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Abstract More than a decade ago, we proposed combined use of direct injection (DI) and jet ignition (JI) to produce high efficiency, high power-density, positive-ignition (PI), lean burn stratified, internal combustion engines (ICEs). Adopting this concept, the latest FIA F1 engines, which are electrically assisted, turbocharged, directly injected, jet ignited, gasoline engines and work lean stratified in a highly boosted environment, have delivered peak power fuel conversion efficiencies well above 46%, with specific power densities more than 340 kW/liter. The concept, further evolved, is here presented for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications. Results of simulations for a new DI JI ICE with rotary valve, being super-turbocharged and having gasoline or methanol as working fuel, show the opportunity to achieve even larger power densities, up to 430 kW/liter, while delivering a near-constant torque and, consequently, a nearly linear power curve over a wide range of speeds.

Abstract While the design of nozzles for diatomic gases is very well established and covered by published works, the case of a diatomic gas dissociating to monatomic along a nozzle is a novel subject that needs a proper mathematical description. These novel studies are relevant to the definition of nozzles for gas-core Nuclear Thermal Rockets (NTR) that are receiving increased attention for the potential advantages they may deliver versus current generation rockets. The article thus reviews the design of the nozzles of gas-core NTR that use hydrogen as the propellant. Propellant temperatures are expected to reach 9,000-15,000 K. Above 1500 K, hydrogen begins to dissociate at low pressures, and around 3000 K dissociation also occurs at high pressures. At a given temperature, the lower the gas pressure the more molecules dissociate, and H2 → H + H. The properties of the gas are a function of the mass fractions of diatomic and monatomic hydrogen x H2 and x H = 1 − x H2.

Abstract The preliminary gas turbine combustor design process uses a huge amount of empirical correlations to achieve more optimized designs. Combustion efficiency, in relation to the basic dimensions of the combustor, is one of the most critical performance parameters. In this study, semi-empirical correlations for combustion efficiencies are examined and correlation coefficients have been revised using an experimental air-blasted tubular combustor that uses JP8 kerosene aviation fuel. Besides, droplet diameter and effective evaporation constant parameters have been investigated for different operating conditions. In the study, it is observed that increased air velocity significantly improves the atomization process and decreases droplet diameters, while increasing the mass flow rate has a positive effect on the atomization—the relative air velocity in the air-blast atomizer increases and the fuel droplets become finer.

Abstract A large amount of heat generated in the engineering compartment in a hovering helicopter may lead to premature degradation of inner skin of its engine cowling and cause serious failure on the engine cowling. This study proposes a solution of improving heat resistance of the helicopter engine cowlings by replacing the currently used intumescent coating with a ceramic coating material, Cerakote C-7700Q. Oven and flame tests were designed and conducted to evaluate the heat resistance of Cerakote C-7700Q. The test results show that the currently used painting scheme of the engine cowlings failed the 220°C oven test while after replacing the epoxy seal coat with the Cerakote, the new painting system passed the 220°C test in regards to painting bubbling. Based on that, a new painting scheme with C-7700Q implemented was recommended.

Abstract Electrostatic discharge during aircraft refueling operations has long been recognized as a safety hazard. To reduce the chances of this happening, different practices were developed, the most common being the addition of a static dissipator additive (SDA). Nowadays, the SDA is a well-established requirement in all the leading jet-fuel specifications and is in widespread use in commercial and military aviation industries. To deepen the understanding of the electrostatic behavior of nonconductive jet fuel and SDA, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has conducted small-scale refueling tests in a simulated aircraft fuel tank. In these tests, the effect of flow rate, residence time, SDA concentration, bounding, grounding, and the method of filling were evaluated by measuring the electrostatic field strength generated. The simulation of the aircraft fuel tank was obtained using a nonconductive plastic tank jointed with a small faucet at the bottom.

Abstract The main technical barrier to commercial use of microturbines is its low efficiency, not exceeding 15%. Efficiency and specific power are as high as the Turbine Inlet Temperature (TIT), generally limited to 950°C in microturbines, as its tiny rotors make internal blade cooling impossible. This work uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to develop an external cooling system of the blades of a microturbine by incorporating a compressor into the disk to blow air over the blades’ walls. The engine used as the basis of the work is the FD-3/64. The work was divided into two steps. In the first, Step 1, the reactive flow in the combustor was simulated to obtain the boundary conditions for Step 2. In Step 2, the flow through the turbine wheel during rotation is simulated. Four rotor models were simulated.

