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At least 163 records · Page 9

Spray Characteristics of a Hybrid Twin-Fluid Pressure-Swirl Atomizer

The spray performance of a fuel injection system applicable for use in main combustion chamber of an oxidizer-rich staged combustion (ORSC) cycles is presented. The experimental data reported here include mean drop size and drop size distribution, spray cone half-angle, and momentum rate (directly related to spray penetration). The maximum entropy formalism, MEF, method to predict drop size distribution is applied and compared to the experimental data. Geometric variables considered include the radius of the injector inlet orifice plate through which oxidizer flows (&) and the exposed length from the fuel inlet to the injector exit plane (L2). Operating conditions that were varied include the liquid mass flow rate and air mass flow rate. For orifices B and C there is a significant dependence of D3Z on both the air and liquid mass flow rates, as well as on L2. For the A orifice, the momentum rate of the air flow appears to exceed a threshold value above which a constant D32 is obtained. Using the MEF method, a semi-analytical process was developed to model the spray distribution using two input parameters (q = 0.4 and Dso). The momentum rate of the spray is directly related to the air and liquid mass flow rates. The cone half angle of the spray ranges from 25 to 17 degrees. The data resulting from this project will eventually be used to develop advanced rocket systems.

Durham, M. J.↗

Aeroelastic Calculations of Quiet High- Speed Fan Performed

An advanced high-speed fan was recently designed under a cooperative effort between the NASA Glenn Research Center and Honeywell Engines & Systems. The principal design goals were to improve performance and to reduce fan noise at takeoff. Scale models of the Quiet High-Speed Fan were tested for operability, performance, and acoustics. During testing, the fan showed significantly improved noise characteristics, but a self-excited aeroelastic vibration known as flutter was encountered in the operating range. Flutter calculations were carried out for the Quiet High-Speed Fan using a three-dimensional, unsteady aerodynamic, Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes turbomachinery code named "TURBO." The TURBO code can accurately model the viscous flow effects that can play an important role in various aeroelastic problems such as flutter with flow separation, flutter at high loading conditions near the stall line (stall flutter), and flutter in the presence of shock and boundary-layer interaction. Initially, calculations were performed with no blade vibrations. These calculations were at a constant rotational speed and a varying mass flow rate. The mass flow rate was varied by changing the backpressure at the exit boundary of the computational domain. These initial steady calculations were followed by aeroelastic calculations in which the blades were prescribed to vibrate harmonically in a natural mode, at a natural frequency, and with a fixed interblade phase angle between adjacent blades. The AE-prep preprocessor was used to interpolate the in-vacuum mode shapes from the structural dynamics mesh onto the computational fluid dynamics mesh and to smoothly propagate the grid deformations from the blade surface to the interior points of the grid. The aeroelastic calculations provided the unsteady aerodynamic forces on the blade surface due to blade vibrations. These forces were vector multiplied with the structural dynamic mode shape to calculate the work done on the blade during one vibration period, then this result was converted to an aerodynamic damping. Flutter occurs when the aerodynamic damping becomes negative, if structural damping is ignored. The results of these aeroelastic calculations are summarized in this plot of aerodynamic damping versus mass flow rate at a constant rotational speed. As the backpressure is increased, the mass flow rate through the fan decreases and the fan operating point moves towards the stall line. The aeroelastic calculations showed that the aerodynamic damping decreases as the stall line is approached, as observed during testing. In addition, the aeroelastic calculations with the TURBO code correctly predicted the aeroelastic parameters: the most unstable vibration mode and interblade phase angle, as observed during testing. The Quiet High-Speed Fan demonstrated significant noise reductions during testing, but flutter imposed limits on its operating range. The accurate calculation of the aeroelastic characteristics using the TURBO code is a significant step toward eliminating flutter from the operating range and toward realizing the benefits of reduced fan noise. The aeroelastic calculations described here were performed under a grant by University of Toledo researchers in collaboration with Glenn's researchers.

