Wind Tunnel-Based Aerodynamic Model Identification for a Tilt-Wing, Distributed Electric Propulsion Aircraft
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Wind Tunnel-Based Aerodynamic Model Identification for a Tilt-Wing, Distributed Electric Propulsion Aircraft
This paper describes the methodology used to develop a high-fidelity aerodynamic model for the Langley Aerodrome No. 8 (LA-8) tandem tilt-wing, distributed electric propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle configurations exhibit aerodynamic characteristics of both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft as well as complex vehicle-specific phenomena, such as propeller-wing interactions and high incidence angle propeller aerodynamics. Consequently, conventional aircraft aerodynamic modeling strategies require modification when applied to eVTOL aircraft. Two novel system identification-based approaches are used to develop an aerodynamic model for the LA-8 aircraft configuration using wind tunnel data collected with design of experiments techniques. The modeling strategies are compared by assessing their predictive performance for validation data acquired separately from the data used to identify the model and are shown to have sufficient predictive capability. Research findings are presented with a discussion of unique eVTOL aerodynamic modeling characteristics and practical strategies to inform future aerodynamic modeling efforts for eVTOL aircraft.
Urban Air Mobility↗
Electromagnetic inductive heating of the asteroids and moon as evidence bearing on the primordial solar wind
Thermal evolutionary models of the asteroids and the moon based on the hypothesis of electrical inductive heating by a dense primordial solar wind are compared with observation. Inferences (derived from spectroscopy) of asteroidal mineralogy when compared with electrical heating models, the variation of cooling rates recorded in iron meteorites, and the occurrence of the lunar magma ocean event lend support to the hypothesis of inductive heating. A high primordial solar rotation rate and magnetic field together with the loss due to plasma outflow of a substantial fraction of the initial solar mass would follow.
Herbert, F.↗
The motional voltmeter - A method of distinction between a hot and cold moon based upon the solar wind-induced planetary dynamo current system.
Lunar interior thermal regime measurement method based on dynamo induction of electric field on planetary scale by solar wind
Colburn, D. S.↗
Ground‐based magnetometer determination of in situ Pc4–5 ULF electric field wave spectra as a function of solar wind speed
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I. Jonathan Rae↗
The NATA code; theory and analysis. Volume 2: User's manual
The NATA code is a computer program for calculating quasi-one-dimensional gas flow in axisymmetric nozzles and rectangular channels, primarily to describe conditions in electric archeated wind tunnels. The program provides solutions based on frozen chemistry, chemical equilibrium, and nonequilibrium flow with finite reaction rates. The shear and heat flux on the nozzle wall are calculated and boundary layer displacement effects on the inviscid flow are taken into account. The program contains compiled-in thermochemical, chemical kinetic and transport cross section data for high-temperature air, CO2-N2-Ar mixtures, helium, and argon. It calculates stagnation conditions on axisymmetric or two-dimensional models and conditions on the flat surface of a blunt wedge. Included in the report are: definitions of the inputs and outputs; precoded data on gas models, reactions, thermodynamic and transport properties of species, and nozzle geometries; explanations of diagnostic outputs and code abort conditions; test problems; and a user's manual for an auxiliary program (NOZFIT) used to set up analytical curvefits to nozzle profiles.
Bade, W. L.↗
A description of the solar wind-magnetosphere coupling based on nonlinear filters
A nonlinear filtering method is introduced for the study of the solar wind -- magnetosphere coupling and related to earlier linear techniques. The filters are derived from the magnetospheric state, a representation of the magnetospheric conditions in terms of a few global variables, here the auroral electrojet indices. The filters also couple to the input, a representation of the solar wind variables, here the rectified electric field. Filter-based iterative prediction of the indices has been obtained for up to 20 hours. The prediction is stable with respect to perturbations in the initial magnetospheric state; these decrease exponentially at the rate of 30/min. The performance of the method is examined for a wide range of parameters and is superior to that of other linear and nonlinear techniques. In the magnetospheric state representation the coupling is modeled as a small number of nonlinear equations under a time-dependent input.
