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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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172 records · Page 10

Stability Evaluation for a Damped, Constrained-Motion Cutting Force Dynamometer

This paper describes the dynamic stability evaluation of a constrained-motion dynamometer (CMD) with passive damping. The CMD’s flexure-based design offers an alternative to traditional piezoelectric cutting force dynamometers, which can exhibit adverse effects of the complex structural dynamics on the measurement accuracy. In contrast, the CMD system’s structural dynamics are nominally single degree of freedom and are conveniently altered by material selection, flexure element geometry, and element arrangement. In this research, a passive damping approach is applied to increase the viscous damping ratio and, subsequently, the stability limit. Cutting tests were completed and the in situ CMD displacement and velocity signals were sampled at the spindle rotating frequency. The periodic sampling approach was used to determine if the milling response was synchronous with the spindle rotation (stable) or not (chatter) by constructing Poincaré maps for both experiment and prediction (time-domain simulation). It was found that the viscous damping coefficient was increased by 130% and the critical stability limit was increased from 4.3 mm (no damping) to 15.4 mm (with damping).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Behavior of aircraft antiskid braking systems on dry and wet runway surfaces. A slip-velocity-controlled, pressure-bias-modulated system

The braking and cornering response of a slip velocity controlled, pressure bias modulated aircraft antiskid braking system is investigated. The investigation, conducted on dry and wet runway surfaces, utilized one main gear wheel, brake, and tire assembly of a McDonnell Douglas DC 9 series 10 airplane. The landing gear strut was replaced by a dynamometer. The parameters, which were varied, included the carriage speed, tire loading, yaw angle, tire tread condition, brake system operating pressure, and runway wetness conditions. The effects of each of these parameters on the behavior of the skid control system is presented. Comparisons between data obtained with the skid control system and data obtained from single cycle braking tests without antiskid protection are examined.

Stubbs, S. M.↗

Compliance Measurements of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Exhaust

The NREL Sensor Laboratory has been developing an analyzer that can verify compliance to the international United Nations Global Technical Regulation number 13 (GTR 13--Global Technical Regulation on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles) prescriptive requirements pertaining to allowable hydrogen levels in the exhaust of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) [1]. GTR 13 prescribes that the FCEV exhaust shall remain below 4 vol% H2 over a 3-second moving average and shall not at any time exceed 8 vol% H2, as verified with an analyzer with a response time (t90) of 300 ms or faster. GTR 13 has been implemented and is to serve as the basis for national regulations pertaining to hydrogen powered vehicle safety in the United States, Canada, Japan, and the European Union. In the U.S., vehicle safety is overseen by the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and in Canada by Transport Canada through the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS). The NREL FCEV exhaust analyzer is based upon a low-cost commercial hydrogen sensor with a response time (t90) of less than 250 ms. A prototype analyzer and gas probe assembly have been constructed and tested that can interface to the gas sampling system used by Environment and Climate Change Canada's (ECCC) Emission Research and Measurement Section (ERMS) for the exhaust gas analysis. Through a partnership with Transport Canada, ECCC will analyze the hydrogen level in the exhaust of a commercial FCEV. ECCC will use the NREL FCEV Exhaust Gas analyzer to perform these measurements. The analyzer was demonstrated on a FCEV operating under simulated road conditions using a chassis dynamometer at a private facility.

CMVSS↗

Modeling and Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop Validation of Synchronous Machine Governor

This paper introduces the development of a high-fidelity gas turbine governor model using a programmable logic controller for power-hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) validation. The governor model is integrated with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) PHIL test bed, featuring a 2-MVA synchronous machine and a 2.5-MW variable-speed drive, to emulate NG-driven HRSGs and CTs under various operational scenarios. The primary objective of this research is to study the grid-connected and islanding operations of conventional generation sources, with representative startup sequences including turbine purge, ignition, speed ramp-up, synchronization, and breaker closure. Preliminary results of the generator governor model on NREL PHIL platform, particularly using the 2.5-MW dynamometer system, offered significant insights into the modeling techniques, hardware integration, scaling, and real-world simulation dynamics.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Small engine components test facility turbine testing cell

NASA Lewis Research Center has designed and constructed a new state-of-the-art test facility. This facility, called the Small Engine Components Test Facility (SECTF), is used to test gas turbines and compressors at conditions similar to actual engine conditions. The SECTF is comprised of two separate facilities - a turbine test cell and a compressor test cell. The paper will describe the turbine test cell. The capabilities of the facility make it unique - no other facility of its kind is capable of combining its pressure, speed, and temperature ranges. Turbine inlet air ranges up to 9 atm (125 psig). The turbine exhaust pressure ranges from 0.15 atm (2 psia) to atmospheric pressure. Turbine inlet air temperatures range from ambient to 700 K (1260 deg R). The controllable speed of the turbine rotor ranges from 4000 to 60,000 rpm and the maximum power absorbed by the facility dynamometer is 1250 hp. The data acquisition system scans up to 2000 channels/sec. This paper will discuss in detail the capabilities of the facility, overall facility design, instrumentation used in the facility, and the data acquisition system. Actual research data is not discussed.

