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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

Performance and stability analysis of a photovoltaic power system

The performance and stability characteristics of a 10 kVA photovoltaic power system are studied using linear Bode analysis and a nonlinear analog simulation. Power conversion efficiencies, system stability, and system transient performance results are given for system operation at various levels of solar insolation. Additionally, system operation and the modeling of system components for the purpose of computer simulation are described.

Merrill, W. C.↗

Generalized computer-aided discrete time domain modeling and analysis of dc-dc converters

A generalized discrete time domain modeling and analysis technique is presented for all types of switching regulators using any type of duty-cycle controller, and operating in both continuous and discontinuous inductor current. State space techniques are employed to derive an equivalent nonlinear discrete time model that describes the converter exactly. The system is linearized about its equilibrium state to obtain a linear discrete time model for small signal performance evaluations, such as stability, audiosusceptibility and transient response. The analysis makes extensive use of the digital computer as an analytical tool. It is universal, exact and easy to use.

Lee, F. C.↗

High-power converters for space applications

Phase 1 was a concept definition effort to extend space-type dc/dc converter technology to the megawatt level with a weight of less than 0.1 kg/kW (220 lb./MW). Two system designs were evaluated in Phase 1. Each design operates from a 5 kV stacked fuel cell source and provides a voltage step-up to 100 kV at 10 A for charging capacitors (100 pps at a duty cycle of 17 min on, 17 min off). Both designs use an MCT-based, full-bridge inverter, gaseous hydrogen cooling, and crowbar fault protection. The GE-CRD system uses an advanced high-voltage transformer/rectifier filter is series with a resonant tank circuit, driven by an inverter operating at 20 to 50 kHz. Output voltage is controlled through frequency and phase shift control. Fast transient response and stability is ensured via optimal control. Super-resonant operation employing MCTs provides the advantages of lossless snubbing, no turn-on switching loss, use of medium-speed diodes, and intrinsic current limiting under load-fault conditions. Estimated weight of the GE-CRD system is 88 kg (1.5 cu ft.). Efficiency of 94.4 percent and total system loss is 55.711 kW operating at 1 MW load power. The Maxwell system is based on a resonance transformer approach using a cascade of five LC resonant sections at 100 kHz. The 5 kV bus is converted to a square wave, stepped-up to a 100 kV sine wave by the LC sections, rectified, and filtered. Output voltage is controlled with a special series regulator circuit. Estimated weight of the Maxwell system is 83.8 kg (4.0 cu ft.). Efficiency is 87.2 percent and total system loss is 146.411 kW operating at 1 MW load power.

Park, J. N.↗

Adaptive attitude control and momentum management for large-angle spacecraft maneuvers

The fully coupled equations of motion are systematically linearized around an equilibrium point of a gravity gradient stabilized spacecraft, controlled by momentum exchange devices. These equations are then used for attitude control system design of an early Space Station Freedom flight configuration, demonstrating the errors caused by the improper approximation of the spacecraft dynamics. A full state feedback controller, incorporating gain-scheduled adaptation of the attitude gains, is developed for use during spacecraft on-orbit assembly or operations characterized by significant mass properties variations. The feasibility of the gain adaptation is demonstrated via a Space Station Freedom assembly sequence case study. The attitude controller stability robustness and transient performance during gain adaptation appear satisfactory.

Parlos, Alexander G.↗

Optical Modeling Activities for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): Overview and Introduction of Matlab Based Toolkits used to Interface with Optical Design Software - 4

This is part four of a series on the ongoing optical modeling activities for James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The first two discussed modeling JWST on-orbit performance using wavefront sensitivities to predict line of sight motion induced blur, and stability during thermal transients. The third investigates the aberrations resulting from alignment and figure compensation of the controllable degrees of freedom (primary and secondary mirrors), which may be encountered during ground alignment and on-orbit commissioning of the observatory. The work here introduces some of the math software tools used to perform the work of the previous three papers of this series. NASA has recently approved these in-house tools for public release as open source, so this presentation also serves as a quick tutorial on their use. The tools are collections of functions written in Matlab, which interface with optical design software (CodeV, OSLO, and Zemax) using either COM or DDE communication protocol. The functions are discussed, and examples are given.

Howard, Joseph↗

Optical Modeling Activities for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): Wavefront Aberrations due to Alignment and Figure Compensation - 3

This is part three of a series describing the ongoing optical modeling activities for James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The first two discussed modeling JWST on-orbit performance using wavefront sensitivities to predict line of sight motion induced blur, and stability during thermal transients. The work here investigates the aberrations resulting from alignment and figure compensation of the controllable degrees of freedom (primary and secondary mirrors), which may be encountered during ground alignment and on-orbit commissioning of the observatory. The optical design of the telescope is a three-mirror anastigmat, with an active fold mirror at the exit pupil for fine guiding. The primary mirror is over 6.5 meters in diameter, and is composed of 18 hexagonal segments that can individually positioned on hexapods, as well as compensated for radius of curvature. This effectively gives both alignment and figure control of the primary mirror. The secondary mirror can be moved in rigid body only, giving alignment control of the telescope. The tertiary mirror is fixed, however, as well as the location of the science instrumentation. Simulations are performed of various combinations of active alignment corrections of component figure errors, and of primary mirror figure corrections of alignment errors. Single field point and moderate field knowledge is assumed in the corrections. Aberrations over the field are reported for the varying cases, and examples presented.

