Aviation and spacecraft engineering. Рубрика в журнале - Siberian Aerospace Journal
Solar thermal propulsion systems with various high-temperature power sources
Статья научная
The paper provides an overview of space thermal propulsion (STP) systems using concentrated solar energy as the main source of power. The paper considers solar thermal rocket engines of various configurations including those with afterburning of hydrogen heated in the “concentrator – absorber” system (CAS) with various oxidizers. Together with hydrogen the oxidizers form high-energy fuel compositions with a high value of ratio of components mass flow-rates which allows reducing the dimension of the CAS. The extreme dependences of the engine thrust on the specific impulse are shown for various values of the hydrogen heating temperature and the oxidizer-to-fuel ratio. The coefficients of the regression dependencies for the efficiency of a two-stage absorber and an absorber with the maximum non-isothermal heating having the highest possible energy efficiency are presented. The algorithms for calculating the main design parameters of the STP system as a part of a spacecraft (SC) are given, taking into account the ballistic parameters of the multi-turn transfer trajectory with multiple active segments applied to the STP systems having an energy-efficient non-isothermal CAS. The engine configurations with thermal heat accumulation and possible afterburning of heated hydrogen are also considered. Thermal accumulation allows accumulating energy in the solar-absorber during passive movement in the illuminated portions of the transfer orbits regardless of the lighting conditions of the apsidal orbit portions where the engine is turned on. Suitable heat-accumulating phase transition materials (HAM) such as the eutectic alloy of boron and silicon as well as refractory beryllium oxide are selected for different phases of the interorbital transfer to the geostationary Earth orbit (GEO). The main characteristics of different configurations of the STP systems in the problem of placing a spacecraft (SC) into high-energy GEO orbits are shown. A model of the SCSTP system operation is given taking into account ballistic parameters and the possibility of accumulating thermal energy. It is shown that the oxidizer-to-fuel ratio in STP systems with thermal energy storage (TES) increases with the decrease of the interorbital transfer time. The STP configurations with a two-stage TES showing a large energy-mass efficiency at moderate values of the solar concentrator accuracy parameter are considered.
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Spacecraft motion in a low circular orbit in establishing intersatellite link
Статья научная
The article investigates the problem of inter-satellite linking in the constellation of spacecraft in a low circular orbit. A specific problem of establishing intersatellite link (IL) in that orbit – cross-pointing of the antennae – is also studied. To support cross-tracking, it is important to place spacecraft (SC) in the orbital plane so that they are constantly in the zone of mutual visibility. The line-of-sight range is analyzed both in one orbital plane and between adjacent planes. IL is treated in terms of the orbital constellation (OC) ballistic formation. Several typical modes of motion of SC with IL in adjacent planes are determined – parallel, orthogonal, oncoming. The parameter values of IL antenna pointing are also assessed. The obtained results of OC formation and antenna pointing parameters’ calculations may be relevant for establishing a modified system.
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Статья научная
This paper discusses and estimates the effect of some design parameters on the value of axial thrust appearing during functioning of the core component of a spacecraft’s (SC) thermal control subsystem – electric pump unit (EPU). The major causes of axial forces in centrifugal pumps of in-line arrangement are described and analysed. Design parameters having an effect of axial thrust value are: impeller position relatively to EPU diffuser (position was chosen based on dimension chain calculation), presence and size of discharging holes in the impeller, number and shape of impeller vanes (numbers of 14 & 16 were considered). EPU impellers with different number and shape of vanes were designed and manufactured. A series of experiments was carried out in order to research the effects of all aforementioned parameters: measurements of head vs flow curves and axial thrust values at given flow values. Each parameter’s contribution in the value of axial thrust appearing during EPU functioning is evaluated. Vibration measurements were obtained and analysed for electric motor DBE 63-25-6.3 fitted with different impellers. In this study, a DLP additive process was used for impellers manufacturing, which significantly sped up the tests. Obtained results will extend knowledge of processes taking place in EPU impellers, enable choice of the aforementioned parameters at design phase so to minimise axial thrust appearing during functioning of a centrifugal EPU of a spacecraft’s thermal control subsystem. Outcomes of this study are capable of improving SC reliability at all phases of its life because EPU axial thrust causes its premature loss of operability.
