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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 19 records

Comparison of Center Nozzle Staging to Outer Nozzle Staging in a Multi-Flame Combustor

Combustion instability in gas turbines is often mitigated using fuel staging, a strategy where the fuel is split unevenly between different nozzles of a multiple-nozzle combustor. This work examines the efficacy of different fuel staging configurations by comparing axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric fuel staging in a four-around-one model gas turbine combustor. Fuel staging is accomplished by increasing the equivalence ratio of the center nozzle (axisymmetric staging) or an outer nozzle (non-axisymmetric staging). When the global equivalence ratio is ϕ = 0.70 and all nozzles are fueled equally, the combustor undergoes longitudinal, self-excited oscillations. These oscillations are suppressed when the center nozzle equivalence ratio is increased above ϕ Staging = 0.79. This bifurcation equivalence ratio varies between ϕ Staging = 0.86 and ϕ Staging = 0.76 for the outer nozzles, and is attributed to minor hardware differences between each nozzle. High speed CH* chemiluminescence images in combination with dynamic pressure measurements are used to determine the instantaneous phase difference between the heat release rate fluctuation and the combustor pressure fluctuation throughout the combustor. This analysis shows that the staged flame has similar phase relationships for all staging configurations. It is found that axisymmetric staging can be as effective as non-axisymmetric staging; however, the aforementioned hardware variations can impact both the bifurcation equivalence ratio and the effectiveness of staging.

Culler, Wyatt↗

Preliminary Investigation of Performance of Variable-throat Extended-plug-type Nozzles over Wide Range of Nozzle Pressure Ratios

As part of an overall program for the experimental investigation of large-scale jet nozzles, a preliminary evaluation of the internal performance characteristics of several variable-throat extended-plug-type nozzles was obtained over a range of nozzle pressure rations from 2 to 15 with nozzle throat variations as great as 2:1. The extended-plug nozzle attained peak thrust coefficients as high as those which have been attained with fixed-geometry convergent-divergent nozzles. The thrust coefficients of the extended-plug nozzles were relatively insensitive to both nozzle pressure ratio and throat area over the range investigated. The lack of sensitivity of thrust coefficient to nozzle pressure ratio and throat area was due primarily to the absence of severe decreases in thrust coefficient, which are normally observed at low nozzle pressure ratios for convergent-divergent nozzles because of overexpansion. For choked flow, the flow coefficients of the extended-plug nozzles varied from 0.95 to 0.997. A ratio of the outer-shell exit area to nozzle throat area was found to be an important variable affecting nozzle performance. Most of the configurations reported herein showed a small decrease in thrust coefficient at low nozzle pressure ratios; however, it is believed that this characteristic can nearly be eliminated by proper nozzle design.

NOZZLES↗

Nozzle tip wetting in gasoline direct injection injector and its link with nozzle internal flow

Fuel film in the gasoline direct injection injector tip, or so-called nozzle tip wetting, has been found to be an important contributor of particle emissions. Attempts have been made to reduce the nozzle tip wetting by optimizing nozzle geometry designs. However, the inherent mechanism of the nozzle tip wetting formation and its link with nozzle internal flow is still unclear yet due to the lack of direct observations. To overcome this insufficiency, here the nozzle internal flow and the formation process of the nozzle tip wetting were visualized in the real-scale aluminum nozzles using the X-ray phase-contrast technique. Results showed that the needle bouncing, injection pressure, and hole configuration affect the formation of the nozzle tip wetting, while the influence of needle bouncing is the most critical. A further study was conducted to examine the effect of nozzle counterbore diameter on the nozzle tip wetting. It was found that with an increase in counterbore diameter, the nozzle tip wetting slightly increased first and then decreased sharply after the counterbore diameter exceeded 0.40 mm. The mechanisms of the aforementioned phenomena were discussed in detail, which can contribute to the better understandings and control strategies of nozzle tip wetting.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Nozzle assembly and method for forming nozzle assembly

A nozzle assembly is disclosed, including a CMC nozzle shell, a nozzle spar, and an endwall. The CMC nozzle shell includes a CMC composition and an interior cavity. The nozzle spar is partially disposed within the interior cavity and includes a metallic composition, a cross-sectional conformation, a plurality of spacers protruding from the cross-sectional conformation, the plurality of spacers contacting the CMC nozzle shell, and a spar cap. The endwall includes at least one surface in lateral contact with the spar cap and maintains a lateral orientation of the CMC nozzle shell and the nozzle spar relative to the endwall. The lateral orientation maintains a predetermined throat area of the nozzle assembly. A method for forming the nozzle assembly includes inserting the nozzle spar into the interior cavity, rotating the CMC nozzle shell and the nozzle spar laterally relative to the endwall, and maintaining the lateral orientation.

