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Results for “system optimization”

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 1,243 records · Page 69

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1975

Propulsion-induced interference effects on jet-lift VTOL aircraft

Recent investigations of propulsion-induced aerodynamics are reviewed. Experimental and analytical studies of the fundamental properties of lifting jet wakes and wind-tunnel investigations of VTOL configuration variables are discussed. The jet-wake flow studies will provide the data base for evaluating theoretical performance prediction methods; while the configuration studies will provide guidance for optimizing airframe/propulsion system integration. The influence of results to date on high-performance VTOL designs emphasizing minimum jet-induced losses and improved thrust vectoring in forward flight (VIFF) capability is illustrated.

Winston, M. M.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Heat trap - An optimized far infrared field optics system

The article deals with the design and performance of a heat trap IR system designed to maximize the concentration and efficient reception of far IR and submillimeter wavelength radiation. The test object is assumed to be extended and/or viewed at wavelengths much longer than the detector, and the entrance aperture is limited to the size of the telescope Airy diffraction disk. The design of lenses, cavity, bolometers, light collectors, and mirrors for the system is discussed. Advantages and feasibility of arrays of heat traps are considered. Beam patterns, flux concentration, and performance variation with wavelength are dealt with. The heat trap is recommended for sensing all types of far IR sources and particularly for extended far IR sources.-

Harper, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Aerodynamics as a subway design parameter

A parametric sensitivity study has been performed on the system operational energy requirement in order to guide subway design strategy. Aerodynamics can play a dominant or trivial role, depending upon the system characteristics. Optimization of the aerodynamic parameters may not minimize the total operational energy. Isolation of the station box from the tunnel and reduction of the inertial power requirements pay the largest dividends in terms of the operational energy requirement.

Kurtz, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1976

The computer simulation of automobile use patterns for defining battery requirements for electric cars

The modeling process of a complex system, based on the calculation and optimization of the system parameters, is complicated in that some parameters can be expressed only as probability distributions. In the present paper, a Monte Carlo technique was used to determine the daily range requirements of an electric road vehicle in the United States from probability distributions of trip lengths, frequencies, and average annual mileage data. The analysis shows that a daily range of 82 miles meets to 95% of the car-owner requirements at all times with the exception of long vacation trips. Further, it is shown that the requirement of a daily range of 82 miles can be met by a (intermediate-level) battery technology characterized by an energy density of 30 to 50 Watt-hours per pound. Candidate batteries in this class are nickel-zinc, nickel-iron, and iron-air. These results imply that long-term research goals for battery systems should be focused on lower cost and longer service life, rather than on higher energy densities

Schwartz, H.-J.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Prediction of pilot-aircraft stability boundaries and performance contours

Control-theoretic pilot models can provide important new insights regarding the stability and performance characteristics of the pilot-aircraft system. Optimal-control pilot models can be formed for a wide range of flight conditions, suggesting that the human pilot can maintain stability if he adapts his control strategy to the aircraft's changing dynamics. Of particular concern is the effect of sub-optimal pilot adaptation as an aircraft transitions from low to high angle-of-attack during rapid maneuvering, as the changes in aircraft stability and control response can be extreme. This paper examines the effects of optimal and sub-optimal effort during a typical 'high-g' maneuver, and it introduces the concept of minimum-control effort (MCE) adaptation. Limited experimental results tend to support the MCE adaptation concept.

Stengel, R. F.↗

NASA NTRS1978

External insulator for liquid hydrogen tanks

With optimized insulation thickness, tank temperatures were always below 311 K (100 F). This conclusion indicated that an aluminum tank could be used with an optimized insulation system if desired. The N2 purged systems were always lighter than CO2 purged systems. The lower condensation temperature was the controlling factor. Closed cell foam systems were lightest. Closed cell foams, in spite of their need for protective outer insulation, produced insulation systems which were lighter than systems which allowed cryodeposition. Foam system durability established for TMAX = 316 K (110 F). Tests for a subsonic application established this durability; higher temperature limit foam durability was unknown at this. An increase in foam TMAX from 316 K (110 F) to 450 K (350 F) potentially decreased TPS mass by 25 percent.

Sharpe, E. L.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) advanced expander cycle engine point design study

Progress in the development of a performance optimized engine system design for an advanced LOX/hydrogen expander cycle engine is reported. Analysis of the components and engine and the resulting drawings is discussed. The status of the orbit transfer vehicle liquid engine transient simulation computer model is given.

Mellish, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1980

High voltage spark carbon fiber detection system

The pulse discharge technique was used to determine the length and density of carbon fibers released from fiber composite materials during a fire or aircraft accident. Specifications are given for the system which uses the ability of a carbon fiber to initiate spark discharge across a high voltage biased grid to achieve accurate counting and sizing of fibers. The design of the system was optimized, and prototype hardware proved satisfactory in laboratory and field tests.

Yang, L. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Experience with an adaptive stick-gain algorithm to reduce pilot-induced-oscillation tendencies

As part of a program to improve the approach and landing characteristics of the Space Shuttle, the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center has developed an adaptive algorithm that varies the longitudinal stick gearing to reduce the Shuttle's tendency for pilot-induced oscillation (PIO). This paper describes the algorithm, which is known as the PIO suppressor, and discusses some of the tradeoffs involved in optimizing the system. The results of fixed-base, moving-base, and in-flight simulations of the PIO suppressor are presented.

