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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 127 records · Page 7

Comparison of Analytical and Numerical Performance Predictions for an International Space Station Node 3 Internal Active Thermal Control System Regenerative Heat Exchanger

The complexity of International Space Station (ISS) systems modeling often necessitates the concurrence of various dissimilar, parallel analysis techniques to validate modeling. This was the case with a feasibility and performance study of the ISS Node 3 Regenerative Heat Exchanger (RHX). A thermo-hydraulic network model was created and analyzed in SINDA/FLUINT. A less complex, closed form solution of the systems dynamics was created using an Excel Spreadsheet. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief description of the modeling processes utilized, the results and benefits of each to the ISS Node 3 RHX study.

Wise, Stephen A.↗

Analytical Design and Performance Estimation Methods for Aircraft Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines

The design of an electric motor drivetrain is a complex multiphysics problem. Low fidelity motor drivetrain sizing can be a key tool in the design cycle of an electric motor drivetrain and for system level studies of aircraft configurations. However, low fidelity sizing can lead to misleading results if all the physics involved in a motor design are not properly accounted for. This paper provides details on modeling approaches for initial design and sizing of permanent magnet synchronous electric machines. The goal of this paper is to provide the reader an understanding of the key principles of motor design and some modeling approaches to perform initial sizing of an electric motor and its inverter.

Thomas F. Tallerico↗

Determining GPS average performance metrics

Analytic and semi-analytic methods are used to show that users of the GPS constellation can expect performance variations based on their location. Specifically, performance is shown to be a function of both altitude and latitude. These results stem from the fact that the GPS constellation is itself non-uniform. For example, GPS satellites are over four times as likely to be directly over Tierra del Fuego than over Hawaii or Singapore. Inevitable performance variations due to user location occur for ground, sea, air and space GPS users. These performance variations can be studied in an average relative sense. A semi-analytic tool which symmetrically allocates GPS satellite latitude belt dwell times among longitude points is used to compute average performance metrics. These metrics include average number of GPS vehicles visible, relative average accuracies in the radial, intrack and crosstrack (or radial, north/south, east/west) directions, and relative average PDOP or GDOP. The tool can be quickly changed to incorporate various user antenna obscuration models and various GPS constellation designs. Among other applications, tool results can be used in studies to: predict locations and geometries of best/worst case performance, design GPS constellations, determine optimal user antenna location and understand performance trends among various users.

Moore, G. V.↗

An evaluation of metallized propellants based on vehicle performance

An analytical study was conducted to determine the improvements in vehicle performance possible by burning metals with conventional liquid bipropellants. These metallized propellants theoretically offer higher specific impulse, increased propellant density and improved vehicle performance compared with conventional liquid bipropellants. Metals considered were beryllium, lithium, aluminum and iron. Liquid bipropellants were H2/O2, N2H4/N2O4, RP-1/O2 and H2/F2. A mission with a delta V = 4267.2 m/sec (14,000 ft/sec) and vehicle with propellant volume fixed at 56.63 cu m (2000 cu ft) and dry mass fixed at 2761.6 kg (6000 lb) was used, roughly representing the transfer of a chemically propelled upper-stage vehicle from a low-Earth orbit to a geosynchronous orbit. The results of thermochemical calculations and mission analysis calculations for bipropellants metallized with beryllium, lithium, aluminum and iron are presented. Technology issues pertinent to metallized propellants are discussed.

Zurawski, Robert L.↗

An evaluation of metallized propellants based on vehicle performance

An analytical study was conducted to determine the improvements in vehicle performance possible by burning metals with conventional liquid bipropellants. These metallized propellants theoretically offer higher specific impulse, increased propellant density and improved vehicle performance compared with conventional liquid bipropellants. Metals considered were beryllium, lithium, aluminum and iron. Liquid bipropellants were H2/O2, N2H4/N2O4, RP-1/O2 and H2/F2. A mission with a delta V = 4267.2 m/sec (14,000 ft/sec) and vehicle with propellant volume fixed at 56.63 cu m (2000 cu ft) and dry mass fixed at 2761.6 kg (6000 lb) was used, roughly representing the transfer of a chemically propelled upper-stage vehicle from a low-Earth orbit to a geosynchronous orbit. The results of thermochemical calculations and mission analysis calculations for bipropellants metallized with beryllium, lithium, aluminum and iron are presented. Technology issues pertinent to metallized propellants are discussed.

