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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1996

Inlet and Propulsion Integration of Scram Propelled Vehicles

The material to be presented in these two lectures begins with cycle considerations of the turbojet engine combined with a ramjet engine to provide thrust over the range of Mach 0 to 5. We will then examine in some detail the aerodynamic behavior that occurs in the inlet operating near the peak speed. Following that, we shall view a numerical simulation through a baseline scramjet engine, starting at the entrance to the inlet, proceeding into the combustor and through the nozzle. In the next segment, we examine a combined rocket and ramjet propulsion system. Analysis and test results will be examined with a view toward evaluation of the concept as a practical device. Two other inlets will then be reviewed: a Mach 12 inlet and a Mach 18 configuration. Finally, we close our lectures with a discussion of the Detonation Wave engine, and inspect the physical and chemical behavior obtained from numerical simulation. A few final remarks will be made regarding the application of CFD for hypersonic propulsion components.

Povinelli, Louis A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Wave combustors for trans-atmospheric vehicles

A performance analysis is given of a conceptual transatmospheric vehicle (TAV). The TAV is powered by a an oblique detonation wave engine (ODWE). The ODWE is an airbreathing hypersonic propulsion system which utilizes shock and detonation waves to enhance fuel-air mixing and combustion in supersonic flow. In this wave combustor concept, an oblique shock wave in the combustor can act as a flameholder by increasing the pressure and temperature of the air-fuel mixture, thereby decreasing the ignition delay. If the oblique shock is sufficiently strong, then the combustion front and the shock wave can couple into a detonation wave. In this case, combustion occurs almost instantaneously in a thin zone behind the wave front. The result is a shorter lighter engine compared to the scramjet. The ODWE-powered hypersonic vehicle performance is compared to that of a scramjet-powered vehicle. Among the results outlined, it is found that the ODWE trades a better engine performance above Mach 15 for a lower performance below Mach 15. The overall higher performance of the ODWE results in a 51,000-lb weight savings and a higher payload weight fraction of approximately 12 percent.

Menees, Gene P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Numerical analysis of some supersonic viscous flows related to inlet and nozzle systems

A numerical method originally developed for three-dimensional supersonic inlet flow calculations is extended and applied to the study of two-dimensional and three-dimensional flows associated with arbitrary propulsion systems. The method is based on the forward spatial marching solution of a reduced form of the three-dimensional steady Navier-Stokes equations in which streamwise pressure gradients are retained in both the subsonic and supersonic regions. The present paper briefly describes the analysis and then shows three applications. In the first application, a wall transpiration study has been performed for the two-dimensional shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction flow field with application to an inlet configuration. The second application treats a rectangular high speed inlet with a swept sideplate including the effects of sideplate spillage. Finally, the method is utilized to analyze the interaction of an under-expanded supersonic jet with an ambient flow. Computed results are examined and compared with available experimental measurements. It is demonstrated that the present numerical method is capable of numerically simulating complex two- and three-dimensional flows relevant to hypersonic propulsion systems in a manner which both shows good agreement with data when such data is available, and which shows the complex flow features in the absence of data.

Kim, Y.-N.↗
NASA NTRS1995

The NASA Ames Hypersonic Combustor-Model Inlet CFD Simulations and Experimental Comparisons

Computations have been performed on a three-dimensional inlet associated with the NASA Ames combustor model for the hypersonic propulsion experiment in the 16-inch shock tunnel. The 3-dimensional inlet was designed to have the combustor inlet flow nearly two-dimensional and of sufficient mass flow necessary for combustion. The 16-inch shock tunnel experiment is a short duration test with test time of the order of milliseconds. The flow through the inlet is in chemical non-equilibrium. Two test entries have been completed and limited experimental results for the inlet region of the combustor-model are available. A number of CFD simulations, with various levels of simplifications such as 2-D simulations, 3-D simulations with and without chemical reactions, simulations with and without turbulent conditions, etc., have been performed. These simulations have helped determine the model inlet flow characteristics and the important factors that affect the combustor inlet flow and the sensitivity of the flow field to these simplifications. In the proposed paper, CFD modeling of the hypersonic inlet, results from the simulations and comparison with available experimental results will be presented.

