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At least 109 records · Page 6

Superfluid-supercritical helium tradeoff analysis for the Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF)

A comparative study is made of three methods for obtaining the required cooling of the SIRTF. The first is a supercritical helium system in which the 2 K temperatures are obtained by a Joule-Thomson expander; the second is a superfluid (He II) helium system; and the third is a hybrid system in which supercritical helium provides the major cooling and small He II reservoirs supply specific detector cooling. The superfluid helium system is found to offer superior performance; it would be the system to use if funding were available. The comparative study gives equal weight to performance, operations, and cost. From this point of view, the hybrid system is selected as the best compromise to obtain an operational SIRTF.

Gier, H. L.↗

Investigation to optimize the passive shock wave-boundary layer control for supercritical airfoil drag reduction

The optimization of passive shock wave/boundary layer control for supercritical airfoil drag reduction was investigated in a 3 in. x 15.4 in. Transonic Blowdown Wind Tunnel. A 14% thick supercritical airfoil was tested with 0%, 1.42% and 2.8% porosities at Mach numbers of .70 to .83. The 1.42% case incorporated a linear increase in porosity with the flow direction while the 2.8% case was uniform porosity. The static pressure distributions over the airfoil, the wake impact pressure data for determining the profile drag, and the Schlieren photographs for porous surface airfoils are presented and compared with the results for solid-surface airfoils. While the results show that linear 1.42% porosity actually led to a slight increase in drag it was found that the uniform 2.8% porosity can lead to a drag reduction of 46% at M = .81.

Nagamatsu, H. T.↗

Improved design of subcritical and supercritical cascades using complex characteristics and boundary-layer correction

The method of complex characteristics and hodograph transformation for the design of shockless airfoils was extended to design supercritical cascades with high solidities and large inlet angles. This capability was achieved by introducing a conformal mapping of the hodograph domain onto an ellipse and expanding the solution in terms of Tchebycheff polynomials. A computer code was developed based on this idea. A number of airfoils designed with the code are presented. Various supercritical and subcritical compressor, turbine and propeller sections are shown. The lag-entrainment method for the calculation of a turbulent boundary layer was incorporated to the inviscid design code. The results of this calculation are shown for the airfoils described. The elliptic conformal transformation developed to map the hodograph domain onto an ellipse can be used to generate a conformal grid in the physical domain of a cascade of airfoils with open trailing edges with a single transformation. A grid generated with this transformation is shown for the Korn airfoil. Previously announced in STAR as N83-24474

Sanz, J. M.↗

Supercritical waste oxidation of aqueous wastes

For aqueous wastes containing 1 to 20 wt% organics, supercritical water oxidation is less costly than controlled incineration or activated carbon treatment and far more efficient than wet oxidation. Above the critical temperature (374 C) and pressure (218 atm) of water, organic materials and gases are completely miscible with water. In supercritical water oxidation, organics, air and water are brought together in a mixture at 250 atm and temperatures above 400 C. Organic oxidation is initiated spontaneously at these conditions. The heat of combustion is released within the fluid and results in a rise in temperature 600 to 650 C. Under these conditions, organics are destroyed rapidly with efficiencies in excess of 99.999%. Heteroatoms are oxidized to acids, which can be precipitated out as salts by adding a base to the feed. Examples are given for process configurations to treat aqueous wastes with 10 and 2 wt% organics.

Modell, M.↗

Installation effects of long-duct pylon-mounted nacelles on a twin-jet transport model with swept supercritical wing

The installation interference effects of an underwing-mounted, long duct, turbofan nacelle were evaluated in the Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel with two different pylon shapes installed on a twin engine transport model having a supercritical wing swept 30 deg. Wing, pylon, and nacelle pressures and overall model force data were obtained at Mach numbers from 0.70 to 0.83 and nominal angles of attack from -2 deg to 4 deg at an average unit Reynolds number of 11.9 x 1,000,000 per meter. The results show that adding the long duct nacelles to the supercritical wing, in the near sonic flow field, changed the magnitude and direction of flow velocities over the entire span, significantly reduced cruise lift, and caused large interference drag on the nacelle afterbody.

