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At least 109 records · Page 6

Some Design Considerations for Two-Dimensional, Mixed-Compression Inlets for Mach 2.5 to 3.5.

A computational design study was performed to explore design factors for two-dimensional, mixed-compression inlets designed for cruise conditions at Mach 2.5, 2.75, 3.0, 3.25, and 3.5 and their influence on the aerodynamic performance of the inlets. The design factors included the split of external and internal compression, capture aspect ratio, throat section and subsonic diffuser geometry, and location and rates of porous bleed regions. The performance of the inlet was measured by the total pressure recovery, cowl wave drag, bleed flow rates, and total pressure distortion at the engine face. The results provide useful information for the design of inlets for future supersonic aircraft.

Supersonic Inlet↗

A computational method for subsonic compressible flow in diffusers

Integral methods are used to model subsonic flow in planar diffusers operating with or without stall. Turbulent boundary layers are computed with a lag-entrainment method employing new correlations for shape factor and skin friction, which are based on a Coles-Van Driest velocity profile. The inviscid flow is modeled as one dimensional and is easily coupled with the boundary layer method to yield equations that can be solved by integrating in the downstream direction. Analysis of the equations describing flow in a diffuser shows that the boundary layer separation singularity may not be eliminated by viscous-inviscid interaction; a modified interaction scheme is used to guarantee a non-singular equation set. The nature of this singularity offers an explanation for the apparent universality of asymmetric stall in planar diffusers. Results for several flows demonstrate the accuracy and range of applicability of the method.

Childs, R. E.↗

Methodology for the Design of Streamline-Traced External-Compression Supersonic Inlets

A design methodology based on streamline-tracing is discussed for the design of external-compression, supersonic inlets for flight below Mach 2.0. The methodology establishes a supersonic compression surface and capture cross-section by tracing streamlines through an axisymmetric Busemann flowfield. The compression system of shock and Mach waves is altered through modifications to the leading edge and shoulder of the compression surface. An external terminal shock is established to create subsonic flow which is diffused in the subsonic diffuser. The design methodology was implemented into the SUPIN inlet design tool. SUPIN uses specified design factors to design the inlets and computes the inlet performance, which includes the flow rates, total pressure recovery, and wave drag. A design study was conducted using SUPIN and the Wind-US computational fluid dynamics code to design and analyze the properties of two streamline-traced, external-compression (STEX) supersonic inlets for Mach 1.6 freestream conditions. The STEX inlets were compared to axisymmetric pitot, two-dimensional, and axisymmetric spike inlets. The STEX inlets had slightly lower total pressure recovery and higher levels of total pressure distortion than the axisymmetric spike inlet. The cowl wave drag coefficients of the STEX inlets were 20% of those for the axisymmetric spike inlet. The STEX inlets had external sound pressures that were 37% of those of the axisymmetric spike inlet, which may result in lower adverse sonic boom characteristics. The flexibility of the shape of the capture cross-section may result in benefits for the integration of STEX inlets with aircraft.

Metholdology↗

Inlet free-stream turbulence effects on diffuser performance

The performance of a subsonic two dimensional diffuser was experimentally evaluated as a function of inlet free-stream turbulence parameters. Anisotropic inlet free-stream turbulence with the eddy axis perpendicular to the flow and parallel to the diverging walls of the diffuser appears to be more effective at transmitting energy to the diverging walls of the diffuser, thereby improving diffuser performance, as compared to isotropic turbulence or anisotropic turbulence with the eddy axis perpendicular to the diverging walls of the diffuser. The pressure recovery of the diffuser was found to be strongly dependent upon the inlet free-stream total turbulence intensity, was independent of eddy size for large eddy dimensions, and was dependent upon eddy size for small eddy dimensions. The improvement in the diffuser's static pressure recovery coefficient at a total included divergence angle of 20 deg, compared to the low inlet turbulence case, was found to be as much as 21 times larger than the pressure loss across the turbulence generators.

Hoffman, J. A.↗

An analytical study of the comparative performance of six air-induction systems for turbojet-powered airplanes designed to operate at Mach numbers up to 2.0

A study is presented of inlet designs and aerodynamic characteristics of air-induction systems intended for operation with a turbojet engine operating with a constant-volume air-flow process. Two-dimensional inlet designs similar to those discussed in NACA RM A52C14, plus a fixed-geometry inlet with a convergent-divergent diffuser, and an additional variable-geometry inlet are considered for Mach numbers from 0.85 to 2.0 from sea level to the stratosphere. For best performance throughout this range of Mach numbers and altitudes, it was shown that the geometry of the inlet must be such as to insure a high pressure recovery, as well as to provide for a variable entrance area. The inlets are compared on the basis of a drag evaluation neglecting viscosity.

