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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 199 records · Page 11

Space Shuttle main engine product improvement

The current design of the Space Shuttle Main Engine has passed 11 certification cycles, amassed approximately a quarter million seconds of engine test time in 1200 tests and successfully launched the Space Shuttle 17 times of 51 engine launches through May 1985. Building on this extensive background, two development programs are underway at Rocketdyne to improve the flow of hot gas through the powerhead and evaluate the changes to increase the performance margins in the engine. These two programs, called Phase II+ and Technology Test Bed Precursor program are described. Phase II+ develops a two-tube hot-gas manifold that improves the component environment. The Precursor program will evaluate a larger throat main combustion chamber, conduct combustion stability testing of a baffleless main injector, fabricate an experimental weld-free heat exchanger tube, fabricate and test a high pressure oxidizer turbopump with an improved inlet, and develop and test methods for reducing temperature transients at start and shutdown.

Lucci, A. D.↗

Ultimate Temperature of Pulse Tube Cryocoolers

An ideal pulse tube cryocooler using an ideal gas can operate at any temperature. This is not true for real gases. The enthalpy flow resulting from the real gas effects of 3He, 4He, and their mixtures in ideal pulse tube cryocoolers puts limits on the operating temperature of pulse tube cryocoolers. The discussion of these effects follows a previous description of the real gas effects in ideal pulse tube cryocoolers and makes use of models of the thermophysical properties of 3He and 4He. Published data is used to extend the analysis to mixtures of 3He and 4He. The analysis was done for pressures below 2 MPa and temperatures below 2.5 K. Both gases and their mixtures show low temperature limits for pulse tube cryocoolers. These limits are in the 0.5-2.2 K range and depend on pressure and mixture. In some circumstances, even lower temperatures may be possible. Pulse tube cryocoolers using the ha-fluid properties of dilute 3He in superfluid 4He appear to have no limit.

Kittel, Peter↗

Evolution of a phase separated gravity independent bioreactor

The evolution of a phase-separated gravity-independent bioreactor is described. The initial prototype, a zero head-space manifold silicone membrane based reactor, maintained large diffusional resistances. Obtaining oxygen transfer rates needed to support carbon-recycling aerobic microbes is impossible if large resistances are maintained. Next generation designs (Mark I and II) mimic heat exchanger design to promote turbulence at the tubing-liquid interface, thereby reducing liquid and gas side diffusional resistances. While oxygen transfer rates increased by a factor of ten, liquid channeling prevented further increases. To overcome these problems, a Mark III reactor was developed which maintains inverted phases, i.e., media flows inside the silicone tubing, oxygen gas is applied external to the tubing. This enhances design through changes in gas side driving force concentration and liquid side turbulence levels. Combining an applied external pressure of 4 atm with increased Reynolds numbers resulted in oxygen transfer intensities of 232 mmol O2/l per hr (1000 times greater than the first prototype and comparable to a conventional fermenter). A 1.0 liter Mark III reactor can potentially deliver oxygen supplies necessary to support cell cultures needed to recycle a 10-astronaut carbon load continuously.

Villeneuve, Peter E.↗

Electrospray Collection of Lunar Dust

A report describes ElectroSpray Ionization based Electrostatic Precipitation (ESIEP) for collecting lunar dust particles. While some HEPA filtration processes may remove a higher fraction (>99.9 percent) of the particles, the high efficiency may not be appropriate from an overall system standpoint, especially in light of the relatively large power requirement that such systems demand. The new electrospray particle capture technology is described as a variant of electrostatic precipitation that eliminates the current drawbacks of electrostatic precipitation. The new approach replaces corona prone field with a mist of highly charged micro-droplets generated by electrospray ionization (ESI) as the mechanism by which incoming particles are attracted and captured. In electrospray, a miniscule flow rate (microliters/minute) of liquid (typically water and a small amount of salt to enhance conductivity) is fed from the tip of a needle held at a high voltage potential relative to an opposite counter electrode. At sufficient field strength, a sharp liquid meniscus forms , which emits a jet of highly charged droplets that drift through the surrounding gas and are collected on the walls of a conductive tube. Particles in the gas have a high probability of contact with the droplets either by adhering to the droplets or otherwise acquiring a high level of charge, causing them to be captured on the collecting electrode as well. The spray acts as a filtration material that is continuously introduced and removed from the gas flow, and thus can never become clogged.

