Onboard system for measuring the parameters of wind vector during parking,starting and takeoff-landing modes for helicopter with aerometric and ion-beacon measuring channels

The problem and features of measuring the speed and the direction angle of the wind vector relative to the longitudinal helicopter axis during parking, starting and takeoff-landing modes by onboard means are considered. The construction principles, information processing algorithms and advantages of onboard system for measuring the wind vector parameters based on ion-beacon and aerometric measuring channels, are disclosed.     

Detonation engine fed by acetylene–oxygen mixture

The advantages of a constant volume combustion cycle as compared to constant pressure combustion in terms of thermodynamic efficiency has focused the search for advanced propulsion on detonation engines. Detonation of acetylene mixed with oxygen in various proportions is studied using mathematical modeling. Simplified kinetics of acetylene burning includes 11 reactions with 9 components. Deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) is obtained in a cylindrical tube with a section of obstacles modeling a Shchelkin spiral; the DDT takes place in this section for a wide range of initial mixture compositions. A modified ka-omega turbulence model is used to simulate flame acceleration in the Shchelkin spiral section of the system. The results of numerical simulations were compared with experiments, which had been performed in the same size detonation chamber and turbulent spiral ring section, and with theoretical data on the Chapman–Jouguet detonation parameters.     

Evaporation and ignition of droplets in combustion chambers modeling and simulation

Computer simulation of liquid fuel jet injection into heated atmosphere of combustion chamber, mixture formation, ignition and combustion need adequate modeling of evaporation, which is extremely important for the curved surfaces in the presence of strong heat and mass diffusion fluxes. Combustion of most widely spread hydrocarbon fuels takes place in a gas-phase regime. Thus, evaporation of fuel from the surface of droplets turns to be one of the limiting factors of the process as well. The problems of fuel droplets atomization, evaporation being the key factors for heterogeneous reacting mixtures, the non-equilibrium effects in droplets atomization and phase transitions will be taken into account in describing thermal and mechanical interaction of droplets with streaming flows. In the present paper processes of non-equilibrium evaporation of small droplets will be discussed. As it was shown before, accounting for non-equilibrium effects in evaporation for many types of widely used liquids is crucial for droplet diameters less than 100 μm, while the surface tension effects essentially manifest only for droplets below 0.1 μm. Investigating the behavior of individual droplets in a heated air flow allowed to distinguish two scenarios for droplet heating and evaporation. Small droplets undergo successively heating, then cooling due to heat losses for evaporation, and then rapid heating till the end of their lifetime. Larger droplets could directly be heated up to a critical temperature and then evaporate rapidly. Droplet atomization interferes the heating, evaporation and combustion scenario. The scenario of fuel spray injection and self-ignition in a heated air inside combustion chamber has three characteristic stages. At first stage of jet injection droplets evaporate very rapidly thus cooling the gas at injection point, the liquid jet is very short and changes for a vapor jet. At second stage liquid jet is becoming longer, because evaporation rate decreases due to decrease of temperature. But combustion of fuel vapor begins which brings to increase of heat flux to droplets and accelerates evaporation. The length of the liquid jet decreases again and remains constant slightly oscillating.     

Construction and algorithms of a helicopter air data system with aerometric and ion-tagging measurement channels

A functional diagram of the air data system and a structural scheme of the air data sensor are described. The special features of generating and processing the air data of aerometric and ion-tagging measurement channels at parking, takeoff and landing modes of the helicopter operation are examined.     

Measurement of the Quasistatic Component of Microaccelerations Using a Convection Sensor onboard a Satellite

The problem of the interpretation of measurements made by means of a convection sensor is considered. The sensor is a cubic chamber filled by a viscous fluid (gas). Fixed and unequal temperatures are maintained on two opposite sides of the cube; the other sides are perfect heat conductors. Two differential thermocouples are placed inside the chamber to measure the temperature difference at two pairs of fixed points. The sensor is mounted aboard the Earth's satellite. Mathematical models of various degrees of complexity are proposed which describe processes of heat and mass transfer under the action of a quasistatic component of microaccelerations. The results of mathematical simulation of the data of sensor thermocouples presenting a response to the real quasistatic component of microaccelerations which took place aboard the Mirstation are given. It is shown that under usual conditions of an orbital mission the sensor presents a linear low-frequency filter. By combining the data of several identical sensors, tightly arranged and oriented in a certain way, it is possible to measure low-frequency components of the angular acceleration of the satellite and linear microaccelerations at the point of the sensor position.     

Convection and impurity distribution in crystal growth in low-gravity environments

Investigations conducted earlier by the authors have established that due to the steady-state field of body forces, convection is capable of giving rise to macroinhomogeneity in transverse impurity distribution in crystals. In the case of semiconductor materials the maximal value of this inhomogeneity is due to a weak convection in the melt, typical of low-gravity conditions. However, in addition to steady gravitational convection, other factors ignored previously, may also be employed in conducting experiments in low-g environments. The present paper discusses the results of theoretical studies of some factors influencing impurity distribution in the melt and the crystal.     

Mathematical models of high temperature flow in gas ducts of rocket engines

Results are given on certain dynamic properties of a high temperature and pressure gas flow. The investigation concerns the effect of sonic processes on the transfer of external signals by the flow and of the gas nonidealities on the properties of a linear and a nonlinear mathematical model of the jet nozzle. The investigation was conducted by the method of small parameters for differential equations of the dynamics of the gas flow, with the help of invariants of these equations, and estimates of solutions with arbitrary signals of a specific class. The results lead to estimates of errors due to usual simplifications of gas flow models such as linearization of jet nozzle equations and neglect of sonic processes. The errors of the latter kind are shown to depend on the Mach number and smoothness of signals. Accurate and approximate models of nozzle flow are obtained useful for controllability analysis of rocket engines. Some computation examples are given.     

On influence of tooling geometry and setup parameters on the clinch connection characteristics

A process of forming a permanent connection by creasing is considered from the view point of the most important parameters of tooling and equipment setup which influence the connection quality. Making use of the DEFORM 2D software, we produced specimens of such connections and evaluated their quality at different parameters of setup and tools.     

Effect of Microaccelerations on the Distribution of a Dopant in a Semiconductor Melt during Space Flight

The effect of residual microaccelerations on the distribution of a dopant in a semiconductor melt located in a heated closed cavity onboard an Earth-orbiting satellite is considered in the context of a model problem of thermal convection. The amplitude–frequency characteristics of the response of this distribution to the perturbing microaccelerations are obtained. It is demonstrated that the effect of low-frequency microaccelerations decreases when the frequency increases. A comparison is made of the macroscopic inhomogeneities of the dopant concentration due to the actual low-frequency (quasi-static) component of microaccelerations onboard different spacecraft: the orbital station Mir, the satellite Foton-11, a Space Shuttle orbiter, and the International Space Station. A substantial effect of the rotational motion of the spacecraft on the character of the time behavior of a macroscopic inhomogeneity is demonstrated.     

Mathematical simulation of impurity distribution in space processing experiments with semiconductors

The effect of natural convection in the melt on impurity distribution is investigated by numerical simulation in the case of uniaxial growth of semiconductor crystals at low gravity conditions.