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The definite questions of simulation of transformable space structures dynamics
Статья научная
This paper describes large transformable space structures with various configuration in the folded transport position and in the open working one. As an example, simulation of transformable space structures dynamics is shown for the antenna circuit foldable load-bearing frame with diameter of 5 m. For investigation of the foldable frame deployment dynamics, a design scheme presented by a system of rigid bodies connected with each other by hinges is accepted as it is simple, but at the same time it considers features of the structure well enough. For performing stress analysis of the foldable frame elements during deployment, the frame shape at the certain time point of deployment, when relative velocities of adjacent elements are ultimate, is chosen. As a results of calculation using MSC.Adams software, positions, velocities and accelerations of the centres of mass of the foldable frame elements as well as the angular velocities and accelerations of the elements for each time step of the deployment are obtained. To perform stress analysis of the foldable load-bearing frame, finite element model of the frame is developed using MSC.Patran/Nastran software. As a results of investigation of stressed and deformed states of antenna circuit foldable frame elements both without taking into account damping and with consideration of damping, stresses arising in the foldable frame elements at the certain time points during deployment are found.
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Статья научная
The burning of fuel in the combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine (GTE) is accompanied by formation of toxic substances. The most dangerous among them are carbon oxides that have a detrimental effect on humans and environment. In this regard the article is solving the urgent problem of determining the optimal method of gaseous fuel supplying in GTE combustion chamber to ensure low carbon-oxide emissions. The paper presents the design features of injectors that work with a separate supply of air and fuel. Natural gas is used as fuel. One of the considered injectors provides jet fuel supply by means of a perforated spray, and another one provides twisted fuel supply by means of a swirler built into the fuel channel. The main geometric parameters of the injectors are given as well, such as the size of the swirler, the number of blades, and the diameter of the output nozzle. In this regard the quality of air-fuel mixture preparation in a swirl jet in the outlet of the burner with two types of injector is defined. It is found that the best quality of mixing is ensured by the injector with jet spray. The design of a heat pipe simulator, in which the tested nozzle is placed, is considered. The design of a stand installation designed for testing injectors in a heat pipe simulator, as well as the modes under which these tests were carried out, are presented. The results were obtained in a heat pipe simulator with installed jet injectors and injectors with a swirling fuel jet. An analysis was conducted, which resulted in conclusions about the effectiveness of using jet injectors. According to the conducted research, the parameters of the injector with a swirling fuel jet are characterized by the presence of high values of CO levels in the combustion products, which is explained by the extremely low quality of mixing fuel with air and, consequently, low efficiency of fuel combustion. Jet fuel injection has low CO values, which indicates good quality of mixing fuel with air and high efficiency of a combustion process. As a result, we have received recommendations on setting the selected type of injectors in a full-size combustion chamber.
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Статья научная
A method of synthesizing a digital controller for a solar energy conversion channel in a power supply system of a spacecraft is presented. The method is based on the initial functional diagram of the pulse converter and the method of switching discontinuous functions. In accordance with the technique, which is formally presented in the form of eight consecutively executed items, a block diagram of the shunt converter has been developed in the basis of switching functions, which is taken as an example for testing the technique. The shunt converter is one of the three energy conversion channels in modern power supply systems of a spacecraft. The block diagram showed that all nonlinearity of the system can be reduced to nonlinearities of two multiplication links and nonlinearity of a pulse-width modulator. The possibility and acceptability of joint linearization of each of the specified nonlinear multipliers with a pulse-width modulator at the selected operating point is shown. A linearized block diagram of the control object was obtained, after which the transformation and simplification of the block diagram to a convenient form for calculation was carried out. Using the transfer functions of the linearized block diagram, the logarithmic frequency characteristics were calculated analytically and the results of their comparison with the frequency characteristics obtained experimentally on a simulation model, which confirmed their identity in the working frequency domain, were presented. At the same time, the specified simulation model of a shunt pulse converter, built in the Simulink package of the Matlab design environment, took into account all the mentioned nonlinearities of the real converter. According to the obtained logarithmic characteristics, a classical synthesis of the analogue prototype correcting section was produced. The transition from the analog correcting section of the prototype to the implementation of the digital correcting section is shown. Simulation modeling of a closed-loop power supply system with a synthesized analog controller, in its mode of operation from a solar battery, confirmed the correctness of the methodology and the achievement of the goals. The results of the work are intended to create a new onboard energy conversion equipment for power supply systems of high-potential spacecrafts. The scope of application of the project results is space instrumentation.
