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At least 145 records · Page 8

Preliminary investigation of cooling-air ejector performance at pressure ratios from 1 to 10

Preliminary investigation was made of conical cooling air ejector at primary pressure ratios from 1 to 10. The cooling-air flow was maintained at zero and the resulting pressure variation in the shroud indicated pumping ability. The cooling-air flow was maintained at zero and the resulting pressure variation in the shroud indicated pumping ability. The gross thrust of the ejector and nozzle were compared. Several ratios of the spacing between the nozzle and shroud exit to the nozzle exit diameter were investigated for several shroud to nozzle exit diameter ratios. Maximum gross thrust loss occurred under conditions of zero cooling-air flow and was as much as 35 percent below nozzle jet thrust. For minimum thrust loss, ejector should be designed with as low diameter and spacing ratio as possible.

PUMPS, JET AND THRUST AUGMENTORS↗

A CFD Study of Turbojet and Single-Throat Ramjet Ejector Interaction

Supersonic ejector-diffuse systems have application in driving an advanced airbreathing propulsion system, consisting of turbojet engines acting as the primary and a single throat ramjet acting as the secondary. The turbojet engines are integrated into the single throat ramjet to minimize variable geometry and eliminate redundant propulsion components. The result is a simple, lightweight system that is operable from takeoff to high Mach numbers. At this high Mach number (approximately Mach 3.0), the turbojets are turned off and the high speed ramjet/scramjet take over and drive the vehicle to Mach 6.0. The turbojet-ejector-ramjet system consists of nonafterburning turbojet engines with ducting canted at 20 degrees to supply supersonic flow (downstream of CD nozzle) to the horizontal ramjet duct at a supply total pressure and temperature. Two conditions were modelled by a 2-D full Navier Stokes code at Mach 2.0. The code modelled the Fabri choke as well as the non-Fabri non critical case, using a computational throat to supply the back pressure. The results, which primarily predict the secondary mass flow rate and the mixed conditions at the ejector exit were in reasonable agreement with the 1-D cycle code (TBCC).

Chang, Ing↗

Multiple-cycle Simulation of a Pulse Detonation Engine Ejector

This paper presents the results of a study involving single and multiple-cycle numerical simulations of various PDE-ejector configurations utilizing hydrogen-oxygen mixtures. The objective was to investigate the thrust, impulse and mass flow rate characteristics of these devices. The results indicate that ejector systems can utilize the energy stored in the strong shock wave exiting the detonation tube to augment the impulse obtained from the detonation tube alone. Impulse augmentation ratios of up to 1.9 were achieved. The axial location of the converging-diverging ejectors relative to the end of the detonation tube were shown to affect the performance of the system.

Yungster, S.↗

Preliminary Internal Performance Data for a Variable-Ejector Assembly on the XJ79-GE-1 Turbojet Engine: Afterburning Configurations - II

Internal performance of an XJ79-GE-1 variable ejector was experimentally determined with the primary nozzle in two representative after-burning positions. Jet-thrust and air-handling data were obtained in quiescent air for 4 selected ejector configurations over a wide range of secondary to primary airflow ratios and primary-nozzle pressure ratios. The experimental ejector data are presented in both graphical and tabulated form.

Bloomer, Harry E.↗

Mixing Process in Ejector Nozzles Studied at Lewis' Aero-Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory

The NASA Lewis Research Center has been studying mixing processes in ejector nozzles for its High Speed Research (HSR) Program. This work is directed at finding ways to minimize the noise of a future supersonic airliner. Much of the noise such an airplane would generate would come from the nozzle, where a hot, high-speed jet exits the engine. Several different nozzle configurations were used to produce nozzle systems with different acoustical and aerodynamic characteristics. The acoustical properties were measured by an array of microphones in an anechoic chamber, and the aerodynamics were measured by traditional pressure and temperature instruments as well as by Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV), a technique for visualizing the airflow pattern without disturbing it. These measurements were put together and compared for different configurations to examine the relationships between mixing and noise generation. The mixer-ejector nozzle with the installed flow-visualization windows (foreground), the optical equipment and the supporting structure for the Laser Doppler Velocimetry flow visualization (midfield), and the sound-absorbing wedges used to create an anechoic environment for acoustic testing (background) is shown. The High Speed Research Program is a NASA-funded effort, in cooperation with the U.S. aerospace industry, to develop enabling technologies for a future supersonic airliner. One of the technological barriers being addressed is noise generated during near-airport operation. The mixer-ejector nozzle concept is being examined as a way to reduce jet noise while maintaining thrust. Ambient air is mixed with the high-velocity engine exhaust to reduce the jet velocity and hence the noise generated by the jet. The model was designed and built by Pratt & Whitney under NASA contract. The test, completed in June 1995, was conducted in Lewis' Aero-Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory.

