Results of solar observations by the CORONAS-F payload

The CORONAS-F mission experiments and results have been reviewed. The observations with the DIFOS multi-channel photometer in a broad spectral range from 350 to 1500 nm have revealed the dependence of the relative amplitudes of p-modes of the global solar oscillations on the wavelength that agrees perfectly well with the earlier data obtained in a narrower spectral ranges. The SPIRIT EUV observations have enabled the study of various manifestations of solar activity and high-temperature events on the Sun. The data from the X-ray spectrometer RESIK, gamma spectrometer HELICON, flare spectrometer IRIS, amplitude–temporal spectrometer AVS-F, and X-ray spectrometer RPS-1 have been used to analyze the X- and gamma-ray emission from solar flares and for diagnostics of the flaring plasma. The absolute and relative content of various elements (such as potassium, argon, and sulfur) of solar plasma in flares has been determined for the first time with the X-ray spectrometer RESIK. The Solar Cosmic Ray Complex monitored the solar flare effects in the Earth’s environment. The UV emission variations recorded during solar flares in the vicinity of the 120-nm wavelength have been analyzed and the amplitude of relative variations has been determined.     

Multi-level virtual prototyping of electromechanical actuation system for more electric aircraft

Electromechanical actuators (EMAs) are becoming increasingly attractive in the field of more electric aircraft because of their outstanding benefits, which include reduced fuel burn and maintenance cost, enhanced system flexibility, and improved management of fault detection and isolation. However, electromechanical actuation raises specific issues when being used for safety-critical aerospace applications like flight controls: huge reflected inertia to load, jamming-type failure, and increase of backlash with service due to wear and local dissipation of heat losses for thermal balance. This study proposes an incremental approach for virtual prototyping of EMAs. It is driven by a model-based system engineering process in order to enable simulation-aided design. Best practices supported by Bond graph formalism are suggested to develop a model’s structure efficiently and to make the model ready for use (or extension) by addressing the above mentioned issues. Physical effects are progressively introduced, and the realism of lumped-parameter models is increased step-by-step. In particular, multi-level component models are architected to ensure continuity between engineering activities. The models are implemented in the AMESim simulation environment, and simulation responses are given to illustrate how they can be used for preliminary sizing, control design, thermal balance verification, and faults to failure analysis. The proposed best practices intend to provide engineers with fast, reusable, and efficient means to assess performance virtually and enhance maturity, performance, and robustness.     

Electric potential structures of auroral acceleration region border from multi-spacecraft Cluster data

This paper studies an auroral event using data from three spacecraft of the Cluster mission, one inside and two at the poleward edge of the bottom of the Auroral Acceleration Region (AAR). The study reveals the three-dimensional profile of the region’s poleward boundary, showing spatial segmentation of the electric potential structures and their decay in time. It also depicts localized magnetic field variations and field-aligned currents that appear to have remained stable for at least 80?s. Such observations became possible due to the fortuitous motion of the three spacecraft nearly parallel to each other and tangential to the AAR edge, so that the differences and variations can be seen when the spacecraft enter and exit the segmentations, hence revealing their position with respect to the AAR.     

Effects on winter circulation of short and long term solar wind changes

Indices of the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Arctic Oscillation show correlations on the day-to-day timescale with the solar wind speed (SWS). Minima in the indices were found on days of SWS minima during years of high stratospheric aerosol loading. The spatial distribution of surface pressure changes during 1963–2011 with day-to-day changes in SWS shows a pattern resembling the NAO. Such a pattern was noted for year-to-year variations by Boberg and Lundstedt (2002), who compared NAO variations with the geo-effective solar wind electric field (the monthly average SWS multiplied by the average southward component, i.e., negative Bz component, of the interplanetary magnetic field). The spatial distribution of the correlations of geopotential height changes in the troposphere and stratosphere with the SWS; the geo-effective electric field (SWS∗Bz); and the solar 10.7 cm flux suggests that solar wind inputs connected to the troposphere via the global electric circuit, together with solar ultraviolet irradiance acting on the stratosphere, affect regional atmospheric dynamics.     