Lee, E. E., Jr.↗

Modeling of dense sprays from LOX/H2 coaxial injectors under supercritical conditions

Assumptions commonly employed in the analytical description of a thin spray become unacceptable as the droplet density and droplet volume displacement become large. Changes in the semiempirical models describing drop-drop or drop-gas interactions as well as in the basic modeling approach itself may be necessary. A number of efforts undertaken to improve such models of the atomization-evaporation process to render them applicable in the dense-spray, supercritical regime are described. The improvements include those for variable drop density, supercritical properties, stripping evaporation and drop reincorporation into the liquid stream. The models are developed for use with the ARICC three-phase finite difference combustion code. Selected results from a sample calculation are presented, demonstrating the enhanced realism achievable with the upgraded models.

Liang, P. Y.↗

Implementing supercritical water oxidation technology in a lunar base environmental control/life support system

A supercritical water oxidation system (SCWOS) offers several advantages for a lunar base environmental control/life support system (ECLSS) compared to an ECLSS based on Space Station technology. In supercritically heated water (630 K, 250 atm) organic materials mix freely with oxygen and undergo complete combustion. Inorganic salts lose solubility and precipitate out. Implementation of SCWOS can make an ECLSS more efficient and reliable by elimination of several subsystems and by reduction in potential losses of life support consumables. More complete closure of the total system reduces resupply requirements from the earth, a crucial cost item in maintaining a lunar base.

Meyer Sedej, M.↗

Static aeroelastic effects on the flutter of a supercritical wing

It is well known that wings with supercritical airfoils generally have lower transonic flutter speeds than similar wings with conventional airfoils and that small increases in angle of attack from zero and the accompanying static aeroelastic deformations have further detrimental effects on transonic flutter. The results of an effort to calculate the effects of angle of attack and the associated aeroelastic deformation on the flutter of a highly swept supercritical wing (TF 8A) by use of the modified strip analysis employed in previous studies of this wing are presented. The spanwise distributions of steady-state section lift-curve slope and aerodynamic center required as input for these calculations were obtained from static aeroelastic calculations for the wing by use of the FL022 transonic code and an assumed dynamic pressure as that used to calculate the statically deformed shape and loading about which the flutter oscillation occurs. The results show that the unconventional backward turn of the transonic dip in the experimental flutter boundary for angles of attack greater than zero is caused by variations in mass ratio and not by static aeroelastic deformation, although inclusion of the latter appears to be required for quantitative accuracy in the calculations.

Yates, E. Carson, Jr.↗

Supercritical water oxidation - Concept analysis for evolutionary Space Station application

The ability of a supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) concept to reduce the number of processes needed in an evolutionary Space Station design's Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), while reducing resupply requirements and enhancing the integration of separate ECLSS functions into a single Supercritical Water Oxidation process, is evaluated. While not feasible for an initial operational capability Space Station, the SCWO's application to the evolutionary Space Station configuration would aid the integration of eight ECLSS functions into a single one, thereby significantly reducing program costs.

Hall, John B., Jr.↗

The NASA Langley Laminar-Flow-Control (LFC) experiment on a swept, supercritical airfoil: Design overview

A large-chord, swept, supercritical, laminar-flow-control (LFC) airfoil was designed and constructed and is currently undergoing tests in the Langley 8 ft Transonic Pressure Tunnel. The experiment was directed toward evaluating the compatibility of LFC and supercritical airfoils, validating prediction techniques, and generating a data base for future transport airfoil design as part of NASA's ongoing research program to significantly reduce drag and increase aircraft efficiency. Unique features of the airfoil included a high design Mach number with shock free flow and boundary layer control by suction. Special requirements for the experiment included modifications to the wind tunnel to achieve the necessary flow quality and contouring of the test section walls to simulate free air flow about a swept model at transonic speeds. Design of the airfoil with a slotted suction surface, the suction system, and modifications to the tunnel to meet test requirements are discussed.

Harris, Charles D.↗

Unsteady pressure and structural response measurements of an elastic supercritical wing

Results are presented which define unsteady flow conditions associated with high dynamic response experienced on a high aspect ratio elastic supercritical wing at transonic test conditions while being tested in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. The supercritical wing, designed for a cruise Mach number of 0.80, experienced the high dynamic response in the Mach number range from 0.90 to 0.94 with the maximum response occurring at a Mach number of approximately 0.92. At the maximum wing response condition the forcing function appears to be the oscillatory chordwise movement of strong shocks located on both the wing upper and lower surfaces in conjunction with the flow separating and reattaching in the trailing edge region.

