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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2003

International Space Station Bacteria Filter Element Post-Flight Testing and Service Life Prediction

The International Space Station uses high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to remove particulate matter from the cabin atmosphere. Known as Bacteria Filter Elements (BFEs), there are 13 elements deployed on board the ISS's U.S. Segment. The pre-flight service life prediction of 1 year for the BFEs is based upon performance engineering analysis of data collected during developmental testing that used a synthetic dust challenge. While this challenge is considered reasonable and conservative from a design perspective, an understanding of the actual filter loading is required to best manage the critical ISS Program resources. Thus testing was conducted on BFEs returned from the ISS to refine the service life prediction. Results from this testing and implications to ISS resource management are discussed. Recommendations for realizing significant savings to the ISS Program are presented.

Perry, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Hierarchical Discrete Event Supervisory Control of Aircraft Propulsion Systems

This paper presents a hierarchical application of Discrete Event Supervisory (DES) control theory for intelligent decision and control of a twin-engine aircraft propulsion system. A dual layer hierarchical DES controller is designed to supervise and coordinate the operation of two engines of the propulsion system. The two engines are individually controlled to achieve enhanced performance and reliability, necessary for fulfilling the mission objectives. Each engine is operated under a continuously varying control system that maintains the specified performance and a local discrete-event supervisor for condition monitoring and life extending control. A global upper level DES controller is designed for load balancing and overall health management of the propulsion system.

Yasar, Murat↗
NASA NTRS2005

International Space Station Bacteria Filter Element Service Life Evaluation

The International Space Station (ISS) uses high-efficiency particulate air filters to remove particulate matter from the cabin atmosphere. Known as bacteria filter elements (BFEs), there are 13 elements deployed on board the ISS's U.S. segment in the flight 4R assembly level. The preflight service life prediction of 1 yr for the BFEs is based upon engineering analysis of data collected during developmental testing that used a synthetic dust challenge. While this challenge is considered reasonable and conservative from a design perspective, an understanding of the actual filter loading is required to best manage the critical ISS program resources. Testing was conducted on BFEs returned from the ISS to refine the service life prediction. Results from this testing and implications to ISS resource management are provided.

Perry, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS2012

High Resolution Visualization Applied to Future Heavy Airlift Concept Development and Evaluation

This paper explores the use of high resolution 3D visualization tools for exploring the feasibility and advantages of future military cargo airlift concepts and evaluating compatibility with existing and future payload requirements. Realistic 3D graphic representations of future airlifters are immersed in rich, supporting environments to demonstrate concepts of operations to key personnel for evaluation, feedback, and development of critical joint support. Accurate concept visualizations are reviewed by commanders, platform developers, loadmasters, soldiers, scientists, engineers, and key principal decision makers at various stages of development. The insight gained through the review of these physically and operationally realistic visualizations is essential to refining design concepts to meet competing requirements in a fiscally conservative defense finance environment. In addition, highly accurate 3D geometric models of existing and evolving large military vehicles are loaded into existing and proposed aircraft cargo bays. In this virtual aircraft test-loading environment, materiel developers, engineers, managers, and soldiers can realistically evaluate the compatibility of current and next-generation airlifters with proposed cargo.

FordCook, A. B.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Additive Manufacturing at NASA

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is certainly changing the space industry and providing new opportunities to travel to low earth orbit and explore our universe. New design opportunities –not previously possible –for new high performance metal alloys, light-weighting, managing thermal, structural, and dynamic loads are being enabled by AM. This presentation will showcase the vast portfolio of NASA’s AM activities in the last 12 years; transportation from Earth to Destination, Habitat at Destination, Lander from Station to Surface, and Science mission spacecrafts. NASA’s technical excellence is being leveraged heavily in the AM community thru collaborative projects, partnership agreements, tech transfer program. Challenges as well as opportunities will be discussed.

