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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1961

Gas Requirements in Pressurized Transfer of Liquid Hydrogen

Of late, liquid hydrogen has become a very popular fuel for space missions. It is being used in such programs as Centaur and Saturn. Furthermore, hydrogen is the ideal working fluid for nuclear powered space vehicles currently under development. In these applications, liquid hydrogen fuel is generally transferred to the combustion chamber by a combination of pumping and pressurization. The pump forces the liquid propellant from the fuel tank to the combustion chamber; gaseous pressurant holds tank pressure sufficiently high to prevent cavitation at the pump inlet and to maintain the structural rigidity of the tank. The pressurizing system, composed of pressurant, tankage, and associated hardware can be a large portion of the total vehicle weight. Pressurant weight can be reduced by introducing the pressurizing gas at temperatures substantially greater than those of liquid hydrogen. Heat and mass transfer processes thereby induced complicate gas requirements during discharge. These requirements must be known to insure proper design of the pressurizing system. The aim of this paper is to develop from basic mass and energy transfer processes a general method to predict helium and hydrogen gas usage for the pressurized transfer of liquid hydrogen. This required an analytical and experimental investigation, the results of which are described in this paper.

GAS↗
NASA NTRS2017

Novel High Temperature Capacitive Pressure Sensor Utilizing SiC Integrated Circuit Twin Ring Oscillators

This paper describes initial development and testing of a novel high temperature capacitive pressure sensor system. The pressure sensor system consists of two 4H-SiC 11-stage ring oscillators and a SiCN capacitive pressure sensor. One oscillator has the capacitive pressure sensor fixed at one node in its feedback loop and varies as a function of pressure and temperature while the other provides a pressure-independent reference frequency which can be used to temperature compensate the output of the first oscillator. A two-day repeatability test was performed up to 500C on the oscillators and the oscillator fundamental frequency changed by only 1. The SiCN capacitive pressure sensor was characterized at room temperature from 0 to 300 psi. The sensor had an initial capacitance of 3.76 pF at 0 psi and 1.75 pF at 300 psi corresponding to a 54 change in capacitance. The integrated pressure sensor system was characterized from 0 to 300 psi in steps of 50 psi over a temperature range of 25 to 500C. The pressure sensor system sensitivity was 0.113 kHzpsi at 25C and 0.026 kHzpsi at 500C.

high temperature↗
NASA NTRS1972

Effect of pore pressure on the velocity of compressional waves in low-porosity rocks.

The velocity V sub p of compressional waves has been measured in rock samples of low porosity to confining pressures P sub c of 2 kb for a number of different constant pore pressures P sub p. An effective pressure defined by P sub e = P sub c-nP sub p, n less than or equal to 1, is found to be the determining factor in the behavior of V sub p rather than an effective pressure defined simply by the differential pressure Delta P = P sub c-P sub p. As pore pressure increases at constant effective pressure, the value of n increases and approaches 1, but as effective pressure increases at constant pore pressure, the value of n decreases. These observations are consistent with Biot's theory of the propagation of elastic waves in a fluid-saturated porous solid.

Todd, T.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Subsonic wind-tunnel tests of a trailing-cone device for calibrating aircraft static pressure systems

A trailing-cone device for calibrating aircraft static-pressure systems was tested in a transonic wind tunnel to investigate the pressure-sensing characteristics of the device including effects of several configuration changes. The tests were conducted at Mach numbers from 0.30 to 0.95 with Reynolds numbers from (0.9 x one million to 4.1 x one million per foot). The results of these tests indicated that the pressures sensed by the device changed slightly but consistently as the distance between the device pressure orifices and cone was varied from 4 to 10 cone diameters. Differences between such device-indicated pressures and free-stream static pressure were small, however, and corresponded to Mach number differences of less than 0.001 for device configurations with pressure orifices located 5 or 6 cone diameters ahead of the cone. Differences between device-indicated and free-stream static pressures were not greatly influenced by a protection skid at the downstream end of the pressure tube of the device nor by a 2-to-1 change in test Reynolds number.

Jordan, F. L., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Fuel droplet burning rates at high pressures.

