• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.1-2
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• 2011

Hybrid rockets have lately attracted attention as a strong candidate of small, low cost, safe and reliable launch vehicles. A significant topic is that the first commercially sponsored space ship, SpaceShipOne vehicle chose a hybrid rocket. The main factors for the choice were safety of operation, system cost, quick turnaround, and thrust termination. In Japan, five universities including Hokkaido University and three private companies organized "Hybrid Rocket Research Group" from 1998 to 2002. Their main purpose was to downsize the cost and scale of rocket experiments. In 2002, UNISEC (University Space Engineering Consortium) and HASTIC (Hokkaido Aerospace Science and Technology Incubation Center) took over the educational and R&D rocket activities respectively and the research group dissolved. In 2008, JAXA/ISAS and eleven universities formed "Hybrid Rocket Research Working Group" as a subcommittee of the Steering Committee for Space Engineering in ISAS. Their goal is to demonstrate technical feasibility of lowcost and high frequency launches of nano/micro satellites into sun-synchronous orbits. Hybrid rockets use a combination of solid and liquid propellants. Usually the fuel is in a solid phase. A serious problem of hybrid rockets is the low regression rate of the solid fuel. In single port hybrids the low regression rate below 1 mm/s causes large L/D exceeding a hundred and small fuel loading ratio falling below 0.3. Multi-port hybrids are a typical solution to solve this problem. However, this solution is not the mainstream in Japan. Another approach is to use high regression rate fuels. For example, a fuel regression rate of 4 mm/s decreases L/D to around 10 and increases the loading ratio to around 0.75. Liquefying fuels such as paraffins are strong candidates for high regression fuels and subject of active research in Japan too. Nakagawa et al. in Tokai University employed EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) to modify viscosity of paraffin based fuels and investigated the effect of viscosity on regression rates. Wada et al. in Akita University employed LTP (Low melting ThermoPlastic) as another candidate of liquefying fuels and demonstrated high regression rates comparable to paraffin fuels. Hori et al. in JAXA/ISAS employed glycidylazide-poly(ethylene glycol) (GAP-PEG) copolymers as high regression rate fuels and modified the combustion characteristics by changing the PEG mixing ratio. Regression rate improvement by changing internal ballistics is another stream of research. The author proposed a new fuel configuration named "CAMUI" in 1998. CAMUI comes from an abbreviation of "cascaded multistage impinging-jet" meaning the distinctive flow field. A CAMUI type fuel grain consists of several cylindrical fuel blocks with two ports in axial direction. The port alignment shifts 90 degrees with each other to make jets out of ports impinge on the upstream end face of the downstream fuel block, resulting in intense heat transfer to the fuel. Yuasa et al. in Tokyo Metropolitan University employed swirling injection method and improved regression rates more than three times higher. However, regression rate distribution along the axis is not uniform due to the decay of the swirl strength. Aso et al. in Kyushu University employed multi-swirl injection to solve this problem. Combinations of swirling injection and paraffin based fuel have been tried and some results show very high regression rates exceeding ten times of conventional one. High fuel regression rates by new fuel, new internal ballistics, or combination of them require faster fuel-oxidizer mixing to maintain combustion efficiency. Nakagawa et al. succeeded to improve combustion efficiency of a paraffin-based fuel from 77% to 96% by a baffle plate. Another effective approach some researchers are trying is to use an aft-chamber to increase residence time. Better understanding of the new flow fields is necessary to reveal basic mechanisms of regression enhancement. Yuasa et al. visualized the combustion field in a swirling injection type motor. Nakagawa et al. observed boundary layer combustion of wax-based fuels. To understand detailed flow structures in swirling flow type hybrids, Sawada et al. (Tohoku Univ.), Teramoto et al. (Univ. of Tokyo), Shimada et al. (ISAS), and Tsuboi et al. (Kyushu Inst. Tech.) are trying to simulate the flow field numerically. Main challenges are turbulent reaction, stiffness due to low Mach number flow, fuel regression model, and other non-steady phenomena. Oshima et al. in Hokkaido University simulated CAMUI type flow fields and discussed correspondence relation between regression distribution of a burning surface and the vortex structure over the surface.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.299-304
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• 2011

As more satellites are designed to downlink their observed image data through the X-band frequency band, it is inevitable that the occupied bandwidth of a target satellite will overlap with that of other X-band downlink satellites. For sun-synchronized low earth orbit satellites, in particular, it can be expected that two or more satellites be placed within the looking angle of a ground station antenna at the same time. Due to the overlapping in the frequency band, signals transmitted from the adjacent satellites act as interferers, leading to degraded link performance between target satellite and ground station. In this paper, link analysis was initiated by modeling the radiation pattern of ground station antenna through a validated Jet Propulsion Laboratory peak envelope model. From the relative antenna gain depending on the offset angle from center axis of maximum antenna directivity, the ratio of received interference signal level to the target signal level was calculated. As a result, it was found that the degradation increased when the offset angle was within the first point of radiation pattern. For a 7.3 m antenna, serious link degradation began at an offset angle of 0.4 degrees. From this analysis, the link performance of the coming satellite passes can be recognized, which is helpful to establish an operating procedure that will prevent the ground station from receiving corrupted image data in the event of a degraded link.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.118-126
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• 2004

The propulsive characteristics of oscillating flat plates are investigated using a discrete vortex method. The plates and their wakes are represented by discrete point vortices. To analyze the closely coupled aerodynamic interference between the plates, a vortex core model and a vortex core addition scheme are combined. A calculated wake shape for a flat plate in heaving oscillation is compared with flow visualization. The effect of wake shapes on the propulsive characteristics of the plates in pitching oscillation is investigated. The propulsive characteristics of oscillating plates with three cases (1. one is stationary and another is oscillating, 2. both oscillating in phase, 3. both oscillating out of phase) are calculated. The plates oscillating out of phase showed the largest thrust force among the three cases.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.34-40
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• 2005