Nowlin, Brent C.↗

Small engine components test facility turbine testing cell

NASA Lewis Research Center has designed and constructed a new state-of-the-art test facility. This facility, called the Small Engine Components Test Facility (SECTF), is used to test gas turbines and compressors at conditions similar to actual engine conditions. The SECTF is comprised of two separate facilities - a turbine test cell and a compressor test cell. The paper will describe the turbine test cell. The capabilities of the facility make it unique - no other facility of its kind is capable of combining its pressure, speed, and temperature ranges. Turbine inlet air ranges up to 9 atm (125 psig). The turbine exhaust pressure ranges from 0.15 atm (2 psia) to atmospheric pressure. Turbine inlet air temperatures range from ambient to 700 K (1260 deg R). The controllable speed of the turbine rotor ranges from 4000 to 60,000 rpm and the maximum power absorbed by the facility dynamometer is 1250 hp. The data acquisition system scans up to 2000 channels/sec. This paper will discuss in detail the capabilities of the facility, overall facility design, instrumentation used in the facility, and the data acquisition system. Actual research data is not discussed.

Nowlin, Brent C.↗

Upgraded automotive gas turbine engine design and development program, volume 2

Results are presented for the design and development of an upgraded engine. The design incorporated technology advancements which resulted from development testing on the Baseline Engine. The final engine performance with all retro-fitted components from the development program showed a value of 91 HP at design speed in contrast to the design value of 104 HP. The design speed SFC was 0.53 versus the goal value of 0.44. The miss in power was primarily due to missing the efficiency targets of small size turbomachinery. Most of the SFC deficit was attributed to missed goals in the heat recovery system relative to regenerator effectiveness and expected values of heat loss. Vehicular fuel consumption, as measured on a chassis dynamometer, for a vehicle inertia weight of 3500 lbs., was 15 MPG for combined urban and highway driving cycles. The baseline engine achieved 8 MPG with a 4500 lb. vehicle. Even though the goal of 18.3 MPG was not achieved with the upgraded engine, there was an improvement in fuel economy of 46% over the baseline engine, for comparable vehicle inertia weight.

Wagner, C. E.↗

Optical Engine Lockout System Design and Operation

Engine run days in the Diesel Combustion and Fuel Effects Lab are hectic. The long mental lists that must be kept by engine operators, paired with the tight time constraints between experiments, can cause operational issues that may be dangerous to personnel and/or cause damage to test equipment. Until now, a paper sign has been used to warn operators not to motor the engine when a foreign object has been placed inside of it. Unfortunately, this simple administrative control has failed in the past, motivating this effort to develop an improved system. The lockout system described in this document introduces an engineering control that, when activated, actually prevents the engine from being motored. The new system consists of a primary and a secondary control panel. Prior to an operator placing a foreign object into the cylinder, they press a button on the secondary control panel near the engine. This breaks the interlock circuit for the engine dynamometer and activates LEDs on both control panels to notify operators that a foreign object is present within the engine cylinder. Once the work is done and all foreign objects have been removed from the combustion chamber, two operators must be present to disable the system by simultaneously pressing the buttons on the primary and secondary control panels. Requiring a second operator to disable the system increases accountability and reduces the likelihood of potentially costly mistakes.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Time-to-Fatigue and Intramuscular pH Measured via NIRS During Handgrip Exercise in Trained and Sedentary Individuals