Combustion of methanol, ethanol, propanol-1, n-pentane, n-heptane, and n-decane was observed in air under natural convection conditions, at pressures up to 100 atm. The droplets were simulated by porous spheres, with diameters in the range from 0.63 to 1.90 cm. The pressure levels of the tests were high enough so that near-critical combustion was observed for methanol and ethanol. Due to the high pressures, the phase-equilibrium models of the analysis included both the conventional low-pressure approach as well as high-pressure versions, allowing for real gas effects and the solubility of combustion-product gases in the liquid phase. The burning-rate predictions of the various theories were similar, and in fair agreement with the data. The high-pressure theory gave the best prediction for the liquid-surface temperatures of ethanol and propanol-1 at high pressure. The experiments indicated the approach of critical burning conditions for methanol and ethanol at pressures on the order of 80 to 100 atm, which was in good agreement with the predictions of both the low- and high-pressure analysis.

Canada, G. S.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Surface pressure fluctuations in hypersonic turbulent boundary layers

The surface pressure fluctuations on a flat plate model at hypersonic Mach numbers of 5.2, 7.4 and 10.4 with an attached turbulent boundary layer were measured using flush mounted small piezoelectric sensors. A high frequency resolution of the pressure field was achieved using specially designed small piezoelectric sensors that had a good frequency response well above 300 KHz. The RMS pressures and non-dimensional energy spectra for all above Mach numbers are presented. The convective velocities, obtained from space time correlation considerations are equal to 0.7 U sub infinity. The results indicate the RMS pressures vary from 5 to 25 percent of the mean static pressures. The ratios of RMS pressure to dynamic pressure are less than the universally accepted subsonic value of 6 x 10/3. The ratio decreases in value as the Mach number or the dynamic pressure is increased. The ratio of RMS pressure to wall shear for Mach number 7.4 satisfies one smaller than or equal to p/tau sub w smaller than or equal to three.

Raman, K. R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Influence of low and high pressure baroreceptors on plasma renin activity in humans

The effects of low and high pressure baroreceptors on plasma renin activity (immunoassay) were evaluated using graded lower body suction (LBS) in six healthy men. LBS at -10 and -20 mmHg for 10 min decreased central venous pressure without changing arterial pressure and thereby presumably reduced low but not high pressure baroreceptor inhibition of renin release. LBS at these levels produced forearm vasoconstriction, but did not increase renin. LBS at -40 mmHG decreased central venous and arterial pulse pressure and thus reduced both low and high pressure baroreceptor inhibition. LBS at this level produced forearm vasoconstriction and tachycardia and increased renin. In summary, reduction in low pressure baroreceptor inhibition in humans did not increase renin in the presence of physiological tonic inhibition from high pressure baroreceptors. Increases in renin did not occur until there was combined reduction of high and low pressure baroreceptor inhibition on plasma renin activity.

Mark, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

NTF model pressure measurements

Pressure measurements on the National Transonic Facility models will be made using electronically scanned pressure instrumentation. The system consists of pressure modules, a pressure calibration standard, and a system controller. The pressure modules, which must be operated above -18 C, will be housed in model-integrated designed thermally controlled containers. The Pathfinder 1 192-channel pressure package is described. Recent and planned developments to reduce the pressure module's volume per channel ratio are discussed, including the 48-channel module and a proposed 32-channel module that would be 2.54 by 2.54 by 8.13 cm. Pressure transducers capable of operating at cryogenic temperatures for dynamic and static pressure measurements are discussed.

Kern, F. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Pressure measurement system for the National Transonic Facility

The electronically scanned pressure (ESP) measurement system concept was selected for application at the Langley Research Center's National Transonic Facility. This pressure measurement application required a complex system design to meet the pressure resolution, range, and accuracy requirements over this facility's wide operating pressure and temperature range of 1.38 x 10 to the 5th to 9.3 x 10 to the 5th N/sq m and 80 to 340 K, respectively. The design uses five ESP systems to measure the nearly 1000 channels of pressure located throughout the facility circuit. Pressure modules mounted inside the facility were housed in specially designed thermal enclosures, while the modules mounted outside the tunnel were mounted in pressure vessels. The unique features of this pressure measurement system design including a special ESP module pressure calibration unit are presented.

Mitchell, M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Dependence of Venus ionopause altitude and ionospheric magnetic field on solar wind dynamic pressure

The shape of the dayside Venus ionopause, and its dependence on solar wind parameters, is examined using Pioneer Venus Orbiter field and particle data. The ionopause is defined here as the altitude of pressure equality between magnetosheath pressure and ionospheric thermal pressure; its typical altitudes range from about 300 km near the subsolar point to about 900 km near the terminator. A strong correlation between ionopause altitude and magnetosheath magnetic pressure is demonstrated; correlation between magnetic pressure and the normally incident component of solar wind dynamic pressure is also evident. The data support the hypothesis of control of the ionopause altitude by solar wind dynamic pressure, manifested in the sheath as magnetic pressure. The presence of large scale magnetic fields in the ionosphere is observed primarily when dynamic pressure is high and the ionopause is low.

