Uncertainty Propagation in Integrated Airframe Propulsion System Analysis for Hypersonic Vehicles
Air{breathing hypersonic vehicles are based on airframe{integrated SCRAMjet engine. The elongated forebody which serves as the inlet of the engine is subject to harsh aerothermodynamic loading which causes it to deform. Unpredicted deformations may produce unstart, combustor chocking or structural failure due to increased loads. This study presents a framework allowing one to assess the impact of aerothermoelastic deformations on the engine performance prediction. Aerothermoelastic deformations are calculated for trajectories and angle of attack and transferred to a SCRAMjet engine analysis. Uncertainty associated with deformation prediction is propagated to the engine performance analysis. The importance of modeling the aerodynamic heating and aerothermoelastic deformations at the cowl of the inlet is noted. The cowl deformation is the main contributor to uncertainty and sensitivity of the propulsion system analysis.
Combustion Efficiency, Flameout Operability Limits and General Design Optimization for Integrated Ramjet-Scramjet Hypersonic Vehicles
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xii
Thermodynamic Evaluation of Solar Integration into a Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant
The term integrated solar combined-cycle (ISCC) has been used to define the combination of solar thermal energy into a natural gas combined-cycle (NGCC) power plant. Based on a detailed thermodynamic cycle model for a reference ISCC plant, the impact of solar addition is thoroughly evaluated for a wide range of input parameters such as solar thermal input and ambient temperature. It is shown that solar hybridization into an NGCC plant may give rise to a substantial benefit from a thermodynamic point of view. The work here also indicates that a significant solar contribution may be achieved in an ISCC plant, thus implying substantial fuel savings and environmental benefits.