Fuel system technology overview

Fuel system research and technology studies are being conducted to investigate the correlations and interactions of aircraft fuel system design and environment with applicable characteristics of the fuel. Topics include: (1) analysis of in-flight fuel temperatures; (2) fuel systems for high freezing point fuels; (3) experimental study of low temperature pumpability; (4) full scale fuel tank simulation; and (5) rapid freezing point measurement

The role of fuel cells in NASA's space power systems

A history of the fuel cell technology is presented and compared with NASA's increasing space power requirements. The role of fuel cells is discussed in perspective with other energy storage systems applicable for space using such criteria as type of mission, weight, reliability, costs, etc. Potential applications of space fuel cells with projected technology advances were examined

The fuel cell in space: Yesterday, today and tomorrow

The past, present, and future of space fuel cell power systems is reviewed, starting with the first practical fuel cell by F.T. Bacon which led to the 1.5 kW Apollo alkaline fuel cell. However, the first fuel cell to be used for space power was the Gemini 1.0 kW Acid IEM fuel cell. The successor to the Apollo fuel cell is today's 12 kW Orbiter alkaline fuel cell whose technology is considerably different and considerably better than that of its ancestor, the Bacon cell. And in terms of specific weight there has been a steady improvement from the past to the present, from the close to 200 lb/kW of Apollo to the 20 lb/kW of the orbiter. For NASA future Lunar and Martian surface power requirements the regenerative fuel cell (RFC) energy storage system is enabling technology, with the alkaline and the PEM the leading RFC candidate systems. The U.S. Air Force continues to support fuel cell high power density technology development for its future short duration applications

An overview of NASA research on positive displacement general-aviation engines

The research and technology program related to improved and advanced general aviation engines is described. Current research is directed at the near-term improvement of conventional air-cooled spark-ignition piston engines and at future alternative engine systems based on all-new spark-ignition piston engines, lightweight diesels, and rotary combustion engines that show potential for meeting program goals in the midterm and long-term future. The conventional piston engine activities involve efforts on applying existing technology to improve fuel economy, investigation of key processes to permit leaner operation and reduce drag, and the development of cost effective technology to permit flight at high-altitudes where fuel economy and safety are improved. The advanced engine concepts activities include engine conceptual design studies and enabling technology efforts on the critical or key technology items

Advanced supersonic technology fuel tank sealants

Status of the fuel tank simulation and YF-12A flight tests utilizing a fluorosilicone sealant is described. New elastomer sealant development is detailed, and comparisons of high and low temperature characteristics are made to baseline fluorosilicone sealants

Assessment of the environmental aspects of the DOE phosphoric acid fuel cell program

The likely facets of a nationwide phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) power plant commercial system are described. The beneficial and adverse environmental impacts produced by the system are assessed. Eleven specific system activities are characterized and evaluated. Also included is a review of fuel cell technology and a description of DOE's National Fuel Cell Program. Based on current and reasonably foreseeable PAFC characteristics, no environmental or energy impact factor was identified that would significantly inhibit the commercialization of PAFC power plant technology

A preliminary study of the use of intercooling and reheat in conjunction with regeneration for aircraft turbine engines

The effect on fuel consumption of turbofans with intercooled, regenerative cycles and with intercooled, regenerative, reheat cycles was studied. The technology level for both engine and aircraft was that projected for 1985. The simulated mission was a 5556 km flight carrying 200 passengers at Mach 0.8 at 11582 min. Results indicate that these relatively complex cycles offer little, if any, fuel savings potential relative to a conventional turbofan cycle of comparable advanced technology. The intercooled, regenerative cycle yields about the same fuel economy as a conventional cycle at close to the same overall pressure ratio

Transportation Futures: Policy Scenarios for Achieving Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets, MNTRC Report 12-11

It is well established that GHG emissions must be reduced by 50% to 80% by 2050 in order to limit global temperature increase to 2°C. Achieving reductions of this magnitude in the transportation sector is a challenge and requires a multitude of policies and technology options. The research presented here analyzes three scenarios: changes in the perceived price of travel, land-use intensification, and increases in transit. Elasticity estimates are derived using an activity-based travel model for the state of California and broadly representative of the U.S. The VISION model is used to forecast changes in technology and fuel options that are currently forecast to occur in the U.S., providing a life cycle GHG forecast for the road transportation sector. Results suggest that aggressive policy action is needed, especially pricing policies, but also more on the technology side. Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are in particular need of additional fuel or technology-based GHG reductions

Rekonstrukce výzkumné zplyňovací technologie na Výzkumném energetickém centru

Gasification technology was one of the first large projects of the Energy Research Center at the VSB - Technical University of Ostrava. The beginnings of the technology date back to 2006, when construction of the first version of the gasification plant with an autothermal generator was started. During these years of operation, a lot of testing was conducted on the technology to test different types of fuel (pellets from rice husks, pellets from miscanthus, straw pellets, RDF and many other types of fuels) and various modifications to the technology (testing of two cyclones, dolomite reactor testing, scrubber testing). Subsequently reconstructed gasification technology held tests by RDF fuel, wood pellet and mixtures of these fuels. The tests of the fuel was conducted at three temperatures (750, 850, 950 ° C).Zplyňovací technologie byla jedním z prvních velkých projektů Výzkumného energetického centra na Vysoké škole báňské - Technické univerzitě Ostrava. Počátky technologie se datují k roku 2006, kdy byla zahájena výstavba první verze zplyňovacího zařízení s autotermním generátorem. Během těchto let provozu bylo na technologii prováděno mnoho testů, kdy se zkoušely různé druhy paliv (pelety z rýžových slupek, pelety z miscantusu, pelety ze slámy, RDF a mnoho dalších druhů paliv) a byly prováděny různé úpravy na technologii (zkoušení dvou cyklonů, zkoušení dolomitového reaktoru, zkoušení vymývačky). Následně proběhly na rekonstruované technologii zplyňování testy paliva RDF, dřevěných pelet a směsi těchto paliv. Testy paliv probíhaly ve třech teplotách (750, 850, 950 °C)

Effectiveness and welfare impacts of alternative polices to address atmospheric pollution in urban road transport.

n this paper we compare the effectiveness and welfare effects of alternative fuel efficiency, environmental and transport policies for a given urban area. The urban transport activities are represented as a set of interrelated markets, one for each mode of transport and type of vehicle. For each market, four different marginal external costs are computed in the present equilibrium: air pollution, accidents, noise and congestion. The gap between marginal social costs and prices shows that congestion and unpaid parking are the dominant sources of inefficiencies. Air pollution costs are significant as well. The effects of a typical air quality policy (regulation of car emission technology) and two typical fuel based policies (minimum fuel efficiency policy and fuel taxes) are compared with the effects of three alternative transport policies (full external cost pricing, cordon pricing, parking charges). Regulation of emission technology and of fuel efficiency do not necessarily lead to welfare gains, whereas transport pricing policies yield substantial gains for the urban area under study.