Phillips, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Surface pressure distributions on a delta wing undergoing large amplitude pitching oscillations

Wind tunnel experiments were performed on a 70 deg sweep delta wing to determine the effect of a sinusoidal pitching motion on the pressure field on the suction side of the wing. Twelve pressure taps were placed from 35 to 90 percent of the chord, at 60 percent of the local semi-span. Pressure coefficients were measured as a function of Reynolds number and pitch rate. The pressure coefficient was seen to vary at approximately the same frequency as the pitching frequency. The relative pressure variation at each chord location was comparable for each case. The average pressure distribution through each periodic motion was near the static distribution for the average angle of attack. Upon comparing the upstroke and downstroke pressures for a specific angle of attack, the downstroke pressures were slightly larger. Vortex breakdown was seen to have the most significant effect at the 40 to 45 percent chord location, where a decrease in pressure was apparent.

Thompson, Scott A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Unsteady surface pressure distributions on a delta wing undergoing large amplitude pitching motions

Wind tunnel experiments were performed on a 70-deg-sweep delta wing to determine the effect of a sinusoidal pitching motion on the pressure field on the suction side of the wing. Pressure taps were placed from 35-90 percent of the chord, at 60 percent of the local semi-span. Pressure coefficients were measured as functions of Reynolds number and pitch rate. The surface pressure distribution was seen to vary at the same frequency as the pitching frequency, though distortion due to the vortex breakdown was observed. Comparing the upstroke (angle of attack increasing) and downstroke (angle of attack decreasing) pressures for a specific angle of attack, a time lag in the pressure distribution was observed. The downstroke pressures were slightly larger at the forward chord locations. Vortex breakdown was seen to have the most significant effect at the 40-45-percent chord location, where an increase in local pressure was apparent, as well as a distortion of the periodic pressure fluctuation.

Thompson, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Delta wing surface pressures for high angle of attack maneuvers

A wind tunnel experiment was performed on a delta wing with a leading edge sweep of 70 deg. Unsteady pressures were measured on the suction surface of the wing as it was oscillated from 0-30 deg, and 2-60 deg angle-of-attack. Pressure coefficients were measured at different surface locations for two pitch rates. Static pressure measurements were also obtained for comparison with the dynamic results. The Reynolds number was fixed at 420,000, based on the centerline chord length. Pressure measurements were made from 35-90 percent of the chord, along a ray from the apex at 60 percent of the local semispan. Spanwise measurements were also made at a constant chord location, x/c = 75 percent from the apex. The unsteady pressure data over the 0-30 deg angle-of-attack range showed pressures fluctuating in phase with model motion, and little overshoot from the static values. The pressures for the large amplitude motion showed large overshoots from the static values. In addition, during the high angle-of-attack portion of the motion, the upstroke (angle of attack increasing) pressure coefficients were typically much lower than the downstroke values. For the lower pitch rate, there was little difference between upstroke and downstroke pressures at the low angles of attack.

Thompson, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Burst prediction by acoustic emission in filament-wound pressure vessels

Acoustic emission in 51-cm diameter graphite/epoxy pressure vessels was monitored during pressurization (hydrotesting). Several vessels were subjected to impact by a blunt impactor, but only after the vessels had been proofed; that is, pressurized to 80 percent of nominal burst pressure as determined from control (unimpacted) vessels. AE activity was then monitored throughout a series of successively higher pressure cycles ranging from 10 to 60 percent of ultimate. Each cycle included a ramp up to pressure followed by a 4-min hold period and then pressure unload. The event rate was high, and especially modified AE analyzers had to be used to acquire the data. This paper presents the AE event count versus pressure history of these tests and demonstrates the ability of the AE technique to monitor the growth of damage and to estimate the effect on ultimate strength. The number of events that occurred during pressure holds proved to be a reasonable estimator of vessel performance.

