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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 325 records · Page 18

Test results of a 40-kW Stirling engine and comparison with the NASA Lewis computer code predictions

A Stirling engine was tested without auxiliaries at Nasa-Lewis. Three different regenerator configurations were tested with hydrogen. The test objectives were: (1) to obtain steady-state and dynamic engine data, including indicated power, for validation of an existing computer model for this engine; and (2) to evaluate structurally the use of silicon carbide regenerators. This paper presents comparisons of the measured brake performance, indicated mean effective pressure, and cyclic pressure variations from those predicted by the code. The silicon carbide foam generators appear to be structurally suitable, but the foam matrix showed severely reduced performance.

Allen, David J.↗

Computing Propagation Of Sound In Engine Ducts

Frequency Domain Propagation Model (FREDOM) computer program accounts for acoustic loads applied to components of engines. Models propagation of noise through fluids in ducts between components and through passages within components. Used not only to analyze hardware problems, but also for design purposes. Updated version of FREQPL program easier to use. Devised specifically for use in analyzing acoustic loads in rocket engines. Underlying physical and mathematical concepts implemented also applicable to acoustic propagation in other enclosed spaces; analyzing process plumbing and ducts in industrial buildings with view toward reducing noise in work areas.

Saylor, Silvia↗

Approximate simulation model for analysis and optimization in engineering system design

Computational support of the engineering design process routinely requires mathematical models of behavior to inform designers of the system response to external stimuli. However, designers also need to know the effect of the changes in design variable values on the system behavior. For large engineering systems, the conventional way of evaluating these effects by repetitive simulation of behavior for perturbed variables is impractical because of excessive cost and inadequate accuracy. An alternative is described based on recently developed system sensitivity analysis that is combined with extrapolation to form a model of design. This design model is complementary to the model of behavior and capable of direct simulation of the effects of design variable changes.

Sobieszczanski-Sobieski, Jaroslaw↗

Advanced Computing Technologies for Rocket Engine Propulsion Systems: Object-Oriented Design with C++

This document explores the use of advanced computer technologies with an emphasis on object-oriented design to be applied in the development of software for a rocket engine to improve vehicle safety and reliability. The primary focus is on phase one of this project, the smart start sequence module. The objectives are: 1) To use current sound software engineering practices, object-orientation; 2) To improve on software development time, maintenance, execution and management; 3) To provide an alternate design choice for control, implementation, and performance.

Gete Bekele↗

Jet impingement heat transfer enhancement for the GPU-3 Stirling engine

A computer model of the combustion-gas-side heat transfer was developed to predict the effects of a jet impingement system and the possible range of improvements available. Using low temperature (315 C (600 F)) pretest data in an updated model, a high temperature silicon carbide jet impingement heat transfer system was designed and fabricated. The system model predicted that at the theoretical maximum limit, jet impingement enhanced heat transfer can: (1) reduce the flame temperature by 275 C (500 F); (2) reduce the exhaust temperature by 110 C (200 F); and (3) increase the overall heat into the working fluid by 10%, all for an increase in required pumping power of less than 0.5% of the engine power output. Initial tests on the GPU-3 Stirling engine at NASA-Lewis demonstrated that the jet impingement system increased the engine output power and efficiency by 5% - 8% with no measurable increase in pumping power. The overall heat transfer coefficient was increased by 65% for the maximum power point of the tests.

Johnson, D. C.↗

A generalized computer code for developing dynamic gas turbine engine models (DIGTEM)

This paper describes DIGTEM (digital turbofan engine model), a computer program that simulates two spool, two stream (turbofan) engines. DIGTEM was developed to support the development of a real time multiprocessor based engine simulator being designed at the Lewis Research Center. The turbofan engine model in DIGTEM contains steady state performance maps for all the components and has control volumes where continuity and energy balances are maintained. Rotor dynamics and duct momentum dynamics are also included. DIGTEM features an implicit integration scheme for integrating stiff systems and trims the model equations to match a prescribed design point by calculating correction coefficients that balance out the dynamic equations. It uses the same coefficients at off design points and iterates to a balanced engine condition. Transients are generated by defining the engine inputs as functions of time in a user written subroutine (TMRSP). Closed loop controls can also be simulated. DIGTEM is generalized in the aerothermodynamic treatment of components. This feature, along with DIGTEM's trimming at a design point, make it a very useful tool for developing a model of a specific turbofan engine.