Howard, Joseph↗

Optical Modeling Activities for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): V. Operational Alignment Updates

This paper is part five of a series on the ongoing optical modeling activities for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The first two papers discussed modeling JWST on-orbit performance using wavefront sensitivities to predict line of sight motion induced blur, and stability during thermal transients. The third paper investigates the aberrations resulting from alignment and figure compensation of the controllable degrees of freedom (primary and secondary mirrors), which may be encountered during ground alignment and on-orbit commissioning of the observatory, and the fourth introduced the software toolkits used to perform much of the optical analysis for JWST. The work here models observatory operations by simulating line-of-sight image motion and alignment drifts over a two-week period. Alignment updates are then simulated using wavefront sensing and control processes to calculate and perform the corrections. A single model environment in Matlab is used for evaluating the predicted performance of the observatory during these operations.

Howard, Joseph M.↗

Dynamic data acquisition, reduction, and analysis for the identification of high-speed compressor component post-stability characteristics

A compressor test was conducted in which transient data were obtained for the purpose of identifying the high-speed post-stability characteristics. The transient, surge-cycle nature of high-speed post-stability operation precludes the possibility of obtaining the characteristics in a steady-state manner, as is possible during low-speed poststability operation, which is characterized by quasi-steady rotating-stall behavior. Specialized compressor instrumentation was developed and was used to obtain the necessary surge-cycle performance data, which were then digitized, filtered, and analyzed. The high-speed post-stability characteristics were obtained through the use of a maximum likelihood-parameter estimation technique. The estimated characteristics were found to be insensitive to the presence of measurement noise and unmodelled system dynamics, but the compressor time-response constants, which were also estimated, were more sensitive to these same disturbances.

Dvorak, S. D.↗

Design and application of squeeze film dampers for turbomachinery stabilization

The steady-state transient response of the squeeze film damper bearing was investigated. Both the steady-state and transient equations for the hydrodynamic bearing forces are derived; the steady-state equations were used to determine the damper equivalent stiffness and damping coefficients. These coefficients are used to find the damper configuration which will provide the optimum support characteristics based on a stability analysis of the rotor-bearing system. The effects of end seals and cavitated fluid film are included. The transient analysis of rotor-bearing systems was conducted by coupling the damping and rotor equations and integrating forward in time. The effects of unbalance, cavitation, and retainer springs are included. Methods of determining the stability of a rotor-bearing system under the influence of aerodynamic forces and internal shaft friction are discussed.

Gunter, E. J.↗

Stability evaluation of a rocket engine for gaseous oxygen difluoride (OF2) and gaseous diborane (B2H6) propellants

Results of an experimental evaluation of the dynamic stability of a candidate combustor for the space storable propellants gaseous OF2/B2H6 show that the combustor is unstable without supplementary damping. A computer analysis indicated that the uninhibited engine could be unstable. The experiments, conducted with O2/C2H4 substitute propellants and with 70-30 FLOX/B2H6 (OF2 simulated with FLOX), show that the uninhibited combustor has a low stability margin to starting transient perturbations, but that is relatively insensitive to bomb disturbances. Damping cavities are shown to provide stability.

Clayton, R. M.↗

A Flexible Multibody Approach to Space Launch System Liftoff Pad Separation with Umbilical Disconnect

A flexible multibody dynamic framework is applied to the Space Launch System (SLS) liftoff Coupled Loads Analysis (CLA), enabling computational efficiencies and systematic inclusion of components and various nonlinearities. The objective of this work is to simulate the SLS liftoff transient pad separation event inclusive of umbilical disconnects. The vehicle stacking preloads and cryogenically induced preloads, due to the fueling of the Core Stage (CS), are integrated via specialized deformed coupling procedure to ensure full capture of the liftoff transient event. The Vehicle Stabilizer System (VSS) hydraulic struts are nonlinear and provide amplitude dependent damping, significantly contributing to the liftoff transient event. Ground Extensible Columns (EC) provide additional stiffness and preloads on the Mobile Launcher (ML), also significantly contributing to the liftoff transient. An advanced Henkel-Mar algorithm, with separation and re-contact, thus tracking the potential post separation re-contact between the booster aft skirt and ML, the umbilicals and vehicle, and ground EC separation. For this system level nonlinear dynamic simulation, the flexible multibody framework provides a systematic approach for the addition of component specific algorithms to enforce nonlinearities. This multibody framework is similar to an object-oriented programming language integrating classes of associated subroutines. As such, the complexities associated with the nonlinear CLA are greatly reduced, facilitating simplified bookkeeping as well as accelerating the execution of the nonlinear time-domain simulations.

