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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 55 records · Page 3

Calibration improvements to electronically scanned pressure systems and preliminary statistical assessment

Orifice-to-orifice inconsistencies in data acquired with an electronically-scanned pressure system at the beginning of a wind tunnel experiment forced modifications to the standard, instrument calibration procedures. These modifications included a large increase in the number of calibration points which would allow a critical examination of the calibration curve-fit process, and a subsequent post-test reduction of the pressure data. Evaluation of these data has resulted in an improved functional representation of the pressure-voltage signature for electronically-scanned pressures sensors, which can reduce the errors due to calibration curve fit to under 0.10 percent of reading compared to the manufacturer specified 0.10 percent of full scale. Application of the improved calibration function allows a more rational selection of the calibration set-point pressures. These pressures should be adjusted to achieve a voltage output which matches the physical shape of the pressure-voltage signature of the sensor. This process is conducted in lieu of the more traditional approach where a calibration pressure is specified and the resulting sensor voltage is recorded. The fifteen calibrations acquired over the two-week duration of the wind tunnel test were further used to perform a preliminary, statistical assessment of the variation in the calibration process. The results allowed the estimation of the bias uncertainty for a single instrument calibration; and, they form the precursor for more extensive and more controlled studies in the laboratory.

Everhart, Joel L.↗

Multi-Node Modeling of Cryogenic Tank Pressurization System Using Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program

Cryogenic Tanks are pressurized by inert gas such as Helium or Nitrogen to maintain the required pressure of the propellant delivered to the turbo-pump of a liquid rocket engine. Thermo-fluid system simulation tools are used to analyze the pressurization process of a cryogenic tank. Most system level codes (GFSSP and ROCETS) use single node1 to represent ullage which is the gaseous space in the tank. Ullage space in a cryogenic tank is highly stratified because the entering inert gas is at ambient temperature whereas the liquid propellant is at a cryogenic temperature. A single node model does not account for the effect of temperature gradient in the ullage. High fidelity Navier-Stokes based CFD model of Tank Pressurization is not practical for running a long duration transient model with thousands and millions of nodes. A possible recourse is to construct a multi-node model with system level code that can account for ullage stratification.

Bandyopadhyay, Alak↗

Fluid injection device for high-pressure systems

Screw activated device, consisting of a compressor, shielded replaceable ampules, a multiple-element rubber gland, and a specially constructed fluid line fitting, injects measured amounts of fluids into a pressurized system. It is sturdy and easily manipulated.

Copeland, E. J.↗

Verifying Data Integrity of Electronically Scanned Pressure Systems at the NASA Glenn Research Center

The proper operation of the Electronically Scanned Pressure (ESP) System critical to accomplish the following goals: acquisition of highly accurate pressure data for the development of aerospace and commercial aviation systems and continuous confirmation of data quality to avoid costly, unplanned, repeat wind tunnel or turbine testing. Standard automated setup and checkout routines are necessary to accomplish these goals. Data verification and integrity checks occur at three distinct stages, pretest pressure tubing and system checkouts, daily system validation and in-test confirmation of critical system parameters. This paper will give an overview of the existing hardware, software and methods used to validate data integrity.

Panek, Joseph W.↗

NASA Requirements for Ground-Based Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems (PVS)

The purpose of this document is to ensure the structural integrity of PVS through implementation of a minimum set of requirements for ground-based PVS in accordance with this document, NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 8710.5, NASA Safety Policy for Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems, NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 8715.3, NASA General Safety Program Requirements, applicable Federal Regulations, and national consensus codes and standards (NCS).