DIFFUSERS, SUBSONIC↗

Laser Raman diagnostics in subsonic and supersonic turbulent jet diffusion flames

Ultraviolet (UV) spontaneous vibrational Raman scattering combined with laser-induced predissociative fluorescence (LIPF) is developed for temperature and multi-species concentration measurements. Simultaneous measurements of temperature, major species (H2, O2, N2, H2O), and minor species (OH) concentrations are made with a 'single' narrow band KrF excimer laser in subsonic and supersonic lifted turbulent hydrogen-air diffusion flames. The UV Raman system is calibrated with a flat-flame diffusion burner operated at several known equivalence ratios from fuel-lean to fuel-rich. Temperature measurements made by the ratio of Stokes/anti-Stokes signal and by the ideal gas law are compared. The single shot measurement precision for concentration and temperature measurement is 5 to 10 pct. Calibration constants and bandwidth factors are determined from the flat burner measurements and used in a data reduction program to arrive at temperature and species concentration measurements. These simultaneous measurements of temperature and multi-species concentrations allow a better understanding of the complex turbulence-chemistry interactions and provide information for the input and validation of CFD models.

Cheng, T. S.↗

An experimental investigation of the flow in a diffusing S-duct

Compressible, subsonic flow through a diffusing S-duct has been experimentally investigated. Benchmark aerodynamic data are presented for flow through a representative S-duct configuration. The collected data would be beneficial to aircraft inlet designers and is suitable for the validation of computational codes. Measurements of the 3D velocity field and total and static pressures were obtained at five cross-sectional planes. Surface static pressures and flow visualization also helped to reveal flowfield characteristics. All reported tests were conducted with an inlet centerline Mach number of 0.6 and a Reynolds number, based on the inlet centerline velocity and duct inlet diameter, of 2.6 x 10 exp 6. The results show that a large region of streamwise flow separation occurred within the duct. Transverse velocity components indicate that the duct curvature induces strong pressure driven secondary flows, which evolve into a large pair of counter-rotating vortices. These vortices convect the low momentum fluid of the boundary layer toward the center of the duct, degrading both the uniformity and magnitude of the total pressure profile.

Wellborn, S. R.↗

An experimental investigation of the flow in a diffusing S-duct

Compressible, subsonic flow through a diffusing S-duct has been experimentally investigated. Benchmark aerodynamic data are presented for flow through a representative S-duct configuration. The collected data would be beneficial to aircraft inlet designers and is suitable for the validation of computational codes. Measurements of the 3D velocity field and total and static pressures were obtained at five cross-sectional planes. Surface static pressures and flow visualization also helped to reveal flow field characteristics. All reported tests were conducted with an inlet centerline Mach number of 0.6 and a Reynolds number, based on the inlet centerline velocity and duct inlet diameter, of 2.6 x 10(exp 6). The results show that a larger region of streamwise flow separation occurred within the duct. Details about the separated flow region, including mechanisms which drive this complicated flow phenomenon, are discussed. Transverse velocity components indicate that the duct curvature induces strong pressure driven secondary flows, which evolve into a large pair of counter-rotating vortices. These vortices convect the low momentum fluid of the boundary layer towards the center of the duct, degrading both the uniformity and magnitude of the total pressure profile.

Wellborn, Steven R.↗

Numerical calculation of subsonic jets in crossflow with reduced numerical diffusion

A series of calculations are reported for two, subsonic jet in crossflow geometries. The parametric variation examined are the lateral spacing of a row of jets. The first series of calculations corresponds to a widely space jet geometry, S/D = 4, and the second series corresponds to closely spaced jets, S/D = 2. The calculations are done with alternate differencing schemes to illustrate the impact of numerical diffusion. The calculated jet trajectories agreed well with experimental data in the widely spaced jet geometry, but not in the closely spaced geometry.

Claus, R. W.↗

Numerical calculation of subsonic jets in crossflow with reduced numerical diffusion

A series of calculations are reported for two, subsonic jet in crossflow geometries. The parametric variation examined are the lateral spacing of a row of jets. The first series of calculations corresponds to a widely space jet geometry, S/D = 4, and the second series corresponds to closely spaced jets, S/D = 2. The calculations are done with alternate differencing schemes to illustrate the impact of numerical diffusion. The calculated jet trajectories agreed well with experimental data in the widely spaced jet geometry, but not in the closely spaced geometry.

Claus, R. W.↗

Implementation/validation of a low Reynolds number two-equation turbulence model in the Proteus Navier-Stokes code: Two-dimensional/axisymmetric

The implementation and validation of the Chien low Reynolds number k-epsilon turbulence model in the two dimensional axisymmetric version Proteus, a compressible Navier-Stokes computer code, are presented. The set of k-epsilon equations are solved by marching in time using a coupled alternating direction implicit (ADI) solution procedure with generalized first or second order time differencing. To validate Proteus and the k-epsilon turbulence model, laminar and turbulent computations were done for several benchmark test cases: incompressible fully developed 2-D channel flow; fully developed axisymmetric pipe flow; boundary layer flow over a flat plate; and turbulent Sajben subsonic transonic diffuser flows. Proteus results from these test cases showed good agreement with analytical results and experimental data. Detailed comparisons of both mean flow and turbulent quantities showed that the Chien k-epsilon turbulence model given good results over a wider range of turbulent flow than the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model in the Proteus code with no significant CPU time penalty for more complicated flow cases.