Vassiliadis, D.↗
Winter Lightning to the Lee of Lake Ontario: The Lake-Effect Electrification (LEE) Field Campaign
The National Science Foundation-sponsored Lake-Effect Electrification (LEE) field campaign intensive observation periods occurred between November and early February 2022-23 across the eastern Lake Ontario region. Project LEE documented, for the first time, the total lightning and electrical charge structures of lake-effect storms and the associated storm environment using a lightning mapping array (LMA), a mobile dual-polarization X-band radar, and balloon-based soundings that measured vertical profiles of temperature, humidity, wind, electric field, and hydrometeor types. LEE also observed abundant wind turbine-initiated lightning, which is climatologically more likely during the winter. The frequent occurrence of intense lake-effect storms and the proximity of a wind farm with nearly 300 turbines each more than 100 m tall to the lee of Lake Ontario provided an ideal laboratory for this study.
Scott M Steiger↗
High pressure hypervelocity electrothermal wind tunnel performance study and subscale tests
The feasibility of a Mach 10 to 20, high pressure electrothermal wind tunnel was assessed. A heater based on a continuous high power electric arc discharge capable of heating air to temperatures above 10,000 K and pressures of 15,000 atm is the key element of this wind tunnel. Results of analytical study indicate that the facility is capable of simulation conditions suitable for hypervelocity airbreathing propulsion testing up to Mach 16. In this case simulation was limited by pressure containment, high nozzle throat heat flux rates, and chemical freezing in the nozzle. The high total pressure capability improved the recombination chemistry in the facility nozzle as chemical equilibrium prevailed to the freezing point. Steady arc discharges were observed with liquid nitrogen flowing into the arc chamber during tests based on the two millisecond test facility. The measured steady pressure in the arc chamber was 4559 psi, which is two times greater than maximum total pressure obtainable in conventional arc heaters.
Rizkalla, Oussama F.↗
Modeling of the coupled magnetospheric and neutral wind dynamos
The solar wind interaction with the earth's magnetosphere generates electric fields and currents that flow from the magnetosphere to the ionosphere at high latitudes. Consequently, the neutral atmosphere is subject to the dissipation and conversion of this electrical energy to thermal and mechanical energy through Joule heating and Lorentz forcing. As a result of the mechanical energy stored within the neutral wind (caused in part by Lorentz--and pressure gradient--forces set up by the magnetospheric flux of electrical energy), electric currents and fields can be generated in the ionosphere through the neutral wind dynamo mechanism. At high latitudes this source of electrical energy has been largely ignored in past studies, owing to the assumed dominance of the solar wind/magnetospheric dynamo as an electrical energy source to the ionosphere. However, other researchers have demonstrated that the available electrical energy provided by the neutral wind is significant at high latitudes, particularly in the midnight sector of the polar cap and in the region of the magnetospheric convection reversal. As a result, the conclusions of a number of broad ranging high-latitude investigations may be modified if the neutral-wind contribution to high-latitude electrodynamics is properly accounted for. These include the following: studies assessing solar wind-magnetospheric coupling by comparing the cross polar cap potential with solar wind parameters; research based on the alignment of particle precipitation with convection or field aligned current boundaries; and synoptic investigations attributing seasonal variations in the observed electric field and current patterns to external sources. These research topics have been initiated by satellite and ground-based observations and have been attributed to magnetospheric causes. However, the contribution of the neutral wind to the high-latitude electric field and current systems and their seasonal and local time dependence has yet to be quantitatively evaluated. In this program, we are evaluating the coupled magnetospheric and neutral wind dynamos at high latitudes under various conditions. In addition to examining the impact of seasonal variations, we are investigating the consequences of the separate dynamos having pure current-source or voltage-source behaviors.
Thayer, Jeff P.↗
An Overview of 2014 SBIR Phase 1 and Phase 2 Air-Breathing Propulsion
NASA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program focuses on technological innovation by investing in development of innovative concepts and technologies to help NASA mission directorates address critical research needs for Agency programs. This report highlights nine of the innovative SBIR 2014 Phase I and Phase II projects that emphasize one of NASA Glenn Research Center's six core competencies-Air-Breathing Propulsion. The technologies cover a wide spectrum of applications such as development of X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging method for the measurement of complex 3D ice shapes, phased array techniques for low signal-to-noise ratio wind tunnels, compact kinetic mechanisms for petroleum-derived and alternative aviation fuels, and hybrid electric propulsion systems for a multirotor aircraft. Each featured technology describes an innovation, technical objective, and highlights NASA commercial and industrial applications. This report provides as an opportunity for NASA engineers, researchers, and program managers to learn how NASA SBIR technologies could help their programs and projects, and lead to collaborations and partnerships between the small SBIR companies and NASA that would benefit both.
phased array technique for wind tunnels↗
Principle of planetary unipolar generators
Planetary unipolar electric generator system theoretical model based on polarization charges deposition by solar wind
Sonett, C. P.↗
Aerodynamics Improve Wind Wheel
Modifications based on aerodynamic concepts would raise efficiency of wind-wheel electric-power generator. Changes smooth airflow, to increase power output, without increasing size of wheel. Significant improvements in efficiency anticipated without any increase in size or number of moving parts and without departing from simplicity of original design.