Source record↗

Ejector-Enhanced, Pulsed, Pressure-Gain Combustor

An experimental combination of an off-the-shelf valved pulsejet combustor and an aerodynamically optimized ejector has shown promise as a prototype of improved combustors for gas turbine engines. Despite their name, the constant pressure combustors heretofore used in gas turbine engines exhibit typical pressure losses ranging from 4 to 8 percent of the total pressures delivered by upstream compressors. In contrast, the present ejector-enhanced pulsejet combustor exhibits a pressure rise of about 3.5 percent at overall enthalpy and temperature ratios compatible with those of modern turbomachines. The modest pressure rise translates to a comparable increase in overall engine efficiency and, consequently, a comparable decrease in specific fuel consumption. The ejector-enhanced pulsejet combustor may also offer potential for reducing the emission of harmful exhaust compounds by making it practical to employ a low-loss rich-burn/quench/lean-burn sequence. Like all prior concepts for pressure-gain combustion, the present concept involves an approximation of constant-volume combustion, which is inherently unsteady (in this case, more specifically, cyclic). The consequent unsteadiness in combustor exit flow is generally regarded as detrimental to the performance of downstream turbomachinery. Among other adverse effects, this unsteadiness tends to detract from the thermodynamic benefits of pressure gain. Therefore, it is desirable in any intermittent combustion process to minimize unsteadiness in the exhaust path.

Paxson, Daniel E.↗

Parametric Study of Pulse-Combustor-Driven Ejectors at High-Pressure

Pulse-combustor configurations developed in recent studies have demonstrated performance levels at high-pressure operating conditions comparable to those observed at atmospheric conditions. However, problems related to the way fuel was being distributed within the pulse combustor were still limiting performance. In the first part of this study, new configurations are investigated computationally aimed at improving the fuel distribution and performance of the pulse-combustor. Subsequent sections investigate the performance of various pulse-combustor driven ejector configurations operating at high pressure conditions, focusing on the effects of fuel equivalence ratio and ejector throat area. The goal is to design pulse-combustor-ejector configurations that maximize pressure gain while achieving a thermal environment acceptable to a turbine, and at the same time maintain acceptable levels of NO(x) emissions and flow non-uniformities. The computations presented here have demonstrated pressure gains of up to 2.8.

Pressure Gain Combustion↗

Numerical Evaluation of an Ejector-Enhanced Resonant Pulse Combustor with a Poppet Inlet Valve and a Converging Exhaust Nozzle

A computational investigation of a pressure-gain combustor system for gas turbine applications is presented. The system consists of a valved pulse combustor and an ejector, housed within a shroud. The study focuses on two enhancements to previous models, related to the valve and ejector components. First, a new poppet inlet valve system is investigated, replacing the previously used reed valve configuration. Secondly, a new computational approach to approximating the effects of choked turbine inlet guide vanes present immediately downstream of the Ejector-Enhanced Resonant Pulse Combustor (EERPC) is investigated. Instead of specifying a back pressure at the EERPC exit boundary (as was done in previous studies) the new model adds a converging-diverging (CD) nozzle at the exit of the EERPC. The throat area of the CD nozzle can be adjusted to obtain the desired back pressure level and total mass flow rate. The results presented indicate that the new poppet valve configuration performs nearly as well as the original reed valve system, and that the addition of the CD nozzle is an effective method to approximate the exit boundary effects of a turbine present downstream of the EERPC. Furthermore, it is shown that the more acoustically reflective boundary imposed by a nozzle as compared to a constant pressure surface does not significantly affect operation or performance.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD↗