Alison Park↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Technology Drives Exploration: How NASA Is Embracing Additive Manufacturing

NASA has over 60 years of technology development that enabled human space and space science exploration “for the benefit of all humankind”. This presentation will start with the overview of NASA’s organization structure; the roles NASA’s leadership plays as well as 10 regional centers’ focused areas and capabilities. It will also highlight NASA’s Mission Directorates –Science, Human, Aeronautics, and Technology. With the onset of the newer and still evolving procurement business model (NASA being a buyer, instead of maker), a question remains: which is the right framework under which NASA can best integrate the capabilities of commercial, international, and other US government entities into a coherent exploration strategy? Another critical consideration is identifying which critical technologies to invest in NASA and which capabilities are better suited for commercialization as NASA as a buyer. Additive Manufacturing (AM) is certainly changing the space industry and providing new opportunities to travel to low earth orbit and explore our universe. New design opportunities –not previously possible –for new high performance metal alloys, light-weighting, managing thermal, structural, and dynamic loads are being enabled by AM. This presentation will showcase the vast portfolio of NASA’s AM activities in the last 13 years; transportation from Earth to Destination, Habitat at Destination, Lander from Station to Surface, and Science mission spacecrafts. NASA’s technical excellence is being leveraged heavily in the AM and Commercial Space community through collaborative projects, partnership agreements, tech transfer program. Examples of challenges of AM implementation as well as opportunities will be discussed.

Alison Park↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Additive Manufactured Hardware Qualification and Certification at NASA

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is certainly changing the space industry and providing new opportunities to travel to low earth orbit and explore our universe New design opportunities –not previously possible –for new high performance metal alloys, light-weighting, managing thermal, structural, and dynamic loads are being enabled by AM. Additively manufactured parts are already being inserted for complext system for NASA programs in critical applications –“ready to fly” Human exploration of space, especially deep space, requires extreme reliability Qualification of AM design/parts/process and Flight Certification

Alison Park↗
NASA NTRS2021

Flight Demonstration of the Tailored Arrival Manager

A flight demonstration of arrival traffic management automation was conducted in partnership between NASA, FAA and Boeing as an element of the latter’s ecoDemonstrator2020 flight program. For the demonstration, NASA’s prototype Tailored Arrival Manager(TAM) was used to compute efficient trajectory-based solutions to traffic management problems representing those encountered during time-based metering operations today. TAM solutions involving route modifications were uplinked to a Boeing 787 airplane using Controller Pilot Data Link Communications and seamlessly loaded into the airplane’s Flight Management System (FMS). The paper describes the concept and technology behind TAM along with the data exchanges and procedures involved with the demonstration. All TAM solutions were delivered in a timely manner and successfully integrated with the airplane’s FMS, thereby demonstrating the basic feasibility of trajectory-based arrival management using currently available data communications and avionics equipage. Although TAM solutions were not executed during this initial demonstration, a limited study of trajectory prediction accuracy was possible given that the airplane flew uninterrupted, automated descents with known route and speed intent. Analysis revealed that TAM meter-fix arrival time predictions were accurate to within ± 30 seconds for time horizons of 30 minutes or less, which matched closely with FMS predictions acquired through real-time data exchange. Top-of-descent predictions over similar time horizons were found accurate to within ± 5 nautical miles.

air traffic management↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Flight Demonstration of the Tailored Arrival Manager

A flight demonstration of arrival traffic management automation was conducted in partnership between NASA, FAA and Boeing as an element of the latter’s ecoDemonstrator2020 flight program. For the demonstration, NASA’s prototype Tailored Arrival Manager(TAM) was used to compute efficient trajectory-based solutions to traffic management problems representing those encountered during time-based metering operations today. TAM solutions involving route modifications were uplinked to a Boeing 787 airplane using Controller Pilot Data Link Communications and seamlessly loaded into the airplane’s Flight Management System (FMS). The paper describes the concept and technology behind TAM along with the data exchanges and procedures involved with the demonstration. All TAM solutions were delivered in a timely manner and successfully integrated with the airplane’s FMS, thereby demonstrating the basic feasibility of trajectory-based arrival management using currently available data communications and avionics equipage. Although TAM solutions were not executed during this initial demonstration, a limited study of trajectory prediction accuracy was possible given that the airplane flew uninterrupted, automated descents with known route and speed intent. Analysis revealed that TAM meter-fix arrival time predictions were accurate to within ± 30 seconds for time horizons of 30 minutes or less, which matched closely with FMS predictions acquired through real-time data exchange. Top-of-descent predictions over similar time horizons were found accurate to within ± 5 nautical miles.