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Abstract Water droplet size variation has been established in the literature as an important variable that influences the behavior and characteristics of water in fuel emulsion. However, with the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), no data is available that shows how these fuels will affect the size of dispersed water droplets and their frequency distribution. To address this lack of knowledge, this study explores and presents experimental results on the characterization of dispersed water droplets in alternative fuels and Jet A-1 fuel under dynamic conditions. The alternative fuels comprised of two fully synthetic fuels, two fuels synthesized from bio-derived materials, and one bio-derived fuel. The data and statistics presented reveal that water droplet frequency and size distribution are sensitive to changes in fuel composition.

Abstract For electromechanical actuators (EMAs) and electronic devices cooling on aircraft, there is a need to study cooling fan performance at various altitudes from sea level to 12,000 m where the ambient pressure varies from 1 to 0.2 atm. As fan static pressure head is proportional to air density, the fan’s rotational speed has to be increased significantly to compensate for the low ambient pressure of 0.2 atm at the altitude of 12,000 m. To evaluate fan performance for EMA cooling, a high-rotational-speed, commercially available fan made by Ametek with a diameter of ~82 mm and ~3 m3/min zero-load open cooling flow rate when operating at 20,000 rpm was chosen as the baseline. According to fan scaling laws, this fan was expected to meet the cooling needs for an EMA when operating at 0.2 atm. Using a closed flow loop, the performance of the fan operating in the above ambient pressure range and at a rotational speed between 15,000 and 30,000 rpm was evaluated.

Abstract Electric ducted-fans with high power density are widely used in hybrid aircraft, electric aircraft, and VTOL vehicles. For the state-of-the-art electric ducted-fan, motor cooling restricts the power density increase. A motor design model based on the fan hub-to-tip ratio proposed in this article reveals that the thermal coupling effect between fan aerodynamic design and motor cooling design has great potential to increase the power density of the motor in an electric propulsion system. A smaller hub-to-tip ratio is preferred as long as the power balance and cooling balance are satisfied. Parametric study on a current 6 kW electric ducted-fan system shows that the highest motor power density could be increased by 246% based on the current technology. Finally, a preliminary design was obtained and experiments were conducted to prove the feasibility of the model.

Abstract There has been an increased interest as regards the use of biofuels in aviation gas turbine engines due to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions along with fluctuating jet fuel prices. This work researches the use of soap-derived biokerosene (SBK) in aircraft engines. SBK is a promising biofuel option for emerging tropical countries as its production requires a relatively simple technology, and its feedstock sources are abundant in these countries. Blends of Jet A-1 with up to 20 vol.% SBK were tested on a 1S/60 Rover gas turbine engine over a range of brake powers to measure engine performance and emissions. The results were then compared to those of pure Jet A-1. It shows that the engine running on SBK/Jet A-1 blends and pure Jet A-1 have almost similar engine performance parameters including engine efficiency, specific fuel consumption (SFC), turbine inlet temperature (TIT), and exhaust gas temperature (EGT).

Abstract Turboshaft engines, one of the classifications of the helicopters, combine the core engine and fan and consume fossil fuels. Using of fossil fuel causes global warming and environmental pollution, such as ecological, human health. To improve helicopter capability, energy is the first point of improvement. High-energy efficient helicopter engines help decrease the environmental damage. Exergy should be applied to the system to determine the maximum available energy. In this study, energy analysis and exergy analysis have been applied to a turboshaft helicopter engine. According to the result of this study, the maximum energy and exergy efficiencies are found to be 21.99% and 15.87%, respectively, at 1500 Shaft Horsepower (SHP). It is seen that the efficiencies increase with the increase of the engine power. Besides, exergy destructions and exergy loss values are presented by calculating different powers.

Abstract Piston internal combustion engines used in the propulsion of ultralight aircraft are characterized by special operating conditions, especially an increased engine oil temperature. Most of the engines intended for the drive of the propeller drivetrain are air cooled. Failure to introduce an additional cooling agent so as to absorb and remove heat from the running engine makes the average lubricating oil temperature rise to about 140°C in the pistohn ring part. With such a thermal load, changes in the moments of resistance to motion of the engine are difficult to determine in the conditions of engine tests due to difficulties in temperature stabilization. The performance of aircraft engines requires taking into account many variables that are difficult to determine, which may affect changes in the moment of resistance to movement of the engine, especially when using oils of low dynamic viscosity.