Venkatapathy, E.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Current Test Capabilities of NASA Langley’s Arc-Heated Scramjet Test Facility

The Arc-Heated Scramjet Test Facility at NASA Langley Research Center has demonstrated itself repeatedly as a key contributor to fundamental hypersonic research and scramjet engine technology development in the Mach 4.7 to 8 range. Since its inception in the 1970’s, the facility has hosted numerous scramjet engine configurations that explored the performance and operability of airframe-integrated hydrogen-fueled scramjet flow path concepts, successfully maturing both analysis tools and design technique and methodology for hypersonic propulsion. Contributions to major programs include extensive tests of the hydrogen-fueled NASP and Hyper-X scramjet engines, and the hydrocarbon-fueled HIFiRE Flight 2 scramjet flow path, in addition to fundamental in-house research. The facility capabilities have expanded to include direct-connect flow path support, gaseous hydrocarbon fuels, dynamic trajectory simulation and extension of flight simulation down to Mach 2.2. The low-Mach upgrades include increased air flow rate and controls capability and two new low-Mach nozzles (Mach 2.2 and 3.5). The facility recently completed verification of the new operational range through successful envelope expansion tests with the Mach 2.2 nozzle. With these new modifications, the operating envelope for the facility is now Mach 2.2 – 8.0(+), with a demonstrated dynamic pressure simulation of 2000 psf at the low end, and margin available for even more. Lastly, a continuous run time of over 5 minutes has been demonstrated, indicating that run time is limited only by test hardware or back-pressure requirements. This paper will provide a detailed description of these previously unreported upgrades and expanded simulation capabilities.

Hypersonic↗
NASA NTRS1972

Fluid flow analysis of a hot-core hypersonic wind-tunnel nozzle concept

A hypersonic-wind-tunnel nozzle concept which incorporates a hot-core flow surrounded by an annular flow of cold air offers a promising technique for maximizing the model size while minimizing the power required to heat the test core. This capability becomes especially important when providing the true-temperature duplication needed for hypersonic propulsion testing. Several two-dimensional wind-tunnel nozzle configurations that are designed according to this concept are analyzed by using recently developed analytical techniques for prediction of the boundary-layer growth and the mixing between the hot and cold coaxial supersonic airflows. The analyses indicate that introduction of the cold annular flow near the throat results in an unacceptable test core for the nozzle size and stagnation conditions considered because of both mixing and condensation effects. Use of a half-nozzle with a ramp on the flat portion does not appear promising because of the thick boundary layer associated with the extra length. However, the analyses indicate that if the cold annular flow is introduced at the exit of a full two-dimensional nozzle, an acceptable test core will be produced. Predictions of the mixing between the hot and cold supersonic streams for this configuration show that mixing effects from the cold flow do not appreciably penetrate into the hot core for the large downstream distances of interest.

Anders, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Survey of supersonic combustion ramjet research at Langley

The Hypersonic Propulsion Branch at NASA Langley Research Center has maintained an active research program in supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) and high speed ramjet propulsion since the 1960s. The focus for this research has centered on propulsion for manned reuseable vehicles with cryogenic hydrogen fuel. This paper presents some highlights of this research. The design philosophy of the Langley fixed-geometry airframe-integrated modular scramjet is discussed. The component development and research programs that have supported the successful demonstration of the engine concept using subscale engine module hardware is reviewed and a brief summary of the engine tests presented. An extensive bibliography of research supported by the Langley program is also included.

Northam, G. B.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Mach 2 combustion characteristics of hydrogen/hydrocarbon fuel mixtures

The combustion of H2/CH4 and H2/C2H4 mixtures containing 10 to 70 vol pct hydrocarbon at combustor inlet Mach number 2 and temperatures 2000 to 4000 R is investigated experimentally, applying direct-connect test hardware and techniques similar to those described by Diskin and Northam (1987) in the facilities of the NASA Langley Hypersonic Propulsion Branch. The experimental setup, procedures, and data-reduction methods are described; and the results are presented in extensive tables and graphs and characterized in detail. Fuel type and mixture are found to have little effect on the wall heating rate measured near the combustor exit, but H2/C2H4 is shown to burn much more efficiently than H2/CH4, with no pilot-off blowout equivalence ratios greater than 0.5. It is suggested that H2/hydrocarbon mixtures are feasible fuels (at least in terms of combustion efficiency) for scramjet SSTO vehicles operating at freestream Mach numbers above 4.