Hafner, Matthew Troy↗

The Effect of Transient Fuel Staging on Self-Excited Instabilities in a Multi-Nozzle Model Gas Turbine Combustor

Combustion instability in gas turbines can be mitigated using active techniques or passive techniques, but passive techniques are almost exclusively used in industrial settings. While fuel staging, a common passive technique, is effective in reducing the amplitude of self-excited instabilities in gas turbine combustors at steady-state conditions, the effect of transients in fuel staging on self-excited instabilities is not well understood. This paper examines the effect of fuel staging transients on a laboratory-scale five-nozzle can combustor undergoing self-excited instabilities. The five nozzles are arranged in a four-around-one configuration and fuel staging is accomplished by increasing the center nozzle equivalence ratio. When the global equivalence ratio is φ = 0.70 and all nozzles are fueled equally, the combustor undergoes self-excited oscillations. These oscillations are suppressed when the center nozzle equivalence ratio is increased to φ = 0.80 or φ = 0.85. Two transient staging schedules are used, resulting in transitions from unstable to stable operation, and vice-versa. It is found that the characteristic instability decay times are dependent on the amount of fuel staging in the center nozzle. It is also found that the decay time constants differ from the growth time constants, indicating hysteresis in stability transition points. High speed CH* chemiluminescence images in combination with dynamic pressure measurements are used to determine the instantaneous phase difference between the heat release rate fluctuation and the combustor pressure fluctuation throughout the combustor. This analysis shows that the instability onset process is different from the instability decay process.

Culler, Wyatt↗

Exhaust Nozzle Plume Effects on Sonic Boom Test Results for Isolated Nozzles

Reducing or eliminating the operational restrictions of supersonic aircraft over populated areas has led to extensive research at NASA. Restrictions were due to the disturbance of the sonic boom, caused by the coalescence of shock waves formed off the aircraft. Recent work has been performed to reduce the magnitude of the sonic boom N-wave generated by airplane components with focus on shock waves caused by the exhaust nozzle plume. Previous Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis showed how the shock wave formed at the nozzle lip interacts with the nozzle boat-tail expansion wave. An experiment was conducted in the 1- by 1-ft Supersonic Wind Tunnel at the NASA Glenn Research Center to validate the computational study. Results demonstrated how the nozzle lip shock moved with increasing nozzle pressure ratio (NPR) and reduced the nozzle boat-tail expansion, causing a favorable change in the observed pressure signature. Experimental results were presented for comparison to the CFD results. The strong nozzle lip shock at high values of NPR intersected the nozzle boat-tail expansion and suppressed the expansion wave. Based on these results, it may be feasible to reduce the boat-tail expansion for a future supersonic aircraft with under-expanded nozzle exhaust flow by modifying nozzle pressure or nozzle divergent section geometry.

Castner, Raymond S.↗

Details of Side Load Test Data and Analysis for a Truncated Ideal Contour Nozzle and a Parabolic Contour Nozzle

Two cold flow subscale nozzles were tested for side load characteristics during simulated nozzle start transients. The two test article contours were a truncated ideal and a parabolic. The current paper is an extension of a 2009 AIAA JPC paper on the test results for the same two nozzle test articles. The side load moments were measured with the strain tube approach in MSFC s Nozzle Test Facility. The processing techniques implemented to convert the strain gage signals into side load moment data are explained. Nozzle wall pressure profiles for separated nozzle flow at many NPRs are presented and discussed in detail. The effect of the test cell diffuser inlet on the parabolic nozzle s wall pressure profiles for separated flow is shown. The maximum measured side load moments for the two contours are compared. The truncated ideal contour s peak side load moment was 45% of that of the parabolic contour. The calculated side load moments, via mean-plus-three-standard-deviations at each nozzle pressure ratio, reproduced the characteristics and absolute values of measured maximums for both contours. The effect of facility vibration on the measured side load moments is quantified and the effect on uncertainty is calculated. The nozzle contour designs are discussed and the impact of a minor fabrication flaw in the nozzle contours is explained.