Bakhle, Milind A.↗

Wind Tunnel Testing of Active Flow Control on High-Lift Common Research Model

A 10%-scale high-lift version of the Common Research Model (CRM-HL) and an Active Flow Control (AFC) version of the model equipped with a simple-hinged flap (CRM-SHLAFC) were successfully tested. The tests were performed in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel (14x22) at the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). The CRM-HL has a set of 37° inboard and outboard single-element Fowler flaps. The CRM-SHL-AFC has a set of 50° inboard and 55° outboard simple-hinged flaps equipped with integrated modular AFC cartridges on the flap shoulder. Both high-lift configurations share the same 30° slats and engine nacelle. Three new types of AFC devices were examined: the Double-Row Sweeping Jets (DRSWJ), the Alternating Pulsed Jets (APJ), and the High Efficiency Low Power (HELP) actuators. The DRSWJ and the APJ actuators used two rows of unsteady jets, whereas the HELP actuators used a combination of unsteady and steady jets, to overcome strong adverse pressure gradients while minimizing the mass flow usage. Nozzle pressure ratio, mass flow consumption and the power coefficient, which takes account of both supply air pressure and mass flow usage for the actuators, were used for judging the performance efficiency of the AFC devices. A prestall lift performance degradation for the CRM-HL configuration was resolved with a properly placed nacelle chine. The configuration with nacelle chine was chosen as the representative reference conventional high-lift case for comparison with the CRMSHL- AFC. The AFC-induced lift coefficient increment (DCL) was maintained for the entire lift curve over the CRM-SHL-AFC case with no AFC for almost all flow-control cases examined. The lift curve of the reference CRM-HL have a slightly steeper slope compared to those of the CRM-SHL-AFC configurations. The HELP actuation concept was extremely effective in controlling flow separation in the “linear region” of the curves comparing lift coefficient to mass flow rate. The HELP actuation achieved a targeted DCL of 0.50 using a moderate amount of mass flow and supply air pressure. The CRM-SHL-AFC configuration equipped with HELP actuation was able to match or exceed the lift performance of the reference conventional high-lift configuration (i.e., CRM-HL equipped with a nacelle chine), thus meeting the NASA Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) project goal.

Lin, John C.↗

Cold-air performance of free power turbine designed for 112-kilowatt automotive gas-turbine engine 3: Effect of stator vane end clearances on performance

An experimental investigation of a free power turbine designed for a 112-kW, automotive, gas turbine engine was made to determine the penalty in performance due to the stator vane end clearances. Tests were made over a range of mean section stator vane angles from 26 deg to 50 deg (as measured from the plane of rotation) with the vane end clearances filled. These results were compared with test results of the same turbine with vane end clearances open. At design equivalent values of rotative speed and pressure ratio and at a vane angle of 35 deg, the mass flow with the vane and clearances filled was about 8 percent lower than mass flow with vane end clearances open. The decrease in mass flow was mitigated by increasing the vane angle. With the vane end clearances filled, there was about a 66 percent reduction in mass flow when the vane angle was decreased from 40 deg to 26 deg. For the same decrease in vane angle the stator throat area decreased by about 50 percent. This result indicates that the rotor losses were increasing with decreasing vane angle.

Kofskey, M. G.↗

Skin friction reduction by slot injection at Mach 0.8

Surface skin friction, boundary layer profiles and turbulent intensity due to axially symmetric tangential slot injection into a transonic boundary layer were measured. Effects of slot height, multiple slot injection, and injection mass flow rate on the surface skin friction downstream of the the slot have been investigated. Surface skin friction was a function of the injection mass flow rate for x/s 40. Large normal pressure gradient and relatively large turbulent intensity were found near the slot with small injection mass flow rate; the region the high turbulent intensity moved downstream with increasing injection mass flow rate. The results with two slot injections indicated that the distance between slots should be less than 30 slot heights in order to achieve some benefits from the first slot. Of significant importance in the present investigation is that the skin friction reduction obtained at transonic speed is of the same order as obtained in the hypersonic regime. Additional work is required in order to formulate a correlation between the turbulent intensity and the injection mass flow rate that may be used in future analysis.