Gorman, Michael R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Computational modeling of the pressurization process in a NASP vehicle propellant tank experimental simulation

A multidimensional computational model of the pressurization process in a slush hydrogen propellant storage tank was developed and its accuracy evaluated by comparison to experimental data measured for a 5 ft diameter spherical tank. The fluid mechanic, thermodynamic, and heat transfer processes within the ullage are represented by a finite-volume model. The model was shown to be in reasonable agreement with the experiment data. A parameter study was undertaken to examine the dependence of the pressurization process on initial ullage temperature distribution and pressurant mass flow rate. It is shown that for a given heat flux rate at the ullage boundary, the pressurization process is nearly independent of initial temperature distribution. Significant differences were identified between the ullage temperature and velocity fields predicted for pressurization of slush and those predicted for pressurization of liquid hydrogen. A simplified model of the pressurization process was constructed in search of a dimensionless characterization of the pressurization process. It is shown that the relationship derived from this simplified model collapses all of the pressure history data generated during this study into a single curve.

Sasmal, G. P.↗
NASA NTRS1993

An experimental study of the sources of fluctuating pressure loads beneath swept shock/boundary-layer interactions

An experimental research program providing basic knowledge and establishing a database on the fluctuating pressure loads produced on aerodynamic surfaces beneath three dimensional shock wave/boundary layer interactions is described. Such loads constitute a fundamental problem of critical concern to future supersonic and hypersonic flight vehicles. A turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate is subjected to interactions with swept planar shock waves generated by sharp fins at angle of attack. Fin angles from 10 to 20 deg at freestream Mach numbers of 3 and 4 produce a variety of interaction strengths from weak to very strong. Miniature Kulite pressure transducers flush-mounted in the flat plate are used to measure interaction-induced wall pressure fluctuations. The distributions of properties of the pressure fluctuations, such as their ring levels, amplitude distributions, and power spectra, are also determined. Measurements were made for the first time in the aft regions of these interactions, revealing fluctuating pressure levels as high as 160 dB. These fluctuations are dominated by low frequency (0-5 kHz) signals. The maximum ring levels in the interactions show an increasing trend with increasing interaction strength. On the other hand, the maximum ring levels in the forward portion of the interactions decrease linearly with increasing interaction sweep back. These ring pressure distributions and spectra are correlated with the features of the interaction flowfield. The unsteadiness of the off-surface flowfield is studied using a new, non-intrusive technique based on the shadow graph method. The results indicate that the entire lambda-shock structure generated by the interaction undergoes relatively low-frequency oscillations. Some regions where particularly strong fluctuations are generated were identified. Fluctuating pressure measurements are also made along the line of symmetry of an axisymmetric jet impinging upon a flat plate at an angle. This flow was chosen as a simple analog to the impinging jet region found in the rear portion of the shock wave/boundary layer interactions under study. It is found that a sharp peak in ring pressure level exists at or near the mean stagnation point. It is suggested that the phenomena responsible for this peak may be active in the swept interactions as well, and may cause the extremely high fluctuating pressures observed in the impinging jet region in the present experimental program.

Settles, G. S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The effect of nonsymmetric pressure stiffness on the dynamic characteristics of Solid Rocket Motors

This paper discusses the effect of pressure on the dynamics of pre-stiffened structures such as the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor (ASRM). Previous work in which the stiffness terms resulting from constant pressure were derived has been extended to enable modeling of nonconstant pressure applied over nonenclosed volumes. These conditions will result in nonsymmetric terms in the global stiffness matrix which will not cancel out. Three new pressure stiffness elements incorporating these nonsymmetric terms have been implemented as dummy elements in COSMIC NASTRAN and have been tested on various simple examples as well as an existing ASRM NASTRAN finite element model. The results indicate that for all load cases of practical interest to the ASRM program, the nonsymmetric terms have very little effect on the dynamic characteristics. In addition, the pressure stiffness elements developed in the previous work which assumed constant pressure gave virtually the same results as the new elements even for problems in which the pressures are not constant. The original elements appear to work well as long as the pressure gradient across any individual element is no larger than about 0.75 psi/inch. The new elements are therefore most useful for determining the conditions under which the original pressure stiffness elements can be used.

Christensen, Eric R.↗
NASA NTRS1931

The Effect of Injection-Valve Opening Pressure on Spray-Tip Penetration

The effect of various injection-valve opening pressures on the spray-tip penetration was determined for several injection pressure. A common-rail fuel injection system was used. For a given injection pressure a maximum rate of penetration was obtained with an injection-valve opening pressure equal to the injection pressure. As the excess of the injection pressure over the injection-valve opening pressure was increased for a given injection pressure, the effect of the injection-valve opening pressure on the spray-tip penetration was increased.

Rothrock, A M↗