Zurawski, Robert L.↗

TDRSS performance evaluation for Shuttle services using analytical simulation

A recently developed analytical simulation package makes it possible to obtain an analytical verification of data transmission performance through Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) satellites. The development of this simulation package has required performing an analytical evaluation of several key communication features of the TDRSS services in order to ensure the consistency of TDRSS and Shuttle user spacecraft transponder performance specifications. Analytical models of the Shuttle transponder, TDRS, TDRSS ground terminal, and link dynamics have been developed for the forward and return links. The models used for the signals and the transmission path are discussed, giving attention to the general set-up of the program and the analytical approach used. Some of the results obtained by using the program are also considered.

Lindsey, W. C.↗

TDRSS performance evaluation for TDRSS services using analytical simulation

An analytical simulation package which can predict bit error rate and tracking performance for nonlinear, bandlimited satellite links was developed for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). It is based on analytical simulation, i.e., a combination of simulation techniques and analytical performance evaluation. This allows the use of a more realistic signal format than is possible with a purely analytical approach and maintains the advantage of short computation time on bandlimited, nonlinear channels with a noisy uplink. The link models and the main features of the program are described and an overview of the mathematical approach is given. Sample results of computer runs are provided for current power budgets and system design parameters for both forward and return links.

Braun, W. R.↗

Error detection process - Model, design, and its impact on computer performance

An analytical model is developed for computer error detection processes and applied to estimate their influence on system performance. Faults in the hardware, not in the design, are assumed to be the potential cause of transition to erroneous states during normal operations. The classification properties and associated recovery methods of error detection are discussed. The probability of obtaining an unreliable result is evaluated, along with the resulting computational loss. Error detection during design is considered and a feasible design space is outlined. Extension of the methods to account for the effects of extant multiple faults is indicated.

Shin, K. G.↗

Miniaturized pointing mount performance analysis

Analytical analysis and computer simulation results of the miniaturized pointing mount as an instrument pointing system are presented. Miniaturized mount performance results include inertial pointing, slewing, tracking, and rastering. Typical instrument characteristics are used as well as some parameter variations of instrument and miniaturized pointing mount characteristics.

Howell, G. T., Jr.↗

Analytic Spacecraft Attitude and Rate Estimation Performance During Attitude Sensor Outages

Analytic expressions for spacecraft attitude and rate estimation performance of an attitude estimation filter in terms of sensor specifications are useful tools for spacecraft design. Farrenkopf (1978) famously found analytic expressions for steady-state pre-update and post-update attitude and gyro bias estimate error variances for an attitude estimation filter for a single-axis spacecraft with a Rate Output Gyro (ROG). Markley and Reynolds (2000) extended the analysis for a Rate-Integrating Gyro (RIG) with angle white noise. These expressions allow for the rapid evaluation of system performance during preliminary mission design phases. One contribution of this paper is the analytic calculation of the steady-state pre-update and post-update angular rate estimate uncertainty for both the ROG and RIG cases. The primary contribution of this paper is the extension of the results for both the ROG and the RIG cases to the situation of an attitude sensor outage. This situation arises frequently in practice; for example when a star sensor’s field of view is occluded, when a star sensor’s readings are unreliable during a thruster burn that vibrates the spacecraft, or during star sensor outages due to radiation upsets. Analytic expressions for the attitude estimate uncertainty, gyro bias estimate uncertainty, and angular rate estimate uncertainty are given in terms of the attitude sensor outage interval, the star tracker measurement noise, and gyro noise parameters. Validity of the analytic results is demonstrated via Monte Carlo simulation.

Galante, Joseph M.↗

Analytic Spacecraft Attitude and Rate Estimation Performance During Attitude Sensor Outages