Zakkay, V.↗

Analysis of an advanced ducted propeller subsonic inlet

A time marching Navier-Stokes code called PARC (PARC2D for 2-D/axisymmetric and PARC3D for 3-D flow simulations) was validated for an advanced ducted propeller (ADP) subsonic inlet. The code validation for an advanced ducted propeller (ADP) subsonic inlet. The code validation was implemented for a non-separated flow condition associated with the inlet operating at angles-of-attack of 0 and 25 degrees. The inlet test data were obtained in the 9 x 15 ft Low Speed Wind Tunnel at NASA Lewis Research Center as part of a cooperative study with Pratt and Whitney. The experimental study focused on the ADP inlet performance for take-off and approach conditions. The inlet was tested at a free stream Mach number of 0.2, at angles-of-attack between O and 35 degrees, and at a maximum propeller speed of 12,000 RPM which induced a corrected air flow rate of about 46 lb/sec based on standard day conditions. The computational grid and flow boundary conditions (BC) were based on the actual inlet geometry and the funnel flow conditions. At the propeller face, two types of BC's were applied: a mass flow BC and a fixed flow properties BC. The fixed flow properties BC was based on a combination of data obtained from the experiment and calculations using a potential flow code. Comparison of the computational results with the test data indicates that the PARC code with the propeller face fixed flow properties BC provided a better prediction of the inlet surface static pressures than the predictions when the mass flow BC was used. For an angle-of-attack of 0 degrees, the PARC2D code with the propeller face mass flow BC provided a good prediction of inlet static pressures except in the region of high pressure gradient. With the propeller face fixed flow properties BC, the PARC2D code provided a good prediction of the inlet static pressures. For an angle-of-attack of 25 degrees with the mass flow BC, the PARC3D code predicted statis pressures which deviated significantly from the test data; however, with the fixed flow properties BC, a good comparison with the test data was obtained.

Iek, Chanthy↗

Effects of Multiple Nozzles on Asymmetric Ejector Performance

This paper presents a comparison of a single nozzle and a dual nozzle strut based ejector. The results are focused on the fluid properties in the ejector duct. The research focused on choking mechanisms, mass flow entrainment, and mixing duct pressure distributions. The two ejectors were tests at equivalent primary mass flow rates. This corresponds to chamber pressures ranging from 100 psi to 900 psi in the single nozzle strut and 50 psi to 450 psi in the dual nozzle strut. Secondary flow was drawn from the lab at atmospheric pressure, and was not controlled. The secondary flow was found to choke at a value of 2.3 lb/s for a primary mass flow rate at approximately 2.1 lb/s for both ejectors. This choke was believed to be a mass addition choke rather than a traditional aerodynamic choke. The mixing duct pressure distribution exhibited two distinct trends at "low pressure" trend and at "high pressure" trend. For the low pressure trend, the mixing length for the ejectors remained fixed around 20 inches, regardless of the chamber pressure. For the higher pressure trend, the mixing length was considerably longer and increased with increasing chamber pressure. At high chamber pressures (high mass flow rates), a supersonic core flow was present at the exit of the duct. For these cases, the two streams did not have time to mix by the end of the duct.

Lineberry, D.↗

Numerical calculations of mass transfer flow in semi-detached binary systems

The details of the mass transfer flow near the inner Lagrangian point in a semidetached binary system are numerically calculated. A polytropic equation of state with n = 3/2 is used. The dependence of the mass transfer rate on the degree to which the star overfills its Roche lobe is calculated, and good agreement with previous analytic estimates is found. The variation of mass transfer rate which occurs if the binary system has a small eccentricity is calculated and is used to cast doubt on the model for superhumps in dwarf novae proposed by Papaloizou and Pringle (1979).

Edwards, D. A.↗

Cryogenic Flow Sensor

An acousto-optic cryogenic flow sensor (CFS) determines mass flow of cryogens for spacecraft propellant management. The CFS operates unobtrusively in a high-pressure, high-flowrate cryogenic environment to provide measurements for fluid quality as well as mass flow rate. Experimental hardware uses an optical plane-of-light (POL) to detect the onset of two-phase flow, and the presence of particles in the flow of water. Acousto-optic devices are used in laser equipment for electronic control of the intensity and position of the laser beam. Acousto-optic interaction occurs in all optical media when an acoustic wave and a laser beam are present. When an acoustic wave is launched into the optical medium, it generates a refractive index wave that behaves like a sinusoidal grating. An incident laser beam passing through this grating will diffract the laser beam into several orders. Its angular position is linearly proportional to the acoustic frequency, so that the higher the frequency, the larger the diffracted angle. If the acoustic wave is traveling in a moving fluid, the fluid velocity will affect the frequency of the traveling wave, relative to a stationary sensor. This frequency shift changes the angle of diffraction, hence, fluid velocity can be determined from the diffraction angle. The CFS acoustic Bragg grating data test indicates that it is capable of accurately determining flow from 0 to 10 meters per second. The same sensor can be used in flow velocities exceeding 100 m/s. The POL module has successfully determined the onset of two-phase flow, and can distinguish vapor bubbles from debris.