Ruf, Joseph H.↗

Altitude-Compensating Nozzle (ACN) Project: Planning for Dual-Bell Rocket Nozzle Flight Testing on the NASA F-15B

For more than a half-century, several types of altitude-compensating nozzles have been proposed and analyzed, but very few have been adequately tested in a relevant flight environment. One type of altitude-compensating nozzle is the dual-bell rocket nozzle, which was first introduced into literature in 1949. Although the dual-bell rocket nozzle has been thoroughly studied, this nozzle has still not been tested in a relevant flight environment. This poster presents the top-level rationale and preliminary plans for conducting flight research with the dual-bell rocket nozzle, while exhausting the plume into the freestream flow field at various altitudes. The primary objective is to gain a greater understanding of the nozzle plume sensitivity to freestream flight effects, which will also include detailed measurements of the plume mode transition within the nozzle. To accomplish this goal, the NASA F-15B is proposed as the testbed for advancing the technology readiness level of this greatly-needed capability. All proposed tests include the quantitative performance analysis of the dual-bell rocket nozzle as compared with the conventional-bell nozzle.

Jones, Daniel S.↗

Modifications to the nozzle test chamber to extend nozzle static-test capability

The nozzle test chamber was modified to provide a high-pressure-ratio nozzle static-test capability. Experiments were conducted to determine the range of the ratio of nozzle total pressure to chamber pressure and to make direct nozzle thrust measurements using a three-component strain-gage force balance. Pressure ratios from 3 to 285 were measured with several axisymmetric nozzles at a nozzle total pressure of 15 to 190 psia. Devices for measuring system mass flow were calibrated using standard axisymmetric convergent choked nozzles. System mass-flow rates up to 10 lbm/sec are measured. The measured thrust results of these nozzles are in good agreement with one-dimensional theoretical predictions for convergent nozzles.

Keyes, J. W.↗

Exhaust Nozzle Plume Effects on Sonic Boom Test Results for Vectored Nozzles

Reducing or eliminating the operational restrictions of supersonic aircraft over populated areas has led to extensive research at NASA. Restrictions were due to the disturbance of the sonic boom, caused by the coalescence of shock waves formed off the aircraft. Recent work has been performed to reduce the magnitude of the sonic boom N-wave generated by airplane components with a focus on shock waves caused by the exhaust nozzle plume. Previous Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis showed how the shock wave formed at the nozzle lip interacts with the nozzle boat-tail expansion wave. An experiment was conducted in the 1- by 1-foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel (SWT) at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Results show how the shock generated at the nozzle lip affects the near field pressure signature, and thereby the potential sonic boom contribution for a nozzle at vector angles from 3 to 8 . The experiment was based on the NASA F-15 nozzle used in the Lift and Nozzle Change Effects on Tail Shock experiment, which possessed a large external boat-tail angle. In this case, the large boat-tail angle caused a dramatic expansion, which dominated the near field pressure signature. The impact of nozzle vector angle and nozzle pressure ratio are summarized.

Castner, Raymond↗

Hole number effect on spray dynamics of multi-hole diesel nozzles: An observation from three- to nine-hole nozzles

For the simplicity of optical diagnostics, studies on fuel spray and combustion characteristics of modern diesel engines have been conducted using the investigation nozzles having the reduced number of holes (two- or three-hole nozzles) compared to the production nozzles. However, the similarity of spray dynamics between the investigation nozzles and production nozzles has not been confirmed yet. Also, the hole number effect on spray dynamics has been investigated only in a limited range of hole number making it difficult to derive the clear trend and understandings of the hole number effect. In this study, the hole number effect on spray dynamics of multi-hole diesel nozzles has been investigated in a wide range of hole number with sufficient data points (three, five, six, eight, nine-hole) by using the X-ray Phase-Contrast Imaging technique. The non-linear trend in the spray structure, as well as the dynamics results, was observed as increasing the hole number regardless of injection pressure. Discussions were made accordingly to understand the observed result trend. In conclusion, the study suggests that great attention is needed when deciding the number of nozzle holes for the optimized engine combustion.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Splitting supersonic nozzle flow into separate jets by overexpansion into a multilobed divergent nozzle

