Project Vulcan: The Development of a Gasdynamic Heater. Volume I. The Prototype Gasdynamic Heater

摘要

Project Vulcan has as its principle goal the development of a heater to generate a steady, high-temperature supply of uncontaminated gas. A mechanical device, referred to as a gasdynamic heater, was selected for the development. A prototype heater was designed and fabricated. It was installed on a test bed at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory for performance testing. The design operating speed of the heater is 10,800 RPM. During the test program,the heater experienced three mechanical failures. The first two of these failures occurred at a low impeller speed of about 2400 RPM. The damage to the heater incurred as a result of these failures was repairable. The third failure, however, resulted in extensive damage to the prototype heater necessitating the design and fabrication of a new heater. The test program with the prototype heater is summarized. Spin-up tests are summarized and the nature of the mechanical failures is described. The possible failure modes are summarized and described. A probable cause of failure is discussed based on analysis of the experimental data which are available in total at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. A number of modifications which should be implemented in the design for a new heater are recommended. A number of analytical studies which were conducted to identify and quantify transient gasdynamic loads such as pressure and heat transfer in the heater are summarized. A method for minimizing the pressure load during heater spin up and the effects of variation of parameters such as running clearances, molecular weight, and impeller speed on the performance of the gasdynamic heater are described. (ERA citation 07:044361)