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The method of the disk friction determining of low mass flow centrifugal pumps
Статья научная
Low mass flow centrifugal pumps are currently widely used in the energy supply system of liquid rocket engines, the engines of correction, docks, consisting of on-Board power sources on-Board sources power supply system of fuel components in the in gas generator systems for inflating fuel tanks, and in temperature control systems of aircraft and spacecraft. When designing low mass flow centrifugal pumps for aerospace purposes, methods for calculating and optimizing the flow rate are often used corresponding to the design methods of full-size centrifugal pumps, which limits the mode and design potential of pumps and affects their energy characteristics and reliability. Reliability requirements often lead to the need to reserve units and fuel-supply systems. Despite the large amount of research works, the issues of reliable design of low mass flow centrifugal pumps with high energy and operational parameters for spacecraft and aircraft remains an urgent task. The article analyses the operational parameters of low mass flow centrifugal pumps used in aircraft and spacecraft power systems. Taking into account working fluid used and the temperature range, it was found that a laminar rotational flow with Reynolds number characteristic Re 103 3105 is realized in the lateral cavity between the impeller and the pump housing. The determination of power losses on disk friction of the impeller technique is developed taking into account design features and the applied schemes. Equations for determining the disk friction coefficients are consistent with the dependencies obtained by other authors. The obtained equations for the laminar rotational flow made it possible to determine the dependences for the resistance moment and the disk friction power of the impeller determining of a low mass flow centrifugal pump.
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The possibility of using methane-hydrogen fuel in converted gas turbine engines for power plants
Статья научная
Taking into account the fact that recently the topic of using methane-hydrogen mixtures as a fuel for gas turbine engines used in power plants has been actively developed, it is necessary to have engineering methods for calculating the fuel system and combustion chamber of engines operating on such fuel. The paper proposes the methodology that allows performing such calculations. A gas turbine unit (GTU) based on a converted aircraft engine NK-16ST was taken for the calculation. The calculation according to this method is carried out in three stages. At the first stage the composition is selected and the thermophysical characteristics of the gas under consideration are determined. At the second stage the fuel system is calculated, the consumption characteristics of the engine fuel system and the combustion chamber system are built. The consumption characteristics built for natural gas and for methane-hydrogen mixture are compared. The analysis makes it possible to develop recommendations for optimizing the design of the fuel supply equipment and fuel nozzles in terms of changing the volume of internal channels. At the third stage the combustion chamber is calculated and recommendations about the need to change the flame tube head or redistribute air along the flame tube length are made. The volumetric heat intensity parameter is used to estimate the sufficiency of the available volume of the flame tube for operation on methane-hydrogen mixture and to determine the gas average temperature in the combustion zone of the combustion chamber. The possibility of operation of the NK-16ST gas turbine unit on a methane-hydrogen mixture was confirmed on the basis of the results of the work performed. It was also concluded that in order to supply large volumes of methane-hydrogen mixture in comparison with natural gas, it is required to increase the size of fuel pipelines, metering and control units and fuel nozzles.