Sunspot cycle 23 descent to an unusual minimum and forecasts for cycle 24 activity

The decay phase of the sunspot cycle 23 exhibited two unusual features. First, it lasted too long. Second, the interplanetary magnetic field intensity at earth orbit reached the lowest value since in situ measurements in space began in October 1963. These physical anomalies significantly altered the early forecasts for the sunspot activity parameters for cycle 24, made by several colleagues. We note that there was a significant change in the solar behavior during cycle 22. We discuss the observed trends and their effect on our empirical solar activity forecast technique, leading to our prediction for cycle 24 parameters; cycle 24 will be only half as active as cycle 23, reaching its peak in May 2013. We speculate on the possible implications of this outcome on future earth climate change and the ensuing socio-economic consequences.     

吸气式电推进系统可行条件分析

吸气式电推进系统作为有可能实现长寿命超低轨飞行的技术而被关注。根据不同轨道环境条件,采用管状结构进气道、以及机械增压的吸气方式,讨论了吸气式电推进系统所需的可行条件。分析表明,在轨高度180~240km,航天器所需总功耗与迎风面之比需要大于2kW/m2,电推力器比冲需大于4×104m/s,方可满足推阻平衡需求。分析得出,实现吸气式系统在地球轨道的运用,关键技术在于增加气体收集效率并且降低收集功耗,同时电推力器的效率还需进一步提升。     

化学-电喷双模推进系统的研究现状及展望

传统的化学推进和电推进拥有不同的特点及适用范围.化学推进可以产生毫牛级至牛级推力,相比于电推进,推力大,推力范围宽;电推进比冲高达上千秒,最小可以产生微牛级推力.但两种模式单独执行任务有一定的局限性,难以完成较为复杂的航天任务.化学推进与电推进相结合的双模推进系统,同时拥有高比冲和较宽的推力范围,为航天器提供了更高的任...     

液氧甲烷重复使用辅助动力系统方案与进展

航班化航天运输系统的应用需求日趋迫切,基于液氧/甲烷(LOX/LCH₄)发动机的可重复使用运载火箭成为国内外研究热点。面向某型运载火箭对一级返回辅助动力系统的需求,提出了基于电动泵的主辅一体化液氧甲烷系统方案和独立挤压式液氧甲烷系统方案,开展了方案比选和应用优势分析,并介绍了液氧甲烷轨姿控发动机和低温表面张力贮箱的研究基础,以及国内首款液氧甲烷轨姿控推进系统集成演示试验情况。液氧甲烷辅助动力系统可以实现全箭推进剂的统一和无毒化,助力运载火箭走向高效及完全可重复使用。选择切实可行的“分步走”策略,优先开展挤压式液氧甲烷辅助动力系统的工程化研制与飞行应用,逐步实现基于电动泵的主辅一体化液氧甲烷辅助动力系统在重复使用运载火箭和低温上面级等领域应用。     

环境压力大偏差条件下拉瓦尔喷管发动机高空推力的确定

简析了拉瓦尔喷管发动机高空模拟试验的特殊性,提出了大模拟偏差条件下确定和修正拉瓦尔喷管发动机推力的方法。试验结果表明,在保证推力不确定度优于1.0%的条件下,拉瓦尔喷管发动机高空模拟试验的模拟偏差容限约为14%。当设备能力限制或其他特殊原因而采用环境压力大模拟偏差技术时,可以采用本研究的推力系数确定方法确定发动机的推力。      

单斜面膨胀喷管几何参数对流场和性能的影响

基于CFD技术,通过求解R eynolds平均N-S方程附以标准k-ε双方程湍流模型,数值研究了单斜面膨胀喷管(SERN)主要几何参数对其内部流场和性能的影响,计算结果表明,SERN扩张段上、下斜面长度和角度对喷管流场结构和性能有明显的影响,随着上斜面长度的增加,喷管从欠膨胀状态过渡到过膨胀状态,在完全膨胀状态下,推力系数最大,存在某一最佳的上斜面角度,在该角度下,喷管推力系数最大,同样地,对于下斜面也存在最佳斜面长度和角度。