Eckstrom, Clinton V.↗

Unsteady pressure and structural response measurements on an elastic supercritical wing

Results are presented which define unsteady flow conditions associated with high dynamic response experienced on a high aspect ratio elastic supercritical wing at transonic test conditions while being tested in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. The supercritical wing, designed for a cruise Mach number of 0.80, experienced the high dynamic response in the Mach number range from 0.90 to 0.94 with the maximum response occurring at a Mach number of approximately 0.92. At the maximum wing response condition the forcing function appears to be the oscillatory chordwise movement of strong shocks located on both the wing upper and lower surfaces in conjuction with the flow separating and reattaching in the trailing edge region.

Eckstrom, Clinton V.↗

Unsteady pressure measurements on a supercritical airfoil at high Reynolds numbers

Steady and unsteady pressures were measured on a 14 percent supercritical airfoil at transonic Mach numbers at Reynolds numbers from 6,000,000 to 35,000,000. Instrumentation techniques were developed to measure unsteady pressures in a cryogenic tunnel at flight Reynolds numbers. Experimental steady data, corrected for wall effects show very good agreement with calculations from a full potential code with an interacted boundary layer. The steady and unsteady pressures both show a shock position that is dependent on Reynolds number. For a supercritical pressure distribution at a chord Reynolds number of 35,000,000 laminar flow was observed between the leading edge and the shock wave at 45 percent chord.

Hess, R. W.↗

Evaluation of supercritical cryogen storage and transfer systems for future NASA missions

Conceptual designs of Space Transportation Vehicles (STV), and their orbital servicing facilities, that utilize supercritical, single phase, cryogenic propellants were established and compared with conventional subcritical, two phase, STV concepts. The analytical study was motivated by the desire to avoid fluid management problems associated with the storage, acquisition and transfer of subcritical liquid oxygen and hydrogen propellants in the low gravity environment of space. Although feasible, the supercritical concepts suffer from STV weight penalties and propellant resupply system power requirements which make the concepts impractical.

Arif, Hugh↗

NASA supercritical airfoils: A matrix of family-related airfoils

The NASA supercritical airfoil development program is summarized in a chronological fashion. Some of the airfoil design guidelines are discussed, and coordinates of a matrix of family related supercritical airfoils ranging from thicknesses of 2 to 18 percent and over a design lift coefficient range from 0 to 1.0 are presented.

Harris, Charles D.↗

Studies on the use of supercritical ammonia for ceramic nitride synthesis and fabrication

The extractability of ammonia halides (including ammonium thiocyanate) formed as byproducts from the synthesis of Si(NH)2 via ammonolysis of the corresponding silicon tetrahalides using supercritical NH3 as the extraction medium was investigated. It was found that the NH4SCN byproduct of ammonolysis of Si(SCN)4 can be almost completely extracted from the insoluble Si(NH)2 forming a promising system for the synthesis of pure Si(NH)2, one of the best precursors for Si3N4. In addition it was found that Si3N4, AlN, BN, and Si(NH)2 are insoluble in SC ammonia. Also discussed are design considerations for a supercritical ammonia extraction unit.

Cornell, Linda↗

Evaluation of supercritical cryogen storage and transfer systems for future NASA missions

Conceptual designs of Space Transportation Vehicles (STV), and their orbital servicing facilities, that utilize supercritical, single phase, cryogenic propellant were established and compared with conventional subcritical, two phases, STV concepts. The analytical study was motivated by the desire to avoid fluid management problems associated with the storage, acquisition and transfer of subcritical liquid oxygen and hydrogen propellants in the low gravity environment of space. Although feasible, the supercritical concepts suffer from STV weight penalties and propellant resupply system power requirements which make the concepts impractical.

Arif, Hugh↗

Re-forming supercritical quasi-parallel shocks. I - One- and two-dimensional simulations

The process of reforming supercritical quasi-parallel shocks is investigated using one-dimensional and two-dimensional hybrid (particle ion, massless fluid electron) simulations both of shocks and of simpler two-stream interactions. It is found that the supercritical quasi-parallel shock is not steady. Instread of a well-defined shock ramp between upstream and downstream states that remains at a fixed position in the flow, the ramp periodically steepens, broadens, and then reforms upstream of its former position. It is concluded that the wave generation process is localized at the shock ramp and that the reformation process proceeds in the absence of upstream perturbations intersecting the shock.

Thomas, V. A.↗