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Статья научная
Today, the scope of application of electric propulsion systems for orbit correction and spacecraft’s attitude control is rapidly expanding due to their high efficiency compared to liquid jet systems. The main elements of electric jet systems are plasma or ion thrusters. To ensure power supply of such thrusters, complex electronic power processing systems – power processing units (PPU) – are used. These units are capable to operate for a long time (up to 15 years or more) in a high vacuum environment and generate sufficiently high accelerating voltages – from 300 V and higher. PPU’s comprise various EEE-parts, mainly in the case design. As a rule, the technology of their production is such that air or nitrogen is initially located inside the housing at atmospheric pressure. During the operation of the unit, the non-absolute hermeticity causes pressure decrease inside EEE housings. Due to high voltages applied, this can lead to electrical breakdowns between current-carrying ele-ments inside the parts, their failure with the subsequent failure of the functional blocks of the unit. The paper considers the physical principles of the breakdown occurrence inside EEE-parts cases. The results of non-hermiticity measurements of several types of HV EEE-parts are presented. The dynamics of the pressure drop to the values dangerous from the point of view of breakdown event and the relevant occurrence duration are esti-mated. It is shown that duration of being exposed to the pressure-dangerous conditions can be as long as space-craft service lifetime. It can make difficult to use packaged gas-filled EEE-parts at the level of units intended to operate in non-pressurized compartments of spacecraft. Recommendations are provided for selecting the design of EEE parts with an operating voltage of about 300 V or more, as well as circuit solutions used to develop high-voltage equipment intended to operate in vacuum environment.
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Статья научная
Ensuring high reliability of unique high-critical products at the design stage is an actual task that the aerospace industry faces. For high reliability indicators, at the design stage, it is necessary to ensure the basic property of the product – its strength, with a high probability of non-destruction. It is provided by introducing the corresponding coefficients – «safety coefficient» and «margin of safety» into the strength calculations. The necessity in these coefficients is based on the spread of values of external loading factors: magnitude of forces, combination of forces, kind of actions, place of connection, etc. In this case, the safety coefficient is related to external factors. The margin of safety refers to internal factors: the spread of the mechanical characteristics of the product material, the spread of the geometric dimensions of the product, etc. To determine, with a given probability, the safety coefficient and margin of safety, it is necessary to know their dependence on the combination of spread of external and internal factors. The purpose of this work is to determine the mathematical connection between the internal factors of the spread and the safety coefficient, external factors of the spread and the margin of safety, the combination of these factors and the probability of non-destruction of structures. In this work the values of internal and external factors, which affect the strength and probability of non-destruction of the product and have the boundaries of the spread of their values, using the tools of probability theories, were characterized as random variables, the values of which are determined by the distribution density, expected value and variance. I this work there was found a high dependence of the product strength on the spread of its geometric characteristics and tools were defined to determine the total spread of the values of the main strength characteristics of the product with a given probability of non-destruction. The practical significance of the results of this work can be achieved in the aerospace industry, in particular, at the design stage of unique high-critical products.
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To the question of forecasting the technical condition of low-thrust liquid rocket engines
Статья научная
In the rapidly developing space and rocket industry, spacecrafts are being equipped with low-thrust liquid rocket engines. Нigh requirements are imposed on the reliability, efficiency and economy of fuel use for this type of rocket engine. To ensure monitoring of the characteristics of spacecrafts, a functional diagnostic system is used, which includes telemetry and analytical data processing. Telemetry performs the functions of receiving and transmitting information. Information processing is carried out in computer centers located on the spacecraft and the Earth. The most promising computing tool capable of predicting time series and classifying a large amount of interconnected data is considered an artificial neural network. In this regard, the subject of research in the work is data processing methods based on an artificial neural network. The purpose of the work is to develop a method for forecasting the technical condition of low-thrust liquid rocket engines using an artificial neural network. The relevance of research on the use of a neural network in the system of functional diagnostics of low-thrust liquid rocket engines for spacecraft is explained in the introduction. In the main part, an analysis of many telemetric data of the rocket engine is carried out and their strength in the forecast of the main diagnostic parameters is determined. It is proposed to use traction, specific impulse, and temperature of the structure as diagnostic parameters. The prognostic capabilities of the neural network were investigated and a schematic diagram of a method for predicting the technical condition of a low-thrust liquid rocket engine was developed. In the developed method, at the first stage, the neural network performs the approximation of the function and extrapolates the time series of telemetric data; the second stage determines the probable class of the technical condition of the engine. The conclusion outlines a plan for further experimental research in the study area and provides recommendations on the development and improvement of algorithms for functioning of artificial neural networks as part of the functional diagnostics system of the spacecraft. Due to the generalized nature of the methodological schemes, the results of the work can be applied to any type of rocket engines and used at all enterprises of the rocket and space industry of the corresponding profile.
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