An Investigation of a Mixer-Ejector Nozzle for Jet Noise Reduction

An experimental study is conducted assessing the performance of an ejector together with an 8:1 aspect ratio rectangular nozzle with the eventual goal of noise reduction for jet engines. Wall static pressure and Pitot probe surveys are conducted to evaluate the performance of the ejector, and sound pressure level measurements are made to assess the impact on noise radiation. It is found that addition of vortex generating tabs at the lip of the nozzle causes large increases in secondary flow entrainment. The baseline ejector (without tabs) often encounters flow resonance with accompanying tones. The tabs have the additional benefit of eliminating those tones. In most cases tried so far, pockets of high-speed fluid remain unmixed. Since jet noise scales as velocity to the eighth power, such ‘hot spots’ defeat the noise reduction goal. In some cases, there is a reduction in noise amplitudes in the mid-frequency range (5-30 kHz), however, an increase occurs on the low frequency end apparently due to flow unsteadiness. This together with a high frequency noise increase caused by the tabs results in minimal reductions in the overall sound pressure level. The focus of ongoing and future efforts is to achieve sufficient mixing and desirable noise reduction while keeping the hard-ware short and lightweight.

Zaman, K. B. M. Q.↗

Cold-Flow Model Tests to Determine Static Performance of a NASA One-Sided Ejector Nozzle System

This report presents the results of cold-flow model tests to determine the static performance of multiple configurations of a NASA one-sided ejector nozzle system. The existing ejector nozzle system hardware was provided by NASA and was previously used for acoustic tests. A new facility adapter duct and ejector box support brackets were designed and fabricated by the FluiDyne Aerotest Laboratory of Aero Systems Engineering, Inc. The tests were performed in the Channel 8 static thrust stand at ASE’s FluiDyne Aerotest Laboratory in Plymouth, Minnesota. Facility checkout tests were made using a standard American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) long-radius metering nozzle. These tests demonstrated facility data accuracy at flow conditions similar to the model tests. Channel 8 static tests included 40 ASME nozzle facility checkout tests and 24 model tests (plus an additional 1 at no charge). The model nozzle pressure ratio varied from 1.4 to 3.0. Test results include: thrust coefficients, thrust vector angles and location, nozzle discharge coefficients, charging station total and static pressures, and model static pressure distributions (in the Data Appendix).

McDonald, Timothy J.↗

Experimental performance of ejector heat pump operating in the sub-critical mode

Ejector heat pump (EHP) is an efficient-energy technology with a promising potential to replace the vapor compression cycle in heating and cooling applications. It can be powered by low-grade waste heat and uses environmentally friendly working fluids. EHP has also become a viable solution in research seeking cooling applications. However, little attention has been paid to using EHP for heating purposes. In order to investigate this, a steam EHP for domestic water heating was designed and built. The coefficient of performance (COP) is evaluated at various operating and design conditions in sub-critical operational modes to achieve higher condensation temperatures. Two primary nozzles with a throat diameter of 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm were investigated. The primary nozzle is movable along the ejector’s axis, allowing investigation of its positional effects on the EHP’s COP. Further, experimental measurements revealed that using a smaller throat diameter results in a high COP and low back pressure. The EHP COP and back pressure increase when the LTE temperature increases. Using a throat diameter of 1.5 mm, the EHP COP increases as the nozzle exit position (NXP) becomes closer to the constant area section. A COP of 2.42 and a back pressure of 4.28 kPa are achieved at a high-temperature evaporator (HTE) temperature of 130 °C and a low-temperature evaporator (LTE) temperature of 30 °C using a primary nozzle with 1.5 mm.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Searching for Suitable Binary Fluid for an Ejector Heat Pump for Domestic Water Heating

Water heating is a major source of energy consumption in the U.S. residential sector. Heat pumps can significantly increase the energy efficiency of water heating. An ejector heat pump (EHP) is a novel, thermally driven heat pump that uses an ejector as a thermocompressor. Choosing suitable working fluids is critical in developing high-performance EHPs. Therefore, this research screens binary fluid pairs (BFPs) for EHPs to produce domestic hot water at a high coefficient of performance (COP). The criteria for screening BFP candidates for EHP water heaters (EHPWHs) are established, and BFP candidates are shortlisted. This study identifies HFE7000, Novec649, HFE7100, HFE7200, and HFE7500 for the primary fluids and RE170, R600a, R600, and R1234ze(Z) for the secondary fluids. The thermodynamic model is employed to investigate the performance of EHPWHs using the shortlisted BFPs under various operating parameters, including the evaporation pressure of the primary working fluid in the high-temperature evaporator and the condensation temperature. In conclusion, the highest heating-cycle COP of 1.328 is achieved by an EHPWH operating with HFE7000/R600 at a condenser temperature of 50 °C and a pressure of 1.69 MPa in the high-temperature evaporator.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Flight investigation of airframe installation effects on an auxiliary inlet ejector nozzle on an underwing engine nacelle