Joel W Sills Jr.↗

Unified Model of Current-Limiting Grid-Forming Inverters for Large-Signal Analysis

Grid-forming (GFM) inverters can hardly withstand any overloading. As such, GFM inverters need a current limiter in their control system to avoid hardware damage during overloading or grid disturbances. When the current limiter is engaged for inverter protection, however, it dynamically changes the inverter output impedance, which can significantly affect the system behavior against large disturbances. For example, when the current limiter curtails the output power, the primary controller of the GFM inverter-which generates the voltage and angle reference-is prone to losing synchronization with the grid. This can cause large-signal instability in the network. This paper presents a unified GFM current-limiter model to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of the GFM inverter current limiting on large-signal instability and other system behaviors. The unified model captures several well-known current limiters for GFM inverters, and it reveals their large-signal equivalence characterized by the limiter angle. We use the unified model to present in-depth insights into the driving forces that cause large-signal instability in GFM inverter-driven grids. Further, this paper illustrates that the unified model can be used as a tool for assessing the system-level impacts of various GFM current-limiter designs during grid disturbances. Using numerical, analytical, electromagnetic transient models, and a hardware setup, the validity of the unified model is evaluated.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Stability testing of a modified Space Shuttle Main Engine

The testing of the combustion stability characteristics of Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) 0208 is described in terms of augmenting the technology base for large O/H thrust-chamber assemblies. The throat area is increased by 12 percent over that of the flight SSMEs, and the thrust chamber assembly does not include stability aids. Acoustic modes in the chamber are excited by means of rapid pressure generators employed in the start-transient through mainstage operations. Stability characteristics are determined by damp times which are facilitated by high-frequency instrumentation measuring oscillations and locating stable operating regions. All vibration modes are damped to within the requirements for a chamber mode set forth by the Chemical Propulsion Information Agency. No sustained chamber acoustic oscillations are exhibited in engine 0208's combustion chamber configuration in spite of the absence of baffles and acoustic cavities.

Dennis, H.↗

Design of a precise and stable composite telescope structure for the Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer (UVCS)

The Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer is a state of the art instrument which will be flown aboard the ESA SOHO spacecraft in 1995. A major objective of the SOHO is to investigate the solar corona and the solar wind by measuring parameters of the plasma, both in the source and acceleration regions, and in interplanetary space. The UVCS will provide ultraviolet spectroscopic diagnostics of temperature, density, and outflow velocity for coronal ions located between the base of the solar corona and 10 solar radii. The requirements placed on the UVCS telescope structure by the science and the spacecraft are challenging. Obtaining this scientific data requires that the telescope maintain pointing stability within a few arc-seconds in a transient thermal environment and an imaging stability within a few microns. Strict mass allowances permit only 22 kg for the 2.5 meter long telescope structure out of a total instrument allotment of 124 kg. The instrument is required to have a high minimum natural frequency of 70 Hertz and withstand launch inertia loads in excess of 18-G's while kinematically supported.

Kilpatrick, Mark C.↗

Transient Growth Analysis of Compressible Boundary Layers with Parabolized Stability Equations

The linear form of parabolized linear stability equations (PSE) is used in a variational approach to extend the previous body of results for the optimal, non-modal disturbance growth in boundary layer flows. This methodology includes the non-parallel effects associated with the spatial development of boundary layer flows. As noted in literature, the optimal initial disturbances correspond to steady counter-rotating stream-wise vortices, which subsequently lead to the formation of stream-wise-elongated structures, i.e., streaks, via a lift-up effect. The parameter space for optimal growth is extended to the hypersonic Mach number regime without any high enthalpy effects, and the effect of wall cooling is studied with particular emphasis on the role of the initial disturbance location and the value of the span-wise wavenumber that leads to the maximum energy growth up to a specified location. Unlike previous predictions that used a basic state obtained from a self-similar solution to the boundary layer equations, mean flow solutions based on the full Navier-Stokes (NS) equations are used in select cases to help account for the viscous-inviscid interaction near the leading edge of the plate and also for the weak shock wave emanating from that region. These differences in the base flow lead to an increasing reduction with Mach number in the magnitude of optimal growth relative to the predictions based on self-similar mean-flow approximation. Finally, the maximum optimal energy gain for the favorable pressure gradient boundary layer near a planar stagnation point is found to be substantially weaker than that in a zero pressure gradient Blasius boundary layer.

Compressible boundary layer↗

Turbofan compressor dynamics during afterburner transients

The effects of afterburner light-off and shut-down transients on the compressor stability are investigated. The reported experimental results are based on detailed high response pressure and temperature measurements on the TF30-P-3 turbofan engine. The tests were performed in an altitude test chamber simulating high altitude engine operation. It is shown that during both types of transients, flow breaks down in the forward part of the fan bypass duct. At a sufficiently low engine inlet pressure this resulted in a compressor stall. Complete flow breakdown within the compressor was preceded by a rotating stall. At some locations in the compressor, rotating stall cells initially extended only through part of the blade span. For the shutdown transient the time between first and last detected occurrence of rotating stall is related to the flow Reynolds number. An attempt was made to deduce the number and speed of propagation of rotating stall cells.

Kurkov, A. P.↗