Justak, John↗

Injection Characteristics of Non-Swirling and Swirling Annular Liquid Sheets

A simplified mathematical model, based on body-fitted coordinates, is formulated to study the evolution of non-swirling and swirling liquid sheet emanated from an annular nozzle in a quiescent surrounding medium. The model provides predictions of sheet trajectory, thickness and velocity at various liquid mass flow rates and liquid-swirler angles. It is found that a non-swirling annular sheet converges toward its centerline and assumes a bell shape as it moves downstream from the nozzle. The bell radius, and length are more pronounced at higher liquid mass flow rates. The thickness of the non-swirling annular sheet increases while its stream-wise velocity decreases with an increase in mass flow rate. The introduction of swirl results in the formation of a diverging hollow-cone sheet. The hollow-cone divergence from its centerline is enhanced by an increase in liquid mass flow rate or liquid-swirler angle. The hollow- cone sheet its radius, curvature and stream-wise velocity increase while its thickness and tangential velocity decrease as a result of increasing the mass flow rate or liquid-swirler angle. The present results are compared with previous studies and conclusions are drawn.

Harper, Brent↗

Investigation of air stream from combustor-liner air entry holes, 3

Jets flowing from air entry holes of the combustor liner of a gas turbine were investigated. Cold air was supplied through the air entry holes into the primary hot gas flows. The mass flow of the primary hot gas and issuing jets was measured, and the behavior of the air jets was studied by the measurement of the temperature distribution of the gas mixture. The air jets flowing from three circular air entry holes, single streamwise long holes, and two opposing circular holes, parallel to the primary flow were studied along with the effects of jet and gas stream velocities, and of gas temperature. The discharge coefficient, the maximum penetration of the jets, the jet flow path, the mixing of the jets, and temperature distribution across the jets were investigated. Empirical expressions which describe the characteristics of the jets under the conditions of the experiments were formulated.

Aiba, T.↗

Dynamics of lava flow - Thickness growth characteristics of steady two-dimensional flow

The thickness growth characteristics of flowing lava are investigated using a heat balance model and a two-dimensional model for flow of a Bingham plastic fluid down an inclined plane. It is found that yield strength plays a crucial role in the thickening of a lava flow of given flow rate. To illustrate this point, downstream thickness profiles and yield strength distributions were calculated for flows with mass flow rates of 10,000 and 100,000 kg/m-sec. Higher flow rates led to slow cooling rates which resulted in slow rate of increase of yield strength and thus greater flow lengths.

Park, S.↗

A Numerical Study of Hypersonic Forebody/Inlet Integration Problem

A numerical study of hypersonic forebody/inlet integration problem is presented in the form of the view-graphs. The following topics are covered: physical/chemical modeling; solution procedure; flow conditions; mass flow rate at inlet face; heating and skin friction loads; 3-D forebogy/inlet integration model; and sensitivity studies.

Kumar, Ajay↗

Flight and Static Exhaust Flow Properties of an F110-GE-129 Engine in an F-16XL Airplane During Acoustic Tests

The exhaust flow properties (mass flow, pressure, temperature, velocity, and Mach number) of the F110-GE-129 engine in an F-16XL airplane were determined from a series of flight tests flown at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. These tests were performed in conjunction with NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia (LARC) as part of a study to investigate the acoustic characteristics of jet engines operating at high nozzle pressure conditions. The range of interest for both objectives was from Mach 0.3 to Mach 0.9. NASA Dryden flew the airplane and acquired and analyzed the engine data to determine the exhaust characteristics. NASA Langley collected the flyover acoustic measurements and correlated these results with their current predictive codes. This paper describes the airplane, tests, and methods used to determine the exhaust flow properties and presents the exhaust flow properties. No acoustics results are presented.

