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At least 307 records · Page 17

Pressure instrumentation for gas turbine engines - A review of measurement technology

Many types and designs of pressure measuring instrumentation are used during the development and testing of gas turbine engines. This paper provides an overview of more commonly available pressure transducers and their characteristics. Probe designs for use in both steady-state and dynamic pressure measurement systems are reviewed. Techniques used to qualify instrument probes and the methods used to calibrate pressure transducers during engine testing are described.

Armentrout, E. C.↗

The role of modern control theory in the design of controls for aircraft turbine engines

The development, applications, and current research in modern control theory (MCT) are reviewed, noting the importance for fuel-efficient operation of turbines with variable inlet guide vanes, compressor stators, and exhaust nozzle area. The evolution of multivariable propulsion control design is examined, noting a basis in a matrix formulation of the differential equations defining the process, leading to state space formulations. Reports and papers which appeared from 1970-1982 which dealt with problems in MCT applications to turbine engine control design are outlined, including works on linear quadratic regulator methods, frequency domain methods, identification, estimation, and model reduction, detection, isolation, and accommodation, and state space control, adaptive control, and optimization approaches. Finally, NASA programs in frequency domain design, sensor failure detection, computer-aided control design, and plant modeling are explored

Zeller, J.↗

Ceramic bearings for use in gas turbine engines

Three decades of research by U.S. industry and government laboratories have produced a vast body of data related to the use of ceramic rolling element bearings and bearing components for aircraft gas turbine engines. Materials such as alumina, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, silicon nitride, and a crystallized glass ceramic have been investigated. Rolling-element endurance tests and analysis of full-complement bearings have been performed. Materials and bearing design methods have continuously improved over the years. This paper reviews a wide range of data and analyses with emphasis on how early NASA contributions as well as more recent data can enable the engineer or metallurgist to determine just where ceramic bearings are most applicable for gas turbines.

Zaretsky, Erwin V.↗

Ceramic bearings for use in gas turbine engines

Three decades of research by U.S. industry and government laboratories have produced a vast body of data related to the use of ceramic rolling element bearings and bearing components for aircraft gas turbine engines. Materials such as alumina, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, silicon nitride, and a crystallized glass ceramic have been investigated. Rolling-element endurance tests and analysis of full-complement bearings have been performed. Materials and bearing design methods have continuously improved over the years. This paper reviews a wide range of data and analyses with emphasis on how early NASA contributions as well as more recent data can enable the engineer or metallurgist to determine just where ceramic bearings are most applicable for gas turbines.

Zaretsky, E. V.↗

An overview of aerospace gas turbine technology of relevance to the development of the automotive gas turbine engine

The NASA-Lewis Research Center (LeRC) has conducted, and has sponsored with industry and universities, extensive research into many of the technology areas related to gas turbine propulsion systems. This aerospace-related technology has been developed at both the component and systems level, and may have significant potential for application to the automotive gas turbine engine. This paper summarizes this technology and lists the associated references. The technology areas are system steady-state and transient performance prediction techniques, compressor and turbine design and performance prediction programs and effects of geometry, combustor technology and advanced concepts, and ceramic coatings and materials technology.

Evans, D. G.↗

Single shaft automotive gas turbine engine characterization test

An automotive gas turbine incorporating a single stage centrifugal compressor and a single stage radial inflow turbine is described. Among the engine's features is the use of wide range variable geometry at the inlet guide vanes, the compressor diffuser vanes, and the turbine inlet vanes to achieve improved part load fuel economy. The engine was tested to determine its performance in both the variable geometry and equivalent fixed geometry modes. Testing was conducted without the originally designed recuperator. Test results were compared with the predicted performance of the nonrecuperative engine based on existing component rig test maps. Agreement between test results and the computer model was achieved.

Johnson, R. A.↗

A study of the optimization method used in the NAVY/NASA gas turbine engine computer code

Sources of numerical noise affecting the convergence properties of the Powell's Principal Axis Method of Optimization in the NAVY/NASA gas turbine engine computer code were investigated. The principal noise source discovered resulted from loose input tolerances used in terminating iterations performed in subroutine CALCFX to satisfy specified control functions. A minor source of noise was found to be introduced by an insufficient number of digits in stored coefficients used by subroutine THERM in polynomial expressions of thermodynamic properties. Tabular results of several computer runs are presented to show the effects on program performance of selective corrective actions taken to reduce noise.

Horsewood, J. L.↗

Status of the Ford program to evaluate ceramics for stator applications in automotive gas turbine engines

The paper reviews the progress of the major technical tasks of the DOE/NASA/Ford program Evaluation of Ceramics for Stator Applications in Automotive Gas Turbine Engines: reliability prediction, stator fabrication, material characterization, and stator evaluation. A fast fracture reliability model was prepared for a one-piece ceramic stator. Periodic inspection results are presented.

