissolved in glycerol are exposed to the plasma, with the droplet residence time being determined by the precursor flow rate. Glycerol has rarely been studied in plasma-liquid interactions but shows favorable properties for controlled NP synthesis at low pressure. We show that the droplet residence time and plasma power have strong influence on NP properties, and that improved size control and particle monodispersity can be achieved by pulsed power operation. Silver NPs had mean diameters of 20 nm with geometric standard deviations of 1.6 under continuous wave operation, which decreased to 6 nm mean and 1.3 geometric standard deviation for pulsed power operation at 100 Hz and 20% duty cycle. We propose that solvated electrons from the plasma and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation induced electrons produced in glycerol are the main reducing agents of Ag + , the precursor for NPs, while no significant change of chemical composition of the glycerol solvent was detected.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Field reversal in low pressure, unmagnetized radio frequency capacitively coupled argon plasma discharges

In general, the radio frequency (rf) electric field within a sheath points toward the metal electrode in low pressure, unmagnetized rf electropositive capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) glow discharges. This is due to the large ratio of electron to ion mobility and the formation of an ion sheath. In this work, we studied, using fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations, a reversed electric field induced by the strong secondary electron emission during the phase of sheath collapse in a high-voltage rf-driven low pressure CCP glow discharge. We explored the transition behavior of the formation of field reversal as a function of driving voltage amplitude and found that field reversal starts to form at around 750 V, for a discharge with an electrode spacing of 4 cm at 10 mTorr argon pressure driven at 13.56 MHz. Accordingly, the energy distribution function of electrons incident on the electrode shows peaks from around 3 to 10 eV while varying the driving voltage from 150 to 2000 V, showing potentially beneficial effects in plasma material processing where relatively directional electrons are preferred to solely thermal diffusion electrons.

Physics↗

Energy efficient engine: Low-pressure turbine subsonic cascade component development and integration program

A subsonic cascade test program was conducted to provide technical data for optimizing the blade and vane airfoil designs for the Energy Efficient Engine Low-Pressure Turbine component. The program consisted of three parts. The first involved an evaluation of the low-chamber inlet guide vane. The second, was an evaluation of two candidate aerodynamic loading philosophies for the fourth blade root section. The third part consisted of an evaluation of three candidate airfoil geometries for the fourth blade mean section. The performance of each candidate airfoil was evaluated in a linear cascade configuration. The overall results of this study indicate that the aft-loaded airfoil designs resulted in lower losses which substantiated Pratt & Whitney Aircraft's design philosophy for the Energy Efficient Engine low-pressure turbine component.

Sharma, O. P.↗

Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Studies of Low Reynolds Number Effects on the Losses in a Low Pressure Turbine

Experimental data from jet-engine tests have indicated that unsteady blade-row interaction effects can have a significant impact on the efficiency of low-pressure turbine stages. Measured turbine efficiencies at takeoff can be as much as two points higher than those at cruise conditions. Preliminary studies indicate that Reynolds number effects may contribute to the lower efficiencies at cruise conditions. In the current study, numerical experiments have been performed to quantify the Reynolds number dependence of unsteady wake/separation bubble interaction on the performance of a low-pressure turbine.

Dorney, Daniel J.↗