Diskin, Glenn S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Mach 2 combustion characteristics of hydrogen/hydrocarbon fuel mixtures

The combustion of H2/CH4 and H2/C2H4 mixtures containing 10-70 vol pct hydrocarbon at cumbustor inlet Mach number 2 and temperatures 2000-4000 R is investigated experimentally, applying direct-connect test hardware and techniques similar to those described by Diskin and Northam (1987) in the facilities of the NASA Langley Hypersonic Propulsion Branch. The experimental setup, procedures, and data-reduction methods are described; and the results are presented in extensive tables and graphs and characterized in detail. Fuel type and mixture are found to have little effect on the wall heating rate measured near the combustor exit, but H2/C2H4 is shown to burn much more efficiently than H2/CH4, with no pilot-off blowout at equivalence ratios greater than 0.5. It is suggested that H2/hydrocarbon mixtures are feasible fuels (at least in terms of combustion efficiency) for scramjet SSTO vehicles operating at freestream Mach numbers above 4.

Diskin, Glenn S.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A numerical study of mixing enhancement in supersonic reacting flow fields

NASA Langley has intensively investigated the components of ramjet and scramjet systems for endoatmospheric, airbreathing hypersonic propulsion; attention is presently given to the optimization of scramjet combustor fuel-air mixing and reaction characteristics. A supersonic, spatially developing and reacting mixing layer has been found to serve as an excellent physical model for the mixing and reaction process. Attention is presently given to techniques that have been applied to the enhancement of the mixing processes and the overall combustion efficiency of the mixing layer. A fuel injector configuration has been computationally designed which significantly increases mixing and reaction rates.

Drummond, J. Philip↗
NASA NTRS1988

Numerical investigations in three-dimensional internal flows

Renewed interest in simulation of high enthalpy flows was brought about by interest in the design and testing of hypersonic propulsion components. This renewed interest has led to refurbishment of high speed ground based wind tunnel facilities. Simulation of the high enthalpy flows occurring in the NASP propulsion system is of particular interest. Studying the combustor presentes some of the more challenging problems in the ground based simulation of the fluid flow. A difficulty in simulating the required conditions at the entrance to the combustor is related to achieveing a sufficiently high static pressure such that combustion would be possible at a high Mach number. An analysis of the flow within the original nozzle was not performed previously using numerical simulations, although it was operated experimentally. A Navier-Stokes code was chosen in the present study to examine analytically the flow within representative selected nozzles for use in combustion experiments. The numerical simulation of these fluid flows is popular and may be able to shed light on the direction that redesign of the shock tube nozzles should take. The numerical codes were modified to account for the axially symmetric flow field, for the inclusion of equilibrium real gas effects and for ideal gases whose thermodynamic properties are frozen at the stagnation conditions. Numerical simulation of flows within the original and two proposed nozzles, including the energy lost to the relatively cold walls, are investigated.

Rose, William C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

New hypersonic facility capability at NASA Lewis Research Center

Four facility activities are underway at NASA Lewis Research Center to develop new hypersonic propulsion test capability. Two of these efforts consist of upgrades to existing operational facilities. The other two activities will reactivate facilities that have been in a standby condition for over 15 years. These four activities are discussed and the new test facilities NASA Lewis will have in place to support evolving high speed research programs are described.

Haas, Jeffrey E.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Rarefied-continuum gas dynamics transition for SUMS project

This program is to develop an analytic method for reducing SUMS data for the determination of the undisturbed atmosphere conditions ahead of the shuttle along its descending trajectory. It is divided into an internal flow problem, an external flow problem and their matching conditions. Since the existing method of Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) failed completely for the internal flow problem, the emphasis is on the internal flow of a highly non-equilibrium, rarefied air through a short tube of a diameter much less than the gaseous mean free path. A two fluid model analysis of this internal flow problem has been developed and studied with typical results illustrated. A computer program for such an analysis and a technical paper published in Lecture Notes in Physics No. 323 (1989) are included as Appendices 3 and 4. A proposal for in situ determination of the surface accommodation coefficients sigma sub t and sigma e is included in Appendix 5 because of their importance in quantitative data reduction. A two fluid formulation for the external flow problem is included as Appendix 6 and a review article for AIAA on Hypersonic propulsion, much dependent on ambient atmospheric density, is also included as Appendix 7.

