Significant progress is being made in attaining many of the enabling technologies critical to the development of future hypersonic vehicles such as the single-stage-to-orbit National Aerospace Plane (NASP) X-30 vehicle and others. In the NASP program, slush hydrogen was safely produced and transferred in modestly large quantities. Inlet testing has demonstrated that a high-performance configuration can be developed, and configurations were developed that reduce cross-talk between engine modules and improve unstart margins. Tests of a hydrogen-fueled ramjet engine model were conducted to investigate engine operability and dynamics, and future tests are planned to demonstrate a closed-loop engine control system. Nozzle tests have identified large transonic-drag losses in the nozzle, which were then reduced significantly through the use of external burning. In other research areas, such as engine seals, advanced materials, and para-to-ortho hydrogen conversion, promising concepts were identified and continuing efforts are adding to these technologies. In the General Hypersonics program an improved understanding is being gained of the physics of inlets, combustors, and nozzles and are developing advanced materials and computational codes that predict the characteristics of both reacting flows and metal matrix composites structures. The High-Mach Turbine-Engine (HiMaTE) component technology program has identified the turboramjet and the air-turboramjet as the most promising combined-cycle engines for more detailed assessment. Efforts are continuing to define critical components for development and testing to demonstrate technology readiness and to establish cycle feasibility. Studies are being conducted to assess the potential benefit of using these combined-cycle engines to power the first stage of two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) vehicles and other hypersonic vehicles.
Overview of Hypersonic/Transatmospheric Vehicle Propulsion Technology
1991
11 pages
Report
No indication
English
Aircraft , Manned Spacecraft , Jet & Gas Turbine Engines , Aerospace planes , Engine design , Hypersonic vehicles , Inlet nozzles , Propulsion system configurations , Ramjet engines , Slush hydrogen , X-30 vehicle , Combustion chambers , Computer programs , Crosstalk , Engine parts , Feedback control , Fuel combustion , Metal matrix composites , National aerospace plane program , Turbine engines
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