Abstract The increase in worldwide awareness of environmental issues has necessitated the air transport industry to drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions. To meet this goal, one solution is the electrification of aircraft propulsion systems. In particular, single-aisle aircraft with partial turboelectric propulsion with approximately 150 passenger seats in the 2030s are the focus. To develop a single-aisle aircraft with partial turboelectric propulsion, an air-cooled interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor with an output of 2 MW is desired. In this article, mathematical system equations that describe heat transfer inside the target air-cooled IPM motor are formulated, and their mathematical analytical solutions are obtained.

Abstract This article reports a reduced-order modeling framework of bladed disks on a rotating shaft to simulate the vibration signature of faults in different components, aiming toward simulated data-driven machine learning. We have employed lumped and one-dimensional analytical models of the subcomponents for better insight into the complex dynamic response. The framework addresses some of the challenges encountered in analyzing and optimizing fault detection and identification schemes for health monitoring of aeroengines and other rotating machinery. We model the bladed disks and shafts by combining lumped elements and one-dimensional finite elements, leading to a coupled system. The simulation results are in good agreement with previously published data. We model and analyze the cracks in a blade with their effective reduced stiffness approximation.

Abstract The airline industry faces a crisis in the future as consumer demand is increasing, but the environmental effects and depleting resources of kerosene mean that growth is unsustainable. Hydrogen is touted as the leading candidate to replace kerosene, but it needs significant technological and economical endeavors. In such a scenario, cryogenic liquid hydrogen (LH2) is predicted to be the most feasible method of using hydrogen. The major challenge of LH2 as an aircraft fuel is that it requires approximately four times the storage volume of kerosene—due to its lower density. Thus the design of cryogenic storage tanks to handle larger quantities of fuel is becoming increasingly important. But the increase in drag associated with larger storage tanks causes an increase in fuel consumption. Hence, this paper aims to evaluate the aerodynamic performance of different storage configurations and aid in the selection of an economic and efficient storage system.

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Abstract Turboprop aircraft have the capability of reversing thrust to provide extra stopping power during landing. Reverse thrust helps save the wear and tear on the brakes and reduces the landing distance under various conditions. The article explains a methodology to predict the disking drag (reverse thrust) from the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique using Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory and estimation of the same from high-speed taxiing trial (HSTT) and ground roll data for a turboprop aircraft using system identification techniques. One-dimensional kinematic equation was used for modeling the aircraft dynamics, and the error between measured and estimated responses was optimized using the Output Error Optimization Method (OEOM). The estimated propeller drag was matched with CFD predictions to arrive at a relation between the propeller blade pitch angle and throttle position.

Abstract For spacecraft with high power consumption, it is reasonable to build the thermal control system based on a two-phase mechanically pumped loop. The heat-controlled accumulator is a key element of the two-phase mechanically pumped loop, which allows for the control of pressure in the loop and maintains the required level of coolant boiling temperature or cavitation margin at the pump inlet. There can be two critical modes of loop operation where the ability to control pressure will be lost. The first critical mode occurs when the accumulator fills with liquid at high heat loads. The second critical mode occurs when the accumulator is at low heat loads and partial loss of coolant, for example, due to the leak caused by micrometeorite breakdown. Both modes are caused by insufficient accumulator volume or working fluid charge.

Abstract This work describes an investigation of measurement techniques for the indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) on a 55 cc single-cylinder, 4.4 kW, two-stroke, spark ignition (SI) engine intended for use on Group 1 and Group 2 remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs). Three different sensors were used: two piezoelectric pressure transducers (one flush mount and one measuring spark plug) for measuring in-cylinder pressure and one capacitive sensor for determining the top dead center (TDC) position of the piston. The effort consisted of three objectives: to investigate the merits of a flush mount pressure transducer compared to a pressure transducer integrated into the spark plug, to perform a parametric analysis to characterize the effect of the variability in the engine test bench controls on the IMEP, and to determine the thermodynamic loss angle for the engine.