Air flowing from a convergent nozzle at pressure ratios greater than 2.5 has been split into eight separate jets by overexpansion of the flow into a divergent, eight-lobed passage. The splitting of the flow is accompanied by a decrease in the nozzle axial centerline Mach number. This in part is due to the radial inflow of secondary air between the lobes toward the nozzle centerline. Each of the smaller jets is partially split after it leaves the end of the divergent lobed section of the nozzle, thus creating a velocity profile having 16 peaks. At a pressure ratio of 3.5 the flow decelerates to Mach 1 in three convergent nozzle throat diameters. Convergent nozzle flow normally requires 12 diameters to reach Mach 1. The nozzle has a sound attenuation of 12 decibels with a thrust loss of 9 percent for the best configuration tested.

Huff, R. G.↗

Performance comparison of a lobed-daisy mixer nozzle with a convergent nozzle at subsonic speeds

An investigation to determine the performance, in terms of thrust minus nozzle axial force, of a lobed-daisy mixer nozzle has been conducted in a 16-foot transonic tunnel at static conditions and at Mach numbers from 0.40 to 0.90 at angles of attack from 4 minus to 8. Jet-total-pressure ratio was varied from about 1.2 to 2.0. The performance of a reference convergent nozzle with a similar nozzle throat area and length was used as a base line to evaluate the performance of the lobed-daisy mixer nozzle. The results of this investigation indicate that with no external airflow (Mach number M of 0), and at values of jet-total-pressure ratio between 1.2 and 2.0, the static thrust exerted by the lobed-daisy mixer nozzle is less than that of the convergent nozzle by about 10 percent of ideal gross thrust. About 3.4 percent of the thrust loss was attributed to an unintentional internal area expansion in the fan passage.

Maiden, D. L.↗

Jet-Surface Interaction: High Aspect Ratio Nozzle Test, Nozzle Design and Preliminary Data

The Jet-Surface Interaction High Aspect Ratio (JSI-HAR) nozzle test is part of an ongoing effort to measure and predict the noise created when an aircraft engine exhausts close to an airframe surface. The JSI-HAR test is focused on parameters derived from the Turbo-electric Distributed Propulsion (TeDP) concept aircraft which include a high-aspect ratio mailslot exhaust nozzle, internal septa, and an aft deck. The size and mass flow rate limits of the test rig also limited the test nozzle to a 16:1 aspect ratio, half the approximately 32:1 on the TeDP concept. Also, unlike the aircraft, the test nozzle must transition from a single round duct on the High Flow Jet Exit Rig, located in the AeroAcoustic Propulsion Laboratory at the NASA Glenn Research Center, to the rectangular shape at the nozzle exit. A parametric nozzle design method was developed to design three low noise round-to-rectangular transitions, with 8:1, 12:1, and 16: aspect ratios, that minimizes flow separations and shocks while providing a flat flow profile at the nozzle exit. These designs validated using the WIND-US CFD code. A preliminary analysis of the test data shows that the actual flow profile is close to that predicted and that the noise results appear consistent with data from previous, smaller scale, tests. The JSI-HAR test is ongoing through October 2015. The results shown in the presentation are intended to provide an overview of the test and a first look at the preliminary results.

Aeroacoustics↗

Comparison of Equivalence Ratio Transients on Combustion Instability in Single-Nozzle and Multi-Nozzle Combustors

Low-emissions gas turbine combustion, achieved through the use of lean, premixed fueling strategies, is susceptible to combustion instability. The driving mechanism for this instability arises from fluctuations of pressure, fuel/air flow rate, and heat release rate. If these fluctuations are relatively in-phase, the combustion system will evolve to a self-excited state. The self-excited instability frequency and amplitude depend mainly on the operating condition and the geometry of the combustor. In this study, we consider the onset and decay of self-excited instabilities, resulting from transients in fuel/air ratio, in both single-nozzle and multi-nozzle combustors. In particular, we examine the differences in the instability onset and decay processes between these two flame configurations, as most gas turbine combustors have multiple nozzles, but most gas turbine combustor experiments utilize a single-nozzle. A nonlinear logistic regression analysis is applied to study the timescales of the decay and onset transients. Variations in the equivalence ratio change the heat release rate distribution inside the combustor, which is captured using chemiluminescence imaging. The normalized Rayleigh index, which shows the spatial distribution of the instability driving, is calculated to analyze the driving strength in different regions of the flame. Comparisons between the single- and multi-nozzle flame transients, including both center and outer flames for the multi-nozzle combustor, suggest that both confinement from the wall and flame-flame interaction are crucial to determining flame dynamics as the equivalence ratio transient changes the heat release rate distribution near corner recirculation zone and flame shear layers.