Analytic expressions for spacecraft attitude and rate estimation performance of an attitude estimation filter in terms of sensor specifications are useful tools for spacecraft design. Farrenkopf (1978) famously found analytic expressions for steady-state pre-update and post-update attitude and gyro bias estimate error variances for an attitude estimation filter for a single-axis spacecraft with a Rate Output Gyro (ROG). Markley and Reynolds (2000) extended the analysis for a Rate-Integrating Gyro (RIG) with angle white noise. These expressions allow for the rapid evaluation of system performance during preliminary mission design phases. One contribution of this paper is the analytic calculation of the steady-state pre-update and post-update angular rate estimate uncertainty for both the ROG and RIG cases. The primary contribution of this paper is the extension of the results for both the ROG and the RIG cases to the situation of an attitude sensor outage. This situation arises frequently in practice; for example when a star sensor’s field of view is occluded, when a star sensor’s readings are unreliable during a thruster burn that vibrates the spacecraft, or during star sensor outages due to radiation upsets. Analytic expressions for the attitude estimate uncertainty, gyro bias estimate uncertainty, and angular rate estimate uncertainty are given in terms of the attitude sensor outage interval, the star tracker measurement noise, and gyro noise parameters. Validity of the analytic results is demonstrated via Monte Carlo simulation.

Galante, Joseph M.↗

Analytical study of the performance of a gust alleviation system for a STOL airplane

An analytical study has shown that a gust alleviation system for a STOL airplane in a cruise condition could reduce the root mean square of the normal acceleration of the airplane flying in random turbulence by as much as 50 percent. This alleviation is obtained by driving the flaps in response to normal acceleration and by moving the elevator in proportion to the commanded flap deflection angle and to a pitch-rate signal.

Oehman, W. I.↗

An analytical model for predicting the aerodynamic performance of a turbine cascade with film cooling

Various analytical approaches to predicting the performance of film cooled turbine blades are reviewed. A two-dimensional cascade flow solution is developed for calculating the effects of the coolant injection on the total flow field. This solution is used with an available analytical performance predicting method to provide an improved method. Comparisons are made with experimental data and other analytical results.

Mcfarland, E. R.↗

Helicopter rotor wake geometry and its influence in forward flight. Volume 1: Generalized wake geometry and wake effect on rotor airloads and performance

An analytic investigation to generalize wake geometry of a helicopter rotor in steady level forward flight and to demonstrate the influence of wake deformation in the prediction of rotor airloads and performance is described. Volume 1 presents a first level generalized wake model based on theoretically predicted tip vortex geometries for a selected representative blade design. The tip vortex distortions are generalized in equation form as displacements from the classical undistorted tip vortex geometry in terms of vortex age, blade azimuth, rotor advance ratio, thrust coefficient, and number of blades. These equations were programmed to provide distorted wake coordinates at very low cost for use in rotor airflow and airloads prediction analyses. The sensitivity of predicted rotor airloads, performance, and blade bending moments to the modeling of the tip vortex distortion are demonstrated for low to moderately high advance ratios for a representative rotor and the H-34 rotor. Comparisons with H-34 rotor test data demonstrate the effects of the classical, predicted distorted, and the newly developed generalized wake models on airloads and blade bending moments. Use of distorted wake models results in the occurrence of numerous blade-vortex interactions on the forward and lateral sides of the rotor disk. The significance of these interactions is related to the number and degree of proximity to the blades of the tip vortices. The correlation obtained with the distorted wake models (generalized and predicted) is encouraging.

Egolf, T. A.↗

An Analytical Method of Estimating Turbine Performance

A method is developed by which the performance of a turbine over a range of operating conditions can be analytically estimated from the blade angles and flow areas. In order to use the method, certain coefficients that determine the weight flow and friction losses must be approximated. The method is used to calculate the performance of the single-stage turbine of a commercial aircraft gas-turbine engine and the calculated performance is compared with the performance indicated by experimental data. For the turbine of the typical example, the assumed pressure losses and turning angles give a calculated performance that represents the trends of the experimental performance with reasonable accuracy. The exact agreement between analytical performance and experimental performance is contingent upon the proper selection of the blading-loss parameter. A variation of blading-loss parameter from 0.3 to 0.5 includes most of the experimental data from the turbine investigated.

Kochendorfer, Fred D↗

An analytical method of estimating turbine performance

A method is developed by which the performance of a turbine over a range of operating conditions can be analytically estimated from the blade angles and flow areas. In order to use the method, certain coefficients that determine the weight flow and the friction losses must be approximated. The method is used to calculate the performance of the single-stage turbine of a commercial aircraft gas-turbine engine and the calculated performance is compared with the performance indicated by experimental data. For the turbine of the typical example, the assumed pressure losses and the tuning angles give a calculated performance that represents the trends of the experimental performance with reasonable accuracy. The exact agreement between analytical performance and experimental performance is contingent upon the proper selection of a blading-loss parameter.

Kochendorfer, Fred D↗