Trela, W.↗

Analysis of Thermal Radiation Effects on Temperatures in Turbine Engine Thermal Barrier Coatings

Thermal barrier coatings are important, and in some instances a necessity, for high temperature applications such as combustor liners, and turbine vanes and rotating blades for current and advanced turbine engines. Some of the insulating materials used for coatings, such as zirconia that currently has widespread use, are partially transparent to thermal radiation. A translucent coating permits energy to be transported internally by radiation, thereby increasing the total energy transfer and acting like an increase in thermal conductivity. This degrades the insulating ability of the coating. Because of the strong dependence of radiant emission on temperature, internal radiative transfer effects are increased as temperatures are raised. Hence evaluating the significance of internal radiation is of importance as temperatures are increased to obtain higher efficiencies in advanced engines.

Siegel, Robert↗

Tracking and Control of Gas Turbine Engine Component Damage/Life

This paper describes damage mechanisms and the methods of controlling damages to extend the on-wing life of critical gas turbine engine components. Particularly, two types of damage mechanisms are discussed: creep/rupture and thermo-mechanical fatigue. To control these damages and extend the life of engine hot-section components, we have investigated two methodologies to be implemented as additional control logic for the on-board electronic control unit. This new logic, the life-extending control (LEC), interacts with the engine control and monitoring unit and modifies the fuel flow to reduce component damages in a flight mission. The LEC methodologies were demonstrated in a real-time, hardware-in-the-loop simulation. The results show that LEC is not only a new paradigm for engine control design, but also a promising technology for extending the service life of engine components, hence reducing the life cycle cost of the engine.

Jaw, Link C.↗

Advanced Environmental Barrier Coating Testing and Development for Gas Turbine Engines

Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) are an enabling technology for the use of SiC-based ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) in next generation gas turbine engines. SiC-based CMCs are lightweight and have higher temperature stability than traditional nickel based superalloys. However, SiC is susceptible to rapid oxidation and recession due to high temperature reactions with water vapor and other combustion species. Thus, EBCs were developed to protect these components and extend operating lifetime. In the extreme engine environment, EBCs must be able to withstand a variety of damage mechanisms and the synergies of degradation between them. This presentation will provide an overview of NASA Glenn Research Center, current aeronautics research, and an introduction to EBC failure modes and environmental durability test methods.

Jamesa L Stokes↗

Performance of Gas Turbine Engines Using Wave Rotors Modeled

A wave rotor is a device that can boost the pressure and temperature of an airflow. When used as part of the core of a gas turbine engine, a wave rotor can significantly improve the thrust or shaft horsepower by boosting the flow pressure without raising the turbine inlet temperature. The NASA Lewis Research Center's Aeropropulsion Analysis Office, which is identifying technologies and research opportunities that will enhance the technical and economic competitiveness of the U.S. aeronautics industry, is evaluating the wave rotor to quantify the potential benefits of this device. Preliminary studies such as these are critical to identifying technologies that have high payoffs.

Source record↗

Gas turbine engine emission reduction technology program

Progress in the development of combustor technology to meet the standards for the allowable pollutant emission levels of aircraft gas turbine engines is reported. The high-bypass-ratio turbofan engines which power the large commercial aircraft were emphasized along with efforts to reduce emission for near term applications. Recommendations for continuing research to reduce emissions to meet far term needs are given.

Petrash, D. A.↗

Analytical and experimental evaluations of the effect of broad property fuels on combustors for commercial aircraft gas turbine engines

The impacts of broad property fuels on the design, performance, durability, emissions, and operational characteristics of current and advanced combustors for commercial aircraft gas turbine engines were studied. The effect of fuel thermal stability on engine and airframe fuel system was evaluated. Tradeoffs between fuel properties, exhaust emissions, and combustor life were also investigated. Results indicate major impacts of broad property fuels on allowable metal temperatures in fuel manifolds and injector support, combustor cyclic durability, and somewhat lesser impacts on starting characteristics, lightoff, emissions, and smoke.

Smith, A. L.↗

Combustion research for gas turbine engines

Research on combustion is being conducted at Lewis Research Center to provide improved analytical models of the complex flow and chemical reaction processes which occur in the combustor of gas turbine engines and other aeropropulsion systems. The objective of the research is to obtain a better understanding of the various physical processes that occur in the gas turbine combustor in order to develop models and numerical codes which can accurately describe these processes. Activities include in-house research projects, university grants, and industry contracts and are classified under the subject areas of advanced numerics, fuel sprays, fluid mixing, and radiation-chemistry. Results are high-lighted from several projects.

Mularz, E. J.↗

Combustion research for gas turbine engines

Research on combustion is being conducted at Lewis Research Center to provide improved analytical models of the complex flow and chemical reaction processes which occur in the combustor of gas turbine engines and other aeropropulsion systems. The objective of the research is to obtain a better understanding of the various physical processes that occur in the gas turbine combustor in order to develop models and numerical codes which can accurately describe these processes. Activities include in-house research projects, university grants, and industry contracts and are classified under the subject areas of advanced numerics, fuel sprays, fluid mixing, and radiation-chemistry. Results are high-lighted from several projects.

Mularz, E. J.↗