Greulich, Owen Rudolf↗

Cryogenic Transport of High-Pressure-System Recharge Gas

A method of relatively safe, compact, efficient recharging of a high-pressure room-temperature gas supply has been proposed. In this method, the gas would be liquefied at the source for transport as a cryogenic fluid at or slightly above atmospheric pressure. Upon reaching the destination, a simple heating/expansion process would be used to (1) convert the transported cryogenic fluid to the room-temperature, high-pressure gaseous form in which it is intended to be utilized and (2) transfer the resulting gas to the storage tank of the system to be recharged. In conventional practice for recharging high-pressure-gas systems, gases are transported at room temperature in high-pressure tanks. For recharging a given system to a specified pressure, a transport tank must contain the recharge gas at a much higher pressure. At the destination, the transport tank is connected to the system storage tank to be recharged, and the pressures in the transport tank and the system storage tank are allowed to equalize. One major disadvantage of the conventional approach is that the high transport pressure poses a hazard. Another disadvantage is the waste of a significant amount of recharge gas. Because the transport tank is disconnected from the system storage tank when it is at the specified system recharge pressure, the transport tank still contains a significant amount of recharge gas (typically on the order of half of the amount transported) that cannot be used. In the proposed method, the cryogenic fluid would be transported in a suitably thermally insulated tank that would be capable of withstanding the recharge pressure of the destination tank. The tank would be equipped with quick-disconnect fluid-transfer fittings and with a low-power electric heater (which would not be used during transport). In preparation for transport, a relief valve would be attached via one of the quick-disconnect fittings (see figure). During transport, the interior of the tank would be kept at a near-ambient pressure far below the recharge pressure. As leakage of heat into the tank caused vaporization of the cryogenic fluid, the resulting gas would be vented through the relief valve, which would be set to maintain the pressure in the tank at the transport value. Inasmuch as the density of a cryogenic fluid at atmospheric pressure greatly exceeds that of the corresponding gas in a practical high-pressure tank at room temperature, a tank for transporting a given mass of gas according to the proposed method could be smaller (and, hence, less massive) than is a tank needed for transporting the same mass of gas according to the conventional method.

Ungar, Eugene K,↗

Reducing Hazards of Propulsive Secondary Payloads by Implementing a Post Launch Pressurization System

Propulsion systems on SmallSats and CubeSats are becoming more common as launch vehicles like SLS begin providing rideshares to destinations beyond low earth orbit. While these spacecraft are a solution to achieve advanced science objectives at lower cost, they are still subject to the same rigorous standards as other larger spacecraft, such as NASA STD-5019, due to the high pressures within their propulsion systems at launch. A Post Launch Pressurization System would allow a spacecraft to be launched at low pressure, then be pressurized through the controlled chemical decomposition of a solid reactant after the spacecraft is jettisoned from the launch vehicle. This increases the safety of the secondary spacecraft, and effectively mitigates risks to the launch vehicle and other payloads.

Perry, McKynzie↗

High-pressure regulating system prevents pressure surges

Gas flow is controlled by means of a pressure regulating system which prevents pressure surges. A high-pressure fluid source, a spring-loaded fluid-damped regulator valve, an accumulator, a conventional normally closed command valve, and a control valve are the main components.

Keller, O. F.↗

Primary helium heater for propellant pressurization systems

The primary helium heater is a unique design that provides direct heating of pressurant gas for large pressure fed propulsion systems. It has been conceptually designed to supply a heated (800-1000 R) pressurization gas to both a liquid oxygen and an RP-1 propellant tank. This pressurization gas is generated within the heater by mixing super critical helium (40-300 R and 3000-1600 psi) with an appropriate amount of combustion products from a 4:1 throttling stoichiometric LO2/LH2 combustor. This simple, low cost and reliable mixer utilizes the large quantity of helium to provide stoichiometric combustor cooling, extend the throttling limits and enhance the combustion stability margin. Preliminary combustion, thermal, and CFD analyses confirm that this low-pressure-drop direct helium heater can provide the constant-temperature pressurant suitable for tank pressurization of both fuel and oxidizer tanks of large pressure fed vehicles.

Reichmuth, D. M.↗

An Analytical Explanation for the X-43A Flush Air Data Sensing System Pressure Mismatch Between Flight and Theory

Following the successful Mach 7 flight test of the X-43A, unexpectedly low pressures were measured by the aft set of the onboard Flush Air Data Sensing System s pressure ports. These in-flight aft port readings were significantly lower below Mach 3.5 than was predicted by theory. The same lower readings were also seen in the Mach 10 flight of the X-43A and in wind-tunnel data. The pre-flight predictions were developed based on 2-dimensional wedge flow, which fails to predict some of the significant 3-dimensional flow features in this geometry at lower Mach numbers. Using Volterra s solution to the wave equation as a starting point, a three-dimensional finite wedge approximation to flow over the X-43A forebody is presented. The surface pressures from this approximation compare favorably with the measured wind tunnel and flight data at speeds of Mach 2.5 and 3.

Ellsworth, Joel C.↗