In exercising muscles force production and muscular endurance are impaired by a decrease in intramuscular pH. The effects of aerobic training (AT) on preventing acidosis and prolonging exercise time in muscles not specifically targeted by the training are unknown. Purpose: To compare interstitial pH, measured non-invasively with near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), in the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) during rhythmic handgrip exercise in sedentary subjects and those who participate in AT activities that target the lower body. Methods: Maximal isometric force (MIF) was measured on three separate days in AT (n=5) and sedentary (n=8) subjects using a handgrip dynamometer (HGD). Isometric muscular endurance (IME) was measured during five trials, each separated by at least 48 hrs. For each IME trial subjects rhythmically squeezed (4 sec at 40% of MVC) and relaxed (2 sec) to fatigue or failure to reach the target force in three consecutive contractions or four non-consecutive contractions. Interstitial pH was derived from spectra collected using a NIRS sensor adhered to the skin over the FDP. The first four IME trials served to familiarize subjects with the protocol; the fifth trial was used for analysis. NIRS-derived pH was averaged in 30 sec increments. Between group differences in MIF and exercise time were tested using paired t-tests. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze effects of AT and exercise time on pH. Results: MIF was not different between groups (mean SD; aerobic=415.6 95.4 N vs. sedentary =505.1 107.4 N). Time to fatigue was greater in the AT than in the sedentary group (mean SD: 611 173 sec vs. 377 162 sec, p<0.05). pH was not different between groups at any time point. Average pH decreased (p<0.05) in both groups from rest (pH=7.4) through 90 sec of exercise (pH=6.9), but did not decrease further throughout the remainder of exercise. Conclusion: Although between group differences in pH were not detected, differences during the onset of exercise may exist with a more frequent sampling. AT individuals appear to better tolerate decreased interstitial pH and are able to continue submaximal muscular work, possibly due to psychological familiarization to muscular fatigue and/or systemic physiological benefits.

Everett, M. E.↗

The Influence of Swirl Brakes and a Tip Discharge Orifice on the Rotordynamic Forces Generated by Discharge-to-Suction Leakage Flows in Shrouded Centrifugal Pumps

Recent experiments conducted in the Rotor Force Test Facility at the California Institute of Technology have examined the effects of a tip leakage restriction and swirl brakes on the rotordynamic forces due to leakage flows on an impeller undergoing a prescribed circular whirl. The experiments simulate the leakage flow conditions and geometry of the Alternate Turbopump Design (ATD) of the Space Shuttle High Pressure Oxygen Turbopump and are critical to evaluating the pump's rotordynamic instability problems. Previous experimental and analytical results have shown that discharge-to-suction leakage flows in the annulus of a shrouded centrifugal pump contribute substantially to the fluid induced rotordynamic forces. Also, previous experiments have shown that leakage inlet (pump discharge) swirl can increase the cross-coupled stiffness coefficient and hence increase the range of positive whirl for which the tangential force is destabilizing. In recent experimental work, the present authors demonstrated that when the swirl velocity within the leakage path is reduced by the introduction of ribs or swirl brakes, then a substantial decrease in both the destabilizing normal and tangential forces could be achieved. Motivation for the present research is that previous experiments have shown that restrictions such as wear rings or orifices at pump inlets affect the leakage forces. Recent pump designs such as the Space Shuttle Alternate Turbopump Design (ATD) utilize tip orifices at discharge for the purpose of establishing axial thrust balance. The ATD has experienced rotordynamic instability problems and one may surmise that these tip discharge orifices may also have an important effect on the normal and tangential forces in the plane of impeller rotation. The present study determines if such tip leakage restrictions contribute to undesirable rotordynamic forces. Additional motivation for the present study is that the widening of the leakage path annular clearance and the installation of swirl brakes in the ATD has been proposed to solve its instability problems. The present study assesses the effect of such a design modification on the rotordynamic forces. The experimental apparatus consists of a solid or dummy impeller, a housing instrumented for pressure measurements, a rotating dynamometer and an eccentric whirl mechanism. The solid impeller is used so that leakage flow contributions to the forces are measured, but the main throughflow contributions are not experienced. The inner surface of the housing has been modified to accommodate meridional ribs or swirl brakes within the leakage annulus. In addition, the housing has been modified to accommodate a discharge orifice that qualitatively simulates one side of the balance piston orifice of the Space Shuttle ATD. Results indicate the detrimental effects of a discharge orifice and the beneficial effects of brakes. Plots of the tangential and normal forces versus whirl ratio show a substantial increase in these forces along with destabilizing resonances at some positive whirl ratios when a discharge orifice is added. When brakes are added, some of the detrimental effects of the orifice are reduced. For the tangential force, a plot versus whirl ratio shows a significant reduction and a destabilizing resonance appears to be eliminated. For the normal force, although the overall force is not reduced, again a destabilizing resonance appears to be eliminated.

Sivo, Joseph M.↗