The local flow field approaching an installed nozzle may vary from isolated test conditions, thereby affecting exhausting nozzle performance. An installation of general interest is a podded engine mounted near the aft lower surface of the wing. The effect of this installation on the performance of an auxiliary inlet ejector nozzle was investigated over a Mach number range of 0.7 to 1.3 by using a modified F-106B aircraft. Both floating and fixed-open door configurations were examined. The ejector nozzle trailing-edge flaps were simulated in the closed position with rigid structure which provided a boattail angle of 15 deg. Primary nozzle area was varied as exhaust gas temperature was varied between 982.2 and 2003.3 K.

Burley, R. R.↗

A study of nozzle and ejector flow problems by the method of integral relations

The application of the method of integral relations to nozzle and ejector flow problems was examined. For nozzle flow problems, the general formulation is that the approaching flow may be rotational. Particular attention was given to the phenomenon of choking under nonuniform flow conditions. Numerical integration of the governing ordinary differential equations was also investigated. This scheme of analysis was also applied to study the interacting flow field within an ejector system.

Howlett, L. D.↗

Analysis and testing of compressible flow ejectors with variable area mixing tubes.

An analytical model has been developed to predict the flow behavior within axisymmetric single-nozzle ejectors employing variable-area mixing tubes. The primary flow may be supersonic or subsonic and may have a different stagnation temperature from the subsonic secondary flow. Tests were performed on an ejector with an 800 F supersonic (M = 2.72) primary jet to evaluate the analytical model. Measured velocity profiles, temperature profiles, and wall static pressure distributions are presented and compared to the analytical predictions. Agreement is generally good.

Hickman, K. E.↗

Flight investigation of an underwing nacelle installation of an auxiliary-inlet ejector nozzle with a clamshell flow diverter from Mach 0.6 to 1.3

A nozzle installation of general interest is a podded engine mounted near the aft lower surface of the wing. The effect of this installation on the performance of an auxiliary-inlet ejector nozzle with a clamshell flow diverter was investigated over a Mach number range of 0.6 to 1.3 by using a modified F-106B aircraft. The clamshell flow diverter was tested in a 17 deg position with double-hinged synchronized floating doors. The ejector nozzle trailing-edge flaps were simulated in the closed position with a rigid structure which provided a boattail angle of 10 deg. Primary nozzle area was varied as exhaust gas temperature was varied between 975 and 1561 K. With the nozzle in a subsonic cruise position, the nozzle gross thrust coefficient was 0.918 at a flight Mach number of 0.9.

Head, V. L.↗

Analysis and testing of two-dimensional slot nozzle ejectors with variable area mixing sections

Finite difference computer techniques have been used to calculate the detailed performance of air to air two-dimensional ejectors with symmetric variable area mixing sections and coaxial coverging primary nozzles. The analysis of the primary nozzle assumed correct expansion of the flow and is suitable for subsonic and slightly supersonic velocity levels. The variation of the mixing section channel walls is assumed to be gradual so that the static pressure can be assumed uniform on planes perpendicular to the axis. A test program was run to provide two-dimensional ejector test data for verification of the computer analysis. A primary converging nozzle with a discharge geometry of 0.125 inch x 8.0 inch was supplied with 600 SCFM of air at about 35 psia and 180 F. This nozzle was combined with two mixing section geometries with throat sizes of 1.25 inch x 8.0 inch and 1.875 inch x 8.0 inch and was tested at a total of 11 operating points.

Gilbert, G. B.↗

Experimental study on optimization parameters of a supersonic jet ejector thrust augmentor.

The experimental data were aimed at obtaining the effect of jet mixing, the effective length/diameter of the ejector tube, the entrance length shape factor, the shape loading, and the optimum primary jet location. The total augmented thrust is proportional to the diameter of the ejector. The data show that for a practical design the entrance lip shape and the stream lines around the lip are also important in order to optimize the percentage augmentation.

Cheng, D. Y.↗