Air traffic managment↗
NASA NTRS2016

Integrated System for Health Management and Autonomous Control (ISHM-AC) for Cryogenic Operations on the Simulated Propellant Loading System

Autonomous control systems represent a technological barrier from manual and automated operated control systems in an industry wide application. An increase in energy-efficient storage, transfer and use of cryogens and cryogenic propellants on Earth and in space has been observed in space related industries between NASA, government and commercial programs. An increase in efficiency of cryogenic systems demands an increase in the capabilities of the control and monitoring system that manages them. As new technologies are developed for cryogenic systems, complexity and capability increases. The increase in complexities are a natural drive to develop better and more capable health monitoring and control system management. Current research and development efforts lead the Cryogenics Test Laboratory at the Kennedy Space Center to improve its automated control and health monitoring system from a Programmable Logic Control (PLC) based-only system to a fully Integrated System for Health Management (ISHM) - Autonomous Control (AC) capable of performing autonomous operations on a cryogenic propellant transfer system. This ISHM-AC system has been developed and tested by controlling a complete simulated propellant transfer operation. The capabilities and test results of this fully integrated autonomous system for cryogenics propellant transfer operation will be presented in this paper.

Toro Medina, Jaime A.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Single-Pilot Workload Management

Integrated glass cockpit systems place a heavy cognitive load on pilots (Burian Dismukes, 2007). Researchers from the NASA Ames Flight Cognition Lab and the FAA Flight Deck Human Factors Lab examined task and workload management by single pilots. This poster describes pilot performance regarding programming a reroute while at cruise and meeting a waypoint crossing restriction on the initial descent.

Rogers, Jason↗
NASA NTRS2013

Prognostics Applied to Electric Propulsion UAV

Health management plays an important role in operations of UAV. If there is equipment malfunction on critical components, safe operation of the UAV might possibly be compromised. A technology with particular promise in this arena is equipment prognostics. This technology provides a state assessment of the health of components of interest and, if a degraded state has been found, it estimates how long it will take before the equipment will reach a failure threshold, conditional on assumptions about future operating conditions and future environmental conditions. This chapter explores the technical underpinnings of how to perform prognostics and shows an implementation on the propulsion of an electric UAV. A particle filter is shown as the method of choice in performing state assessment and predicting future degradation. The method is then applied to the batteries that provide power to the propeller motors. An accurate run-time battery life prediction algorithm is of critical importance to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle if one wants to maximize in-air time. Current reliability based techniques turn out to be insufficient to manage the use of such batteries where loads vary frequently in uncertain environments.

Batteries↗
NASA NTRS2002

Aerodynamic Design Study of Advanced Multistage Axial Compressor

As a direct response to the need for further performance gains from current multistage axial compressors, an investigation of advanced aerodynamic design concepts that will lead to compact, high-efficiency, and wide-operability configurations is being pursued. Part I of this report describes the projected level of technical advancement relative to the state of the art and quantifies it in terms of basic aerodynamic technology elements of current design systems. A rational enhancement of these elements is shown to lead to a substantial expansion of the design and operability space. Aerodynamic design considerations for a four-stage core compressor intended to serve as a vehicle to develop, integrate, and demonstrate aerotechnology advancements are discussed. This design is biased toward high efficiency at high loading. Three-dimensional blading and spanwise tailoring of vector diagrams guided by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are used to manage the aerodynamics of the high-loaded endwall regions. Certain deleterious flow features, such as leakage-vortex-dominated endwall flow and strong shock-boundary-layer interactions, were identified and targeted for improvement. However, the preliminary results were encouraging and the front two stages were extracted for further aerodynamic trimming using a three-dimensional inverse design method described in part II of this report. The benefits of the inverse design method are illustrated by developing an appropriate pressure-loading strategy for transonic blading and applying it to reblade the rotors in the front two stages of the four-stage configuration. Multistage CFD simulations based on the average passage formulation indicated an overall efficiency potential far exceeding current practice for the front two stages. Results of the CFD simulation at the aerodynamic design point are interrogated to identify areas requiring additional development. In spite of the significantly higher aerodynamic loadings, advanced CFD-based tools were able to effectively guide the design of a very efficient axial compressor under state-of-the-art aeromechanical constraints.

Larosiliere, Louis M.↗
NASA NTRS2017

PHM Enabled Autonomous Propellant Loading Operations

The utility of Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) software capability applied to Autonomous Operations (AO) remains an active research area within aerospace applications. The ability to gain insight into which assets and subsystems are functioning properly, along with the derivation of confident predictions concerning future ability, reliability, and availability, are important enablers for making sound mission planning decisions. When coupled with software that fully supports mission planning and execution, an integrated solution can be developed that leverages state assessment and estimation for the purposes of delivering autonomous operations. The authors have been applying this integrated, model-based approach to the autonomous loading of cryogenic spacecraft propellants at Kennedy Space Center.