Bui, Trong T.↗

Exploratory investigation of the use of area suction to eliminate air-flow separation in diffusers having large expansion angles

Tests were made at a mean inlet Mach number of 0.2 with area suction applied to conical diffusers with expansion angles of 30 degrees and 50 degrees and exit to inlet area ratios of 2. Air-flow separation was eliminated with suction mass flows of 3 and 4 percent of the inlet mass flows for the 30 degrees and 50 degrees diffusers, respectively.

DIFFUSERS, SUBSONIC↗

Altitude Investigation of Several Afterburner Configurations for the J40-WE-8 Turbojet Engine

An investigation was conducted in the Lewis altitude wind tunnel to evaluate the performance and operational characteristics of the J40-WE-8 afterburner. A brief program of minor modifications to the flame holder, diffuser, and fuel system was undertaken to improve at a burner-inlet pressure level of 620 pounds per square foot. At this pressure level, modifications to the fuel system resulted in an increase in maximum net thrust from 1500 to 1600 pounds and a reduction in specific fuel consumption in the stoichiometric region from 3.70 to 3.15 pounds of fuel per hour per pound of net thrust. However, these fuel system modifications also resulted in buzzing combustion under certain operation conditions.

COMBUSTION - EFFECT OF ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS↗

Force and Pressure Recovery Characteristics at Supersonic Speeds of a Conical Spike Inlet with a Bypass Discharging from the Top or Bottom of the Diffuser in an Axial Direction

Force and pressure-recovery characteristics of a nacelle-type conical-spike inlet with a fixed-area bypass located in the top or bottom of the diffuser are presented for flight Mach numbers of 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0 for angles of attack from 0 degrees to 9 degrees. Top or bottom location of the bypass did not have significant effects on diffuser pressure-recovery, bypass mass-flow ratio, or drag coefficient over the range of angles of attack, flight Mach numbers, and stable engine mass-flow ratios investigated. A larger stable subcritical operating range was obtained with the bypass on the bottom at angles of attack from 3 degrees to 9 degrees at a flight Mach number of 2.0. At a flight Mach number of 2.0, the discharge of 14 percent of the critical mass flow of the inlet by means of a bypass increased the drag only one-fifth of the additive drag that would result for equivalent spillage behind an inlet normal shock without significant reductions in diffuser pressure recovery.

DIFFUSERS, SUBSONIC↗

Force and pressure-recovery characteristics at supersonic speeds of a conical nose inlet with bypasses discharging outward from the body axis

Aerodynamic and performance characteristics of a conical spike nacelle-type inlet with two bypasses are presented at Mach numbers of 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0 for angles of attach up to 90 degrees. The bypasses were located 6 inlet diameters downstream of the inlet and were designed to discharge the bypass mass flow outward from the body axis. The inlet was designed to attain a mass-flow ratio of unity at a Mach number of 2.0. It is shown that discharging the bypass mass flow outward from the body nearly doubles the critical drag of a similar configuration but with bypass discharge in an axial direction. As a result of this greater drag, the net force on the model in the flight direction is reduced when comparison is made with the axial discharge case. The lift and pitching-moment coefficients are slightly higher than those for a configuration without bypasses. Approximately 25 % of the maximum inlet mass flow was discharged through the bypasses, and the pressure-recovery and mass-flow characteristics were in qualitative and quantitative agreement with the results of an investigation of a similar configuration with axial discharge.

DIFFUSERS, SUBSONIC↗

Effect of Diffuser Design, Diffuser-exit Velocity Profile and Fuel Distribution on Altitude Performance of Several Afterburner Configurations

An investigation was conducted in the NACA Lewis altitude wind tunnel to improve the altitude performance and operational characteristics of an afterburner primarily by modifying the diffuser-exit velocity profile by changes in diffuser design and by changing the fuel distribution and the flame holder. Twenty configurations, consisting of combinations of six diffuser geometries, six flame-holder types, and twelve fuel systems, were investigated. Data were obtained over a range of afterburner fuel-air ratios at diffuser-inlet total pressures from 2750 to 620 pounds per square foot. Changes in fuel distribution affected the fuel-air ratio at which peak combustion efficiency occurred as well as the efficiency level. Screeching combustion, which was most prevalent at low altitudes and medium-to-high fuel-air ratios, imposed a restriction on the operable range of a number of configurations.

Diffusers, Subsonic↗