On the breakdown of wave fronts of characteristics in an ideal dissociating gas

Using the method of characteristics, the problem of breaking or non-breaking of waves is studied in a plane cylindrically or spherically symmetric flow of an ideal dissociating gas. It is investigated as to how the effects of dissociation and that of the wave front curvature influence the breaking or non-breaking of waves. In a symmetrical converging gas motion a remarkable difference between the behaviours of cylindrical and spherical waves is discovered.     

Current Injected Equivalent Circuit Approach to Modeling Switching DC-DC Converters

A new current injected equivalent circuit approach (CIECA) to modeling switching dc-dc converter power stages is developed, which starts with the current injected approach and results in either a set of equations which completely describe input and out-put properties or an equivalent linear circuit model valid at small signal, low frequency levels. This approach to modeling switching dc-dc converter power stages has the merits but not the demerits of both the electronic equivalent circuit state space average approach and the current injected control type approach, namely, 1) the modeling is very clear and is simple whether the converter operates in continuous or discontinuous inductor conduction modes, 2) the modeling results in an equivalent circuit which is very close to the actual converter, and 3) the equivalent circuit can be used directly in the computer for theoretical predictions like SPICE, etc.     

Microprocessor-Controlled Digital Shunt Regulator

A new approach to the design of power systems is presented in which a microprocessor is used as a controller for a digital shunt regulator (DSR). This approach meets the demands of future space and ground missions, i. e., high efficiency, high reliability, low weight, low volume, increased flexibility, and less development time. This approach responds to future demands by permitting realtime modification of system parameters for system optimization. This feature is especially important in the event of an anomaly. As the microprocessor need not be dedicated to the DSR, it can simultaneously be used for battery management and for charge regulator/discharge regulator control. This approach also reduces the component count, simplifies assembly and testing of the unit, results in significant time saving, and increases the reliability.     

Enhanced Power Generation of GSS4PS by Optical Solar Reflectors

A novel arrangement is proposed to enhance the power generation capabilities of a gravitationally stabilized solid-state-satellite solar-power station (GSS4PS) spherical solar collector. The unilluminated portion of a GSS4PS is illuminated by employing optical solar reflectors. The different mechanisms required for implementation of this arrangement are already space proven. The detailed study of this arrangement made by the authors reveals that practical realization of this concept will enhance the power generation capability of the GSS4PS and simultaneously reduce the weight per unit power and cost per unit power in GSS4PS spherical solar collectors.     

Modeling and Design of Switching Regulators

Various building blocks of a switching regulator are described in detail and mathematical models are developed for all building blocks in terms of transfer functions, which enable one to design a switching regulator for stability, desirable bandwidth, line rejection, and transient response. A step-by-step procedure to design compensation is illustrated using two examples. Various networks for compensation and their transfer functions are presented which the author hopes will be very handy to use and will become the reference source.     

Growth and decay of weak discontinuities in radiative gasdynamics

Growth and decay properties of weak discontinuities headed by wave fronts of arbitrary shape in three dimensions are investigated in a thermally radiating inviscid gas flow. The effects of radiative transfer are treated by the use of a general differential approximation for a grey gas of arbitrary opacity including effects of radiative flux, pressure and energy density. The transport equations representing the rate of change of discontinuities in the normal derivatives of the flow variables are obtained, and it is found that the nonlinearity in the governing equations does not contribute anything to the radiation induced waves. In contrast to the radiation induced waves, the nonlinearity in the governing equations plays an important role in the interplay of damping and steepening tendencies of a modified gasdynamic wave. An explicit criterion for the growth and decay of a modified gasdynamic wave along bicharacteristics curve in the characteristic manifold of the governing differential equations is given and the special reference is made of diverging and converging waves. It is shown that there is a special case of a compressive converging wave for which the stabilizing influences of thermal radiation and the wave front curvature are not strong enough to overcome the tendency of the wave to grow into a shock.     

CIECA: Application to Current Programmed Switching Dc-Dc Converters

Sundstrand Advanced Technology Corporation The current injection equivalent circuit approach (CIECA) to modeling switching converter power stages is extended to model the current programmed converter power stages operating in fixed frequency, continuous inductor conduction mode. To demonstrate the method, modeling is carried out for the buck, boost, and buckboost converters to obtain small-signal linear equivalent circuit models which represent both input and output properties. The results of these analyses are presented in the form of linear equivalent circuit models as well as transfer functions. Though current programmed converters exhibit single-pole response, the addition of artificial ramp changes converters to exhibit well damped two-pole response. This has been investigated for the first time using CIECA. The results of these analyses are presented in the form of linear equivalent circuit models as well as transfer functions.     

On flows with vibrational relaxation behind an attached shock wave

The flow conditions are represented by an oblique shock attached to the vertex of a straight edged wedge, placed symmetrically with respect to a uniform supersonic flow in front, so that the flow after the shcok is along the wedge surface. The curvature of the attached shock wave, and the flow variable gradients at the wedge tip caused by non-equilibrium vibrational effects are determined for a steady two-dimensional flow of a vibrationally relaxing gas. A relation between the curvature of the shock and that of the stream line is obtained at the wedge-tip. The variation of entropy and an expression for the vorticity generated by the shock towards down-stream flow are determined. Calculations have been carried out for the shock curvature and flow variable gradients for a wide range of wedge angle and the up-stream flow Mach number.