Daniele, C. J.↗

A generalized computer code for developing dynamic gas turbine engine models (DIGTEM)

This paper describes DIGTEM (digital turbofan engine model), a computer program that simulates two spool, two stream (turbofan) engines. DIGTEM was developed to support the development of a real time multiprocessor based engine simulator being designed at the Lewis Research Center. The turbofan engine model in DIGTEM contains steady state performance maps for all the components and has control volumes where continuity and energy balances are maintained. Rotor dynamics and duct momentum dynamics are also included. DIGTEM features an implicit integration scheme for integrating stiff systems and trims the model equations to match a prescribed design point by calculating correction coefficients that balance out the dynamic equations. It uses the same coefficients at off design points and iterates to a balanced engine condition. Transients are generated by defining the engine inputs as functions of time in a user written subroutine (TMRSP). Closed loop controls can also be simulated. DIGTEM is generalized in the aerothermodynamic treatment of components. This feature, along with DIGTEM's trimming at a design point, make it a very useful tool for developing a model of a specific turbofan engine.

Daniele, C. J.↗

Prediction of sound radiation from different practical jet engine inlets

Computer codes, capable of producing accurate results for nondimensional wave numbers (based on duct radius) of up to 20, were developed and used to generate results for various other inlet configurations. Both reflection coefficients and radiation patterns were calculated by the integral solution procedure for the following five inlet configurations: the NASA Langley Bellmouth, the NASA Lewis JT-15D-1 ground test nacelle, and three hyperbolic inlets of 50, 70, and 90 degrees. Results obtained are compared with results from other experimental and theoretical studies.

Zinn, B. T.↗

Prediction of sound radiation from different practical jet engine inlets

Computer codes which were based upon a special integral representation of the external solutions of the Helmholtz equation were upgraded so that they would yield accurate results for the acoustic radiation patterns in the field surrounding an axisymmetric body for nondimensional wave numbers, based on duct radius, of up to twenty. The accuracy of these computer programs was checked by the use of the point source method for the generation of exact solutions and then by comparison with the results of other experimental and theoretical studies. These computer codes were used in a parametric study of the dependence of the radiated sound field on input modal distribution, wave number, and inlet lip shape. The results of this study show that: (1) as the wave number (i.e., cut off ratio) is increased for a given input modal distribution that the acoustic radiation peak moves towards the inlet centerline and becomes more compact (i.e., narrows); (2) as the input mode number is increased for a given cut off ratio the acoustic radiation peak moves away from the inlet centerline and becomes more compact.

Meyer, W. L.↗

Satellite Image Mosaic Engine

A computer program automatically builds large, full-resolution mosaics of multispectral images of Earth landmasses from images acquired by Landsat 7, complete with matching of colors and blending between adjacent scenes. While the code has been used extensively for Landsat, it could also be used for other data sources. A single mosaic of as many as 8,000 scenes, represented by more than 5 terabytes of data and the largest set produced in this work, demonstrated what the code could do to provide global coverage. The program first statistically analyzes input images to determine areas of coverage and data-value distributions. It then transforms the input images from their original universal transverse Mercator coordinates to other geographical coordinates, with scaling. It applies a first-order polynomial brightness correction to each band in each scene. It uses a data-mask image for selecting data and blending of input scenes. Under control by a user, the program can be made to operate on small parts of the output image space, with check-point and restart capabilities. The program runs on SGI IRIX computers. It is capable of parallel processing using shared-memory code, large memories, and tens of central processing units. It can retrieve input data and store output data at locations remote from the processors on which it is executed.

Plesea, Lucian↗

Real-time simulation of F100-PW-100 turbofan engine using the hybrid computer

A real-time hybrid computer simulation of the F100-PW-100 augmented turbofan is presented. The digital portion of the hybrid computer is used to perform the bivariate function generation associated with modeling the performance of the engine's rotating components. The remaining calculations are performed on the analog computer. Steady state simulation data along with sea level, static, transient data are presented to show that the real-time simulation matches baseline digital simulation results over a wide range of power settings and flight conditions. Steady state simulation data are compared with sea level, experimental data to show that the real-time hybrid and baseline digital simulations do adequately predict the performance of the actual engine. FORTRAN listings and analog patching diagrams are provided.

Szuch, J. R.↗