Cheng, Sin-I↗
NASA NTRS1989

New hypersonic facility capability at NASA Lewis Research Center

Four facility activities are underway at NASA Lewis Research Center to develop new hypersonic propulsion test capability. Two of these efforts consist of upgrades to existing operational facilities. The other two activities will reactivate facilities that have been in a standby condition for over 15 years. These four activities are discussed and the new test facilities NASA Lewis will have in place to support evolving high speed research programs are described.

Haas, Jeffrey↗
NASA NTRS1989

Wave combustors for trans-atmospheric vehicles

The Wave Combustor is an airbreathing hypersonic propulsion system which utilizes shock and detonation waves to enhance fuel-air mixing and combustion in supersonic flow. In this concept, an oblique shock wave in the combustor can act as a flameholder by increasing the pressure and temperature of the air-fuel mixture and thereby decreasing the ignition delay. If the oblique shock is sufficiently strong, then the combustion front and the shock wave can couple into a detonation wave. In this case, combustion occurs almost instantaneously in a thin zone behind the wave front. The result is a shorter, lighter engine compared to the scramjet. This engine, which is called the Oblique Detonation Wave Engine (ODWE), can then be utilized to provide a smaller, lighter vehicle or to provide a higher payload capability for a given vehicle weight. An analysis of the performance of a conceptual trans-atmospheric vehicle powered by an ODWE is given here.

Menees, Gene P.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Concentration, temperature, and density in a hydrogen-air flame by excimer-induced Raman scattering

Single-pulse, vibrational Raman scattering (VRS) is an attractive laser diagnostic for the study of supersonic hydrogen-air combustion. The VRS technique gives a complete thermodynamic description of the gas mixture at a point in the reacting flow. Single-pulse, vibrational Raman scattering can simultaneously provide independent measurements of density, temperature, and concentration of each major species (H2, H2O, O2 and N2) in a hydrogen/air turbulent combustor. Also the pressure can be calculated using the ideal gas law. However, single-pulse VRS systems in current use for measurement of turbulent combustion have a number of shortcomings when applied to supersonic flows: (1) slow repetition rate (1 to 5 Hz), (2) poor spatial resolution (0.5x0.3x0.3 cu mm), and (3) marginal time resolution. Most of these shortcomings are due to the use of visible wavelength flash-lamp pumped dye lasers. The advent of UV excimer laser allows the possibility of dramatic improvements in the single-pulse, vibrational Raman scattering. The excimer based VRS probe will greatly improve repetition rate (100 to 500 Hz), spatial resolution (0.1x0.1x0.1 cu mm) and time resolution (30ns). These improvements result from the lower divergence of the UV excimer, higher repetition rate, and the increased Raman cross-sections (15 to 20 times higher) at ultra-violet (UV) wavelengths. With this increased capability, single-pulse vibrational Raman scattering promises to be an ideal non-intrusive probe for the study of hypersonic propulsion flows.

Wehrmeyer, Joseph A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

High temperature skin friction measurement

Skin friction measurement in the NASA Langley hypersonic propulsion facility is described. The sensor configuration utilized an existing balance, modified to provide thermal isolation and an increased standoff distance. For test run times of about 20 sec and ambient-air cooling of the test section and balance, the modified balance performed satisfactorily, even when it was subjected to acoustic and structural vibration. The balance is an inertially balanced closed-loop servo system where the current to a moving-coil motor needed to restore or null the output from the position sensor is a measure of the force or skin friction tending to displace the moving element. The accuracy of the sensor is directly affected by the position sensor in the feedback loop, in this case a linear-variable differential transformer which has proven to be influenced by temperature gradients.

Tcheng, Ping↗