Holzman, Jon K.↗

Air and Water System (AWS) Design and Technology Selection for the Vision for Space Exploration

This paper considers technology selection for the crew air and water recycling systems to be used in long duration human space exploration. The specific objectives are to identify the most probable air and water technologies for the vision for space exploration and to identify the alternate technologies that might be developed. The approach is to conduct a preliminary first cut systems engineering analysis, beginning with the Air and Water System (AWS) requirements and the system mass balance, and then define the functional architecture, review the International Space Station (ISS) technologies, and discuss alternate technologies. The life support requirements for air and water are well known. The results of the mass flow and mass balance analysis help define the system architectural concept. The AWS includes five subsystems: Oxygen Supply, Condensate Purification, Urine Purification, Hygiene Water Purification, and Clothes Wash Purification. AWS technologies have been evaluated in the life support design for ISS node 3, and in earlier space station design studies, in proposals for the upgrade or evolution of the space station, and in studies of potential lunar or Mars missions. The leading candidate technologies for the vision for space exploration are those planned for Node 3 of the ISS. The ISS life support was designed to utilize Space Station Freedom (SSF) hardware to the maximum extent possible. The SSF final technology selection process, criteria, and results are discussed. Would it be cost-effective for the vision for space exploration to develop alternate technology? This paper will examine this and other questions associated with AWS design and technology selection.

Jones, Harry↗

Translator for Optimizing Fluid-Handling Components

A software interface has been devised to facilitate optimization of the shapes of valves, elbows, fittings, and other components used to handle fluids under extreme conditions. This software interface translates data files generated by PLOT3D (a NASA grid-based plotting-and- data-display program) and by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software into a format in which the files can be read by Sculptor, which is a shape-deformation- and-optimization program. Sculptor enables the user to interactively, smoothly, and arbitrarily deform the surfaces and volumes in two- and three-dimensional CFD models. Sculptor also includes design-optimization algorithms that can be used in conjunction with the arbitrary-shape-deformation components to perform automatic shape optimization. In the optimization process, the output of the CFD software is used as feedback while the optimizer strives to satisfy design criteria that could include, for example, improved values of pressure loss, velocity, flow quality, mass flow, etc.

Landon, Mark↗

Swirl Distortion Using Stream Vanes for Boundary Layer Ingestion Research

The swirl distortion of a StreamVane (Trademark) was investigated in the NASA Glenn Research Center W8 test facility. The StreamVane (Trademark) was designed and generated by Virginia Tech based on CFD simulations and included a center body at the aerodynamic interface plane. The swirl pattern generated by the distortion was evaluated using a dense grid of 5-hole Pitot probe measurements captured using a rotating array of probes. Good agreement was found between the design intent and the results at 38.5 kg/s mass flow. The StreamVane (Trademark) swirl results were compared to clean facility flow at 5 inlet mass flows and found to be consistent. Additionally, the axial location of the StreamVane (Trademark) relative to the measurement plane was investigated to determine the impact on downstream total pressure loss generated by the vanes. The intent of this work was to assess the viability of using a StreamVane (Trademark) to generate a Type I or Type II distortion into a Boundary Layer Ingesting propulsor to assess its aerodynamic performance and aeromechanic response.

swirl distortion↗

Experimental Results of Performance Tests on a Four-Port Wave Rotor

A series of tests has been performed on a four-port wave rotor suitable for use as a topping stage on a gas turbine engine, to measure the overall pressure ratio obtainable as a function of temperature ratio, inlet mass flow, loop flow ratio, and rotor speed. The wave rotor employed an open high pressure loop that is the high pressure inlet flow was not the air exhausted from the high pressure outlet, but was obtained from a separate heated source, although the mass flow rates of the two flows were balanced. This permitted the choice of a range of loop-flow ratios (i.e., ratio of high pressure flow to low pressure flow), as well as the possibility of examining the effect of mass flow imbalance. Imbalance could occur as a result of leakage or deliberate bleeding for cooling air. Measurements of the pressure drop in the high pressure loop were also obtained. A pressure ratio of 1.17 was obtained at a temperature ratio of 2.0, with an inlet mass flow of 0.6 lb/s. Earlier tests had given a pressure ratio of less than 1.12. The improvement was due to improved sealing between the high pressure and low pressure loops, and a modification to the movable end-wall which is provided to allow for rotor expansion.

Wilson, John↗