Dziekan, Michael↗

Uniformity of Ludwieg tube flows

Pressure and speed of sound measurements are used to obtain averaged gas properties in a Ludwieg combustion tube in which the gas is burned just prior to use. Absorption of a laser beam in the exit flow is used to check the predicted temperature uniformity. The burning process and the heat transfer to the cold walls are modeled. Interferograms of Ludwieg tube boundary layers are utilized to develop a new semiempirical boundary layer expression referred to as the integral density thickness, which is then applied to a recently developed linearized analysis of the effects of this layer. Pressure-time histories are determined for a wide range of tube flow Mach number and aspect ratio. Viscous and nonviscous effects are considered. It is shown that although the influence of the integral density thickness on the flow can be large, a modified linear theory can be used to estimate the effects for arbitrary tube flow Mach number and values of the aspect ratio that include cases where the boundary layers have merged.

Russell, D. A.↗

Non-isothermal laminar flow of gases through cooled tubes.

Numerical solutions of the laminar-flow equations in differential form are presented for gas flows through cooled tubes. For nearly isothermal flow there is good agreement with available experimental data, as is also found for the case of a large amount of wall cooling. This correspondence along with a check on the satisfaction of the global momentum and energy constraints allowed an appraisal of the effect of wall cooling on flow through tubes. In general, the effect of wall cooling was to decrease the wall friction and the change in pressure along tubes, but the average heat-transfer coefficient did not vary much.

Back, L. H.↗

Flame Structure Comparison using Jet-A and an isoparaffinic fuel in a lean direct injection flame tube combustor

This paper offers a first look at some recently acquired optical data. The effect of reference velocity on flame thickness, fuel atomization, and relative speciation of OH, CH, C2, and soot for two National Jet Fuel Combustion Program (NJFCP) fuels are explored in this paper. The NJFCP fuels are an average Jet-A, designated A-2 with a derived cetane number (DCN) of 49, and an isoparaffinic kerosene, C-4. C-4 fuel is made up primarily of C9 - C13, and C16 isoparaffins and is a combination of 60% Sasol IPK and 40% GEVO alcohol-to-jet (ATJ). C-4 has a DCN of 28. Both fuels begin distillation at about the same temperature, but C-4 completes about 30 degrees Celsius lower than A-2. Chemiluminescence images were acquired in a 5-atm gas turbine flame tube combustor using the NASA 7-point lean direct injector (LDI). The flame characteristics were determined through imaging with three scientific cameras. OH*, CH*, and C2* chemiluminescence were collected through narrow bandpass filters centered at 313nm, 430nm and 515nm onto an intensified high-speed camera framed at 8-kHz. A second high-speed camera collected color flame images at rates between 40 and 50 kHz. An ICCD camera framed at 20 Hz was used to record planar laser scatter from liquid fuel. Differences in speciation for the chemiluminescent species was observed between the two fuels. Some reasons for the differences are explored in this paper.

gas turbine combustion↗

Ultimate Temperature of Pulse Tube Cryocoolers

An ideal pulse tube cryocooler using an ideal gas can operate at any temperature. This is not true for real gases. The enthalpy flow resulting from the real gas effects of He-3, He-4, and their mixtures in ideal pulse tube cryocoolers puts limits on the operating temperature of pulse tube cryocoolers. The discussion of these effects follows a previous description of the real gas effects in ideal pulse tube cryocoolers and makes use of models of the thermophysical properties of He-3 and He-4. Published data is used to extend the analysis to mixtures of He-3 and He-4. The analysis was done for pressures below 2 MPa and temperatures below 2.5 K. Both gases and their mixtures show low temperature limits for pulse tube cryocoolers. These limits are in the 0.5-2.2 K range and depend on pressure and mixture. In some circumstances, even lower temperatures may be possible. Pulse tube cryocoolers using the two-fluid properties of dilute 3He in superfluid He-4 appear to have no limit.