Chen, Xiaoling↗

Comparison of equivalence ratio transients on combustion instability in single-nozzle and multi-nozzle combustors

Low-emissions gas turbine combustion, achieved through the use of lean, premixed fueling strategies, is susceptible to combustion instability. The driving mechanism for this instability arises from fluctuations of pressure, fuel/air flow rate, and heat release rate. If these fluctuations are relatively in-phase, the combustion system will evolve to a self-excited state. The self-excited instability frequency and amplitude depend mainly on the operating condition and the geometry of the combustor. In this study, we consider the onset and decay of self-excited instabilities, resulting from transients in fuel/air ratio, in both single-nozzle and multi-nozzle combustors. In particular, we examine the differences in the instability onset and decay processes between these two flame configurations, as most gas turbine combustors have multiple nozzles, but most gas turbine combustor experiments utilize a single-nozzle. A nonlinear logistic regression analysis is applied to study the timescales of the decay and onset transients. Variations in the equivalence ratio change the heat release rate distribution inside the combustor, which is captured using chemiluminescence imaging. The normalized Rayleigh index, which shows the spatial distribution of the instability driving, is calculated to analyze the driving strength in different regions of the flame. Comparisons between the single- and multi-nozzle flame transients, including both center and outer flames for the multi-nozzle combustor, suggest that both confinements from the wall and flame-flame interaction are crucial to determining flame dynamics as the equivalence ratio transient changes the heat release rate distribution near corner recirculation zone and flame shear layers.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Effect of nozzle lateral spacing on afterbody drag and performance of twin-jet afterbody models with convergent-divergent nozzles at Mach numbers up to 2.2

Twin-jet afterbody models were investigated by using two balances to measure the thrust-minus-total drag and the afterbody drag, separately, at static conditions and at Mach numbers up to 2.2 for an angle of attack of 0 deg. Hinged-flap convergent-divergent nozzles were tested at subsonic-cruise- and maximum-afterburning-power settings with a high-pressure air system used to provide jet-total-pressure ratios up to 20. Two nozzle lateral spacings were studied, using afterbodies with similar interfairing shapes but with different longitudinal cross-sectional area distributions. Alternate, blunter, interfairings with different shapes for the two spacings, which produced afterbodies having identical cross-sectional area progressions corresponding to an axisymmetric minimum wave-drag configuration, were also tested. The results indicate that the wide-spaced configurations improved the flow field around the nozzles, thereby reducing drag on the cruise nozzles; however, the increased surface and projected cross-sectional areas caused an increase in afterbody drag. Except for a slight advantage with cruise nozzles at subsonic speeds, the wide-spaced configurations had the higher total drag at all other test conditions.

Pendergraft, O. C., Jr.↗

Measured Base Pressures on Several Twin Rocket-Nozzle Configurations at Mach Numbers of 0.6 to 1.4 with Effects Due to Nozzle Canting and Stabilizing Fins

An experimental investigation has been conducted at Mach numbers of 0.6 to 1.4 to determine the base pressures on several cylindrical afterbody configurations having two propulsive nozzles and to determine the effect on base pressure of stabilizing fins and the canting outward of the propulsive nozzles. Nozzle design Mach numbers of 2.0 and 3.43 were employed in this investigation and cold air at total pressures up to 120 times the free-stream static pressure was used to simulate nozzle flow. The results show that canting the nozzles outward 11 degrees was effective in increasing base pressures at supersonic speeds and that stabilizing fins caused a decrease in base pressure. The magnitudes of base pressure coefficients obtained in this investigation were consistent with those obtained on similar configurations in previous jet-effect investigations.

Cubbage, James M.↗