Powers, B. G.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Orbit Transfer Vehicle (OTV) advanced expander cycle engine point design study. Task 7: Engine data summary

A performance optimized engine system design for a man-rated advanced LOX/hydrogen expander cycle engine was investigated. The data are presented in tables, figures, and drawings. The following categories of data for the advanced expander cycle engine are presented: engine operating specification and pressure schedule; engine system layout drawing; major component layout drawings, including thrust chamber and nozzle, extendible nozzle actuating mechanism and seal, LOX turbopump, LOX boost pump, hydrogen turbopump, hydrogen boost pump, and propellant control valves; engine performance and service life prediction; engine weight; and engine envelope. The data represent updates based upon current results from the design and analyses tasks performed under contract. Futher iterations in the designs and data can be expected as the advanced expander cycle engine design matures.

Christensen, K. L.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Survey of EPA facilities for solar thermal energy applications

A study was done to assess the feasibility of applying solar thermal energy systems to EPA facilities. A survey was conducted to determine those EPA facilities where solar energy could best be used. These systems were optimized for each specific application and the system/facility combinations were ranked on the basis of greatest cost effectiveness.

Nelson, E. V.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Optimization of the oxidant supply system for combined cycle MHD power plants

An in-depth study was conducted to determine what, if any, improvements could be made on the oxidant supply system for combined cycle MHD power plants which could be reflected in higher thermal efficiency and a reduction in the cost of electricity, COE. A systematic analysis of air separation process varitions which showed that the specific energy consumption could be minimized when the product stream oxygen concentration is about 70 mole percent was conducted. The use of advanced air compressors, having variable speed and guide vane position control, results in additional power savings. The study also led to the conceptual design of a new air separation process, sized for a 500 MW sub e MHD plant, referred to a internal compression is discussed. In addition to its lower overall energy consumption, potential capital cost savings were identified for air separation plants using this process when constructed in a single large air separation train rather than multiple parallel trains, typical of conventional practice.

Juhasz, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Rationale for evaluating a closed food chain for space habitats

Closed food cycles for long duration space flight and space habitation are examined. Wash water for a crew of six is economically recyclable after a week, while a total closed loop water system is effective only if the stay exceeds six months' length. The stoichiometry of net plant growth is calculated and it is shown that the return of urine, feces, and inedible plant parts to the food chain, along with the addition of photosynthesis, closes the food chain loop. Scenarios are presented to explore the technical feasibility of achieving a closed loop system. An optimal choice of plants is followed by processing, waste conversion, equipment specifications, and control requirements, and finally, cost-effectiveness.

Modell, M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

DSN 34-meter Antenna Optics Analysis for Wideband SETI Investigations

A DSN 34-meter symmetric Cassegrain antenna configuration is examined for wideband use over the frequency range of 1 to 10 GHz, rather than only at the narrow-band operational design frequencies of 2.295 GHz (S-band) and 8.448 GHz (X-band). Aperture efficiency and surface efficiency are calculated as the components determining the gain of the antenna. Noise temperature contributions arise from the ground, atmosphere, and quadripod scattering. These components are calculated as a function of frequency elevation angle to determine a G/T (gain/system noise temperature) figure-of-merit for a nominal 34-meter antenna configuration. A computational method was developed which will enable design of a multi-horn antenna feed system to optimally cover the 1 to 10 GHz frequency range.

Slobin, S. D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Optimal output feedback design of systems with ill-conditioned dynamics

Singular perturbation concepts are exploited to develop a procedure for designing a constant gain, output feedback control system. It is assumed that the original system is ill-conditioned in the sense that the plant contains widely separated dynamics, and that an accurate description for the high frequency behavior may not be available. The design procedure attempts to stabilize the system by minimizing a quadratic cost function made up of the control and states associated with a reduced order (low frequency) model for the plant, and a measure of stability for the neglected fast dynamics. The resulting design procedure does not require knowledge of the fast dynamics.

Calise, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Optimal airframe synthesis for gust loads

An optimization capability for sizing airframe structures that are subjected to a combination of deterministic and random flight loads was established. The random vibration environment introduces the need for selecting a statistical process that best describes the random loads and permits computation of the dynamic response parameters of interest. Furthermore, it requires a formulation of design constraints that would minimize the conservativeness in the design and retain computational viability. The random loads are treated as a stationary, homogeneous process with a Gaussian probability distribution. The formulation of the analysis problem, the structure of the optimization programming system and a representative numerical example are discussed.

Hajela, P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Natural ELF noise evaluation for TSS emissions detection on the Earth's surface. The electric field component approach

The preliminary estimate of the local noise structure in the proximity of a receiver is essential to establishing the detectability of a given signal in presence of such noise. The possibility of detecting the Electric Field Component of the background noise by means of electric dipoles horizontally placed on the sea bed in shallow water is outlined, in order to find its spectral and statistical characteristics for the definition of the optimal receiving system.

Tacconi, G.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Pulsed excimer laser processing

The status of pulsed excimer laser processing of PV cells is presented. The cost effective feasibility of fabricating high efficiency solar cells on Czochralski wafers using a pulsed excimer laser for junction formation, surface passivation, and front metallization. Laser annealing results were promising with the best AR coated cell having an efficiency of 16.1%. Better results would be expected with larger laser spot size because there was some degradation in open circuit voltage caused by laser spot overlap and edge effects. Surface heating and photolytic decomposition by the laser was used to deposit tungsten from the reaction of tungsten hexafluoride and hydrogen. The line widths were 5 to 10 mils, and the depositions passed the tape adhesion test. Thinner lines are practical using an optimized optical system.

Wong, D.↗