Kittel, Peter↗

Simple Two-Dimensional Corrections for One-Dimensional Pulse Tube Models

One-dimensional oscillating flow models are very useful for designing pulse tubes. They are simple to use, not computationally intensive, and the physical relationship between temperature, pressure and mass flow are easy to understand when used in conjunction with phasor diagrams. They do not possess, however, the ability to directly calculate thermal and momentum diffusion in the direction transverse to the oscillating flow. To account for transverse effects, lumped parameter corrections, which are obtained though experiment, must be used. Or two-dimensional solutions of the differential fluid equations must be obtained. A linear two-dimensional solution to the fluid equations has been obtained. The solution provides lumped parameter corrections for one-dimensional models. The model accounts for heat transfer and shear flow between the gas and the tube. The complex Nusselt number and complex shear wall are useful in describing these corrections, with phase relations and amplitudes scaled with the Prandtl and Valensi numbers. The calculated ratio, a, between a two-dimensional solution of the oscillating temperature and velocity and a one-dimensional solution for the same shows a scales linearly with Va for Va less than 30. In this region alpha less than 0.5, that is, the enthalpy flow calculated with a two-dimensional model is 50% of a calculation using a one-dimensional model. For Va greater than 250, alpha = 0.8, showing that diffusion is still important even when it is confined to a thing layer near the tube wall.

Lee, J. M.↗

Surge Pressure Mitigation in the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission Core Propulsion System

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission is an international partnership between NASA and JAXA whose Core spacecraft performs cutting-edge measurements of rainfall and snowfall worldwide and unifies data gathered by a network of precipitation measurement satellites. The Core spacecraft's propulsion system is a blowdown monopropellant system with an initial hydrazine load of 545 kg in a single composite overwrapped propellant tank. At launch, the propulsion system contained propellant in the tank and manifold tubes upstream of the latch valves, with low-pressure helium gas in the manifold tubes downstream of the latch valves. The system had a relatively high beginning-of- life pressure and long downstream manifold lines; these factors created conditions that were conducive to high surge pressures. This paper discusses the GPM project's approach to surge mitigation in the propulsion system design. The paper describes the surge testing program and results, with discussions of specific difficulties encountered. Based on the results of surge testing and pressure drop analyses, a unique configuration of cavitating venturis was chosen to mitigate surge while minimizing pressure losses during thruster maneuvers. This paper concludes with a discussion of overall lessons learned with surge pressure testing for NASA Goddard spacecraft programs.

Pressure↗

Simulation of preburner sprays, volumes 1 and 2

The present study considered characteristics of sprays under a variety of conditions. Control of these sprays is important as the spray details can control both rocket combustion stability and efficiency. Under the present study Imperial College considered the following: (1) Measurement of the size and rate of spread of the sprays produced by single coaxial airblast nozzles with axial gaseous stream. The local size, velocity, and flux characteristics for a wide range of gas and liquid flowrates were measured, and the results were correlated with the conditions of the spray at the nozzle exit. (2) Examination of the effect of the geometry of single coaxial airblast atomizers on spray characteristics. The gas and liquid tube diameters were varied over a range of values, the liquid tube recess was varied, and the shape of the exit of the gaseous jet was varied from straight to converging. (3) Quantification of the effect of swirl in the gaseous stream on the spray characteristics produced by single coaxial airblast nozzles. (4) Quantification of the effect of reatomization by impingement of the spray on a flat disc positioned around 200 mm from the nozzle exit. This models spray impingement on the turbopump dome during the startup process of the preburner of the SSME. (5) Study of the interaction between multiple sprays without and with swirl in their gaseous stream. The spray characteristics of single nozzles were compared with that of three identical nozzles with their axis at a small distance from each other. This study simulates the sprays in the preburner of the SSME, where there are around 260 elements on the faceplate of the combustion chamber. (6) Design an experimental facility to study the characteristics of sprays at high pressure conditions and at supercritical pressure and temperature for the gas but supercritical pressure and subcritical temperature for the liquid.