Most analyses and researches on Micro Aerial Vehicle(MAV) have focused upon propulsion, automatic control, aerodynamic configuration in low Reynolds number region, and miniaturization of telemetric parts. In the present study, a structural concept for MAV is designed by using the composite material suitable for light flight structures. In order to study the load path and stress state of the MAV, the load and structural analyses are simultaneously performed by the aeroelasticity module of MSC/NASTRAN. The stability derivatives of the MAV are obtained for three symmetric, two antisymmetric, and four unsymmetric maneuvering conditions. Although the aerodynamic theory in MSC/NASTRAN could not be proper for MAV analysis, it provides an traditional and effective tool for trim and load analyses and may be corrected with the results by more accurate theory or test. The results show that the inertial load due to payloads has a more effect on stress rather than the aerodynamic load.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.8-19
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• 2016

This paper investigates the effects of inlet turbulence conditions and near-wall treatment methods on the heat transfer prediction of gas turbine vanes within the range of engine relevant turbulence conditions. The two near-wall treatment methods, the wall-function and low-Reynolds number method, were combined with the SST and ${\omega}RSM$ turbulence model. Additionally, the RNG $k-{\varepsilon}$, SSG RSM, and $SST_+{\gamma}-Re_{\theta}$ transition model were adopted for the purpose of comparison. All computations were conducted using a commercial CFD code, CFX, considering a three-dimensional, steady, compressible flow. The conjugate heat transfer method was applied to all simulation cases with internally cooled NASA turbine vanes. The CFD results at mid-span were compared with the measured data under different inlet turbulence conditions. In the SST solutions, on the pressure side, both the wall-function and low-Reynolds number method exhibited a reasonable agreement with the measured data. On the suction side, however, both wall-function and low-Reynolds number method failed to predict the variations of heat transfer coefficient and temperature caused by boundary layer flow transition. In the ${\omega}RSM$ results, the wall-function showed reasonable predictions for both the heat transfer coefficient and temperature variations including flow transition onset on suction side, but, low-Reynolds methods did not properly capture the variation of the heat transfer coefficient. The $SST_+{\gamma}-Re_{\theta}$ transition model showed variation of the heat transfer coefficient on the transition regions, but did not capture the proper transition onset location, and was found to be much more sensitive to the inlet turbulence length scale. Overall, the Reynolds stress model and wall function configuration showed the reasonable predictions in presented cases.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.514-523
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• 2008

This paper presents a single-axis simulator developed to verify the attitude control algorithm of KAUSAT-2 satellite. Named KAUSatSIM, the simulator is composed of a single-axis rotation table using an air-bearing that simulates a frictionless environment, as well as sensors and momentum wheel that was used on KAUSAT-2. The simulator can be utilized for verification of KAUSAT-2 attitude control algorithm, development of new algorithms, and verification of performance. Tests were performed on the single-axis rotation simulator using the momentum wheel in order to verify the attitude control algorithm of KAUSAT-2. Satisfactory test results were obtained by designing a wheel controller that employs the proportional-derivative control method. In addition, a propulsion system was added and tested for development of a new satellite attitude control algorithm.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.908-914
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• 2013

This study has developed a small solar powered UAV and performed its flight tests. In daylight, a solar powered UAV flies by using some of electricity generated from solar cells, and stores the remainder into battery. At night it flies by using electricity from battery. A solar powered UAV should have aerodynamically efficient configurations, light-weight, strong wing and fuselage. Its electric propulsion system and solar power system should also be very efficient. In the present study the solar powered UAV and its solar power system are developed for 12 hour continuous flight and the flight tests are performed to verify its performance. The flight tests performed in fall and winter to prove the present solar powered UAV is successful in four-season 12 hour flight.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2018

Electric pump system is new technology for next generation propulsion unit. The system has simple structure which dose not need gas generator, injector and turbine and might better pump for low cost and low payload rocket. Therefore, this paper suggests conceptual design of electric-pump Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) which has 50 kW & 50,000 RPM for rocket. To satisfy the system's requirement, electromagnetic analysis is conducted for suitable inner and outer diameter of stator and rotor which uses 4000 Gauss cylinder magnet and Inconel 718 can to fix whole rotor. Futhermore, to confirm rotational vibration, rotordynamics analysis is conducted. By this analysis, Campbell diagram is printed. From the diagram, natural frequency could be determined for the only motor and dynamo meter test bench.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.717-724
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• 2020

We study the closing characteristics of a self-sustainable poppet valve which serves as a main oxidizer shut-off valve for liquid rocket engines. Numerical analysis for predicting closing transient responses are presented and the calculated results have been verified by a comparison with experimental data. The effective area of a pilot gas discharge system and the pressure distribution of passage flow around the valve moving part are shown to be main parameters in determining the closing characteristics for dry and cryogenic conditions, respectively. Moreover, it is presented that the passage flow pressure at the valve closing moment as well as the valve closing velocity can be effectively adjusted by the appropriate employment of the pilot gas.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.691-701
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• 2020

An actuator mixer design using convex optimization technique situation where the propulsion system of an electric VTOL UAV during vertical take-off and landing maneuvers is proposed. The attainable control set to analyze the impact from failure of each motor and propeller can be calculated and illustrated using the properties of the convex function. The control allocation can be defined as a convex function optimization problem to obtain an optimal solution in real time. The mixer is implemented using a convex optimization solver, and the performance of the control allocation methods is compared to the attainable control set. Finally, the proposed mixer is compared with other techniques with nonlinear sux degree-of-freedom simulation.