Ramsey, V. W.↗
Corotation anisotropies in Saturn's magnetosphere
Ion data from the Voyager 1 and 2 low-energy charged particle (LECP) experiment are fit to a second-order harmonic expansion to determine anisotropies within the Saturnian magnetosphere. Anisotropies from the low-energy channels (28-130 keV) are often consistent with those expected from corotation (generally with a small radial component on the dayside) but are at times distinctly different from corotation. On the dayside, near the noon meridian, first-order anisotropies often depart significantly from the corotation direction. On the nightside, amplitudes are consistent with full corotation but begin to drop below corotation values at a dipole L of approximately 27 Saturn radii (corresponding to a velocity of approximately 265 km/s). Second-order anisotropies are significant, even dominant at times, on the dayside where a relatively broad range of pitch angles is sampled by the instrument. In all cases there is a departure of approximately 180 deg from the first-order anisotropies expected due to corotation beginning outside the Rhea L shell and continuing through at least the orbit of Dione. This is the region where the cold and hot plasma tori have been observed. The anisotropies expected from rigid corotation of the observed flux distributions are computed, and it is concluded that parts of the Saturnian magnetosphere are not rigidly corotating. Calculations based on the combined effects of corotation plus solar wind generated convective electric fields appear to provide insights into the anisotropies along the dawn meridian. However, on the dayside near noon, turbulence and/or time variations seem necessary to explain the departure from simple convection models.
Carbary, J. F.↗
Aerodynamic resistance reduction of electric and hybrid vehicles
The generation of an EHV aerodynamic data base was initiated by conducting full-scale wind tunnel tests on 16 vehicles. Zero-yaw drag coefficients ranged from a high of 0.58 for a boxey delivery van and an open roadster to a low of about 0.34 for a current 4-passenger prototype automobile which was designed with aerodynamics as an integrated parameter. Characteristic effects of aspect ratio or fineness ratio which might appear if electric vehicle shape proportions were to vary significantly from current automobiles were identified. Some preliminary results indicate a 5 to 10% variation in drag over the range of interest. Effective drag coefficient wind-weighting factors over J227a driving cycles in the presence of annual mean wind fields were identified. Such coefficients, when properly weighted, were found to be from 5 to 65% greater than the zero-yaw drag coefficient in the cases presented. A vehicle aerodynamics bibliography of over 160 entries, in six general categories is included.
Source record↗
Control design and performance analysis of a 6 MW wind turbine-generator
This paper discusses an approach to the modeling and performance for the preliminary design phase of a large (6.2 MW) horizontal axis wind turbine generator (WTG). Two control philosophies are presented, both of which are based on linearized models of the WT mechanical and electrical systems. The control designs are compared by showing the performance through detailed non-linear time simulation. The disturbances considered are wind gusts, and electrical faults near the WT terminals.
Murdoch, A.↗
Wind turbines for electric utilities: Development status and economics
The technology and economics of the large, horizontal-axis wind turbines currently in the Federal Wind Energy Program are presented. Wind turbine technology advancements made in the last several years are discussed. It is shown that, based on current projections of the costs of these machines when produced in quantity, they should be attractive for utility application. The cost of electricity (COE) produced at the busbar is shown to be a strong function of the mean wind speed at the installation site. The breakeven COE as a fuel saver is discussed and the COE range that would be generally attractive to utilities is indicated.
Ramler, J. R.↗
Wind turbines for electric utilities - Development status and economics
The technology and economics of the large, horizontal-axis wind turbines currently in the Federal Wind Energy Program are presented. Wind turbine technology advancements made in the last several years are discussed. It is shown that, based on current projections of the costs of these machines when produced in quantity, they should be attractive for utility application. The cost of electricity (COE) produced at the busbar is shown to be a strong function of the mean wind speed at the installation site. The breakeven COE as a 'fuel saver' is discussed and the COE range that would be generally attractive to utilities is indicated.
Ramler, J. R.↗