Hardalupas, Y.↗

Simulation of preburner sprays, volume 1

Under the present contract a study was made on the characteristics of the sprays of coaxial injectors with particular emphasis on those aspects relevant to the performance of rocket engines. The technical effort was performed primarily by Imperial College of Science and Technology and the details of this effort are contained in the accompanying technical report by Hardalupas and Whitelaw, which forms Vol. 2 of the report. The role of Scientific Research Associates was review of material, initial direction of the technical effort and review of all reports. The study considered characteristics of sprays under a variety of conditions. Control of these sprays is important as the spray details can control both rocket combustion stability and efficiency. Imperial College considered the following: first, measurement of the size and rate of spread of the sprays produced by single coaxial airblast nozzles with axial gaseous stream. The local size, velocity and flux characteristics for a wide range of gas and liquid flowrates were measured and the results were correlated with the conditions of the spray at the nozzle exit. Second, examination of the effect of the geometry of single coaxial airblast atomizers on spray characteristics. The gas and liquid tube diameters were varied over a range of values, the liquid tube recess was varied and the shape of the exit of the gaseous jet was varied from straight to converging. Third, quantification of the effect of swirl in the gaseous stream on the spray characteristics produced by single coaxial airblast nozzles. Fourth, quantification of the effect of reatomization by impingement of the spray on a flat disc positioned around 200 mm from the nozzle exit. This models spray impingement on the turbopump dome during the startup process of the preburner of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME). Fifth, study of the interaction between multiple sprays without and with swirl in their gaseous stream. The spray characteristics of single nozzles were compared with that of three identical nozzles with their axis at a small distance from each other. This study simulates the sprays in the preburner of the SSME, where there are around 260 elements on the faceplate of the combustion chamber. And lastly, design an experimental facility to study the characteristics of sprays at high pressure conditions and at supercritical pressure and temperature for the gas but supercritical pressure and subcritical temperature for the liquid.

Source record↗

A Preliminary Theoretical Study of the Expansion Tube, a New Device for Producing High-Enthalpy Short-Duration Hypersonic Gas Flows

A preliminary theoretical study was conducted of a new technique for producing high-enthalpy gas flows. The device considered utilizes an unsteady expansion process for the purpose of total-enthalpy multiplication. Analyses were conducted for both perfect and real air in equilibrium, assuming idealized diaphragm bursts, centered expansion waves, and continuum flow. Results of the study showed the expansion tube capable of outperforming the conventional shock tunnel by a factor of approximately 2 in velocity for the same test-section ambient density and pressure. The degree of dissociation is low at all phases of the thermodynamic cycle in the expansion tube; thus the test-section air has a good possibility of being in equilibrium. Maximum pressures involved in the cycle for duplicating a typical reentry from, a lunar mission are low enough for existing pressure-vessel techniques. Both the known and anticipated advantages and disadvantages of this new concept are also discussed.

TUBING↗

Surface reaction and pore diffusion in flow-tube reactors

The interaction of gas diffusion with surface reaction in porous solids is discussed and applied specifically to heterogeneous rate measurements in flow-tube reactors. External diffusion to the outer surface of a reactive solid, internal diffusion within the pores, surface reaction, and laminar flow are considered. A procedure is developed to correct observed surface rate constants for the interaction of these processes. Measured surface areas and bulk densities are used to construct a semiempirical model for porous diffusion in vapor-formed HNO3-H2O ices which are used to simulate polar stratospheric cloud surfaces. The model is tested experimentally by varying the thickness of these ices from about 15 to 120 microns. The results are consistent with the model predictions and show that the HNO3-H2O ices used are highly porous, and the internal surface must be considered in calculating kinetic parameters from observed loss rates. The best fit of the data yields a tortuosity factor of 3.3 +/-1.1 for the ice substrates.

Keyser, Leon F.↗