Walker, Mark↗
NASA NTRS2011

Trajectory-Based Loads for the Ares I-X Test Flight Vehicle

In trajectory-based loads, the structural engineer treats each point on the trajectory as a load case. Distributed aero, inertial, and propulsion forces are developed for the structural model which are equivalent to the integrated values of the trajectory model. Free-body diagrams are then used to solve for the internal forces, or loads, that keep the applied aero, inertial, and propulsion forces in dynamic equilibrium. There are several advantages to using trajectory-based loads. First, consistency is maintained between the integrated equilibrium equations of the trajectory analysis and the distributed equilibrium equations of the structural analysis. Second, the structural loads equations are tied to the uncertainty model for the trajectory systems analysis model. Atmosphere, aero, propulsion, mass property, and controls uncertainty models all feed into the dispersions that are generated for the trajectory systems analysis model. Changes in any of these input models will affect structural loads response. The trajectory systems model manages these inputs as well as the output from the structural model over thousands of dispersed cases. Large structural models with hundreds of thousands of degrees of freedom would execute too slowly to be an efficient part of several thousand system analyses. Trajectory-based loads provide a means for the structures discipline to be included in the integrated systems analysis. Successful applications of trajectory-based loads methods for the Ares I-X vehicle are covered in this paper. Preliminary design loads were based on 2000 trajectories using Monte Carlo dispersions. Range safety loads were tied to 8423 malfunction turn trajectories. In addition, active control system loads were based on 2000 preflight trajectories using Monte Carlo dispersions.

Vause, Roland F.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The Build System - Integration and management of large software avionic systems

The Build System comprises the software tools and procedures creating the flight memory load for the Space Shuttle Backup Flight System. The system has six functions: (1) configuration management, which insures that the memory load contains the proper modules, all clearly marked; (2) source translation, which translates the source code into a relocatable machine code; (3) module integration, which combines and assigns memory locations to all the object modules produced in source translation; (4) static code analysis, which verifies the integration process; (5) deliverables generation, which yields release documentation and deliverable items; and (6) release maintenance, which controls all system patches subsequent to release. Further developments will include more automation in the producing of patches from source-code updates and system requirements for tracking.

Mayer, J. T. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Space station power management and distribution

The power system architecture is presented by a series of schematics which illustrate the power management and distribution (PMAD) system at the component level, including converters, controllers, switchgear, rotary power transfer devices, power and data cables, remote power controllers, and load converters. Power distribution options, reference power management, and control strategy are also outlined. A summary of advanced development status and plans and an overview of system test plans are presented.

Teren, F.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Advanced Intelligent System Application to Load Forecasting and Control for Hybrid Electric Bus

The primary motivation for this research emanates from providing a decision support system to the electric bus operators in the municipal and urban localities which will guide the operators to maintain an optimal compromise among the noise level, pollution level, fuel usage etc. This study is backed up by our previous studies on study of battery characteristics, permanent magnet DC motor studies and electric traction motor size studies completed in the first year. The operator of the Hybrid Electric Car must determine optimal power management schedule to meet a given load demand for different weather and road conditions. The decision support system for the bus operator comprises three sub-tasks viz. forecast of the electrical load for the route to be traversed divided into specified time periods (few minutes); deriving an optimal 'plan' or 'preschedule' based on the load forecast for the entire time-horizon (i.e., for all time periods) ahead of time; and finally employing corrective control action to monitor and modify the optimal plan in real-time. A fully connected artificial neural network (ANN) model is developed for forecasting the kW requirement for hybrid electric bus based on inputs like climatic conditions, passenger load, road inclination, etc. The ANN model is trained using back-propagation algorithm employing improved optimization techniques like projected Lagrangian technique. The pre-scheduler is based on a Goal-Programming (GP) optimization model with noise, pollution and fuel usage as the three objectives. GP has the capability of analyzing the trade-off among the conflicting objectives and arriving at the optimal activity levels, e.g., throttle settings. The corrective control action or the third sub-task is formulated as an optimal control model with inputs from the real-time data base as well as the GP model to minimize the error (or deviation) from the optimal plan. These three activities linked with the ANN forecaster proving the output to the GP model which in turn produces the pre-schedule of the optimal control model. Some preliminary results based on a hypothetical test case will be presented for the load forecasting module. The computer codes for the three modules will be made available fe adoption by bus operating agencies. Sample results will be provided using these models. The software will be a useful tool for supporting the control systems for the Electric Bus project of NASA.

Momoh, James↗