TY - CHAP A1 - Stark, Ralf A1 - Bartel, Sebastian A1 - Ditsche, Florian A1 - Esch, Thomas T1 - Design study of a 30kN LOX/LCH4 aerospike rocket engine for lunar lander application T2 - Aerospace Europe Conference 2023 - 10th EUCASS - 9th CEAS N2 - Based on lunar lander concept EL3, various LOX/CH4 aerospike engines were studied. A distinction was made between single and cluster configurations as well as ideal and non-ideal contour concepts. It could be shown that non-ideal aerospike engines promise a significant payload gain. Y1 - 2023 N1 - Lausanne, July 9-13, 2023 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Stark, Ralf A1 - Rieping, Carla A1 - Esch, Thomas T1 - The impact of guide tubes on flow separation in rocket nozzles T2 - Aerospace Europe Conference 2023 - 10th EUCASS - 9th CEAS N2 - Rocket engine test facilities and launch pads are typically equipped with a guide tube. Its purpose is to ensure the controlled and safe routing of the hot exhaust gases. In addition, the guide tube induces a suction that effects the nozzle flow, namely the flow separation during transient start-up and shut-down of the engine. A cold flow subscale nozzle in combination with a set of guide tubes was studied experimentally to determine the main influencing parameters. KW - Guide Tube KW - TICTOP KW - Nozzle KW - Suction Y1 - 2023 N1 - Lausanne, July 9-13, 2023 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schopen, Oliver A1 - Narayan, Sriram A1 - Beckmann, Marvin A1 - Najmi, Aezid-Ul-Hassan A1 - Esch, Thomas A1 - Shabani, Bahman T1 - An EIS approach to quantify the effects of inlet air relative humidity on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells: a pathway to developing a novel fault diagnostic method JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy N2 - In this work, the effect of low air relative humidity on the operation of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is investigated. An innovative method through performing in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is utilised to quantify the effect of inlet air relative humidity at the cathode side on internal ionic resistances and output voltage of the fuel cell. In addition, algorithms are developed to analyse the electrochemical characteristics of the fuel cell. For the specific fuel cell stack used in this study, the membrane resistance drops by over 39 % and the cathode side charge transfer resistance decreases by 23 % after increasing the humidity from 30 % to 85 %, while the results of static operation also show an increase of ∼2.2 % in the voltage output after increasing the relative humidity from 30 % to 85 %. In dynamic operation, visible drying effects occur at < 50 % relative humidity, whereby the increase of the air side stoichiometry increases the drying effects. Furthermore, other parameters, such as hydrogen humidification, internal stack structure, and operating parameters like stoichiometry, pressure, and temperature affect the overall water balance. Therefore, the optimal humidification range must be determined by considering all these parameters to maximise the fuel cell performance and durability. The results of this study are used to develop a health management system to ensure sufficient humidification by continuously monitoring the fuel cell polarisation data and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicators. KW - PEM fuel cell KW - Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy KW - Relative air humidity KW - Active humidity control KW - Impedance analysis Y1 - 2024 SN - 0360-3199 (print) U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.01.218 SN - 1879-3487 (online) VL - 58 IS - 8 SP - 1302 EP - 1315 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - GEN A1 - Machado, Patricia Almeida A1 - Dahmann, Peter A1 - Keimer, Jona A1 - Saretzki, Charlotte A1 - Stübing, Felix A1 - Küpper, Thomas T1 - Stress profile and individual workload monitoring in general aviation pilots – an experiment’s setting T2 - 23. Annual Meeting of the German Society of Travel Medicine, Coburg, 18.-19.9.2020 Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.55225/hppa.156 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Langohr, Philipp A1 - Bung, Daniel Bernhard A1 - Crookston, Brian M. ED - Ortega-Sánchez, Miguel T1 - Hybrid investigation of labyrinth weirs: Discharge capacity and energy dissipation T2 - Proceedings of the 39th IAHR World Congress N2 - The replacement of existing spillway crests or gates with labyrinth weirs is a proven techno-economical means to increase the discharge capacity when rehabilitating existing structures. However, additional information is needed regarding energy dissipation of such weirs, since due to the folded weir crest, a three-dimensional flow field is generated, yielding more complex overflow and energy dissipation processes. In this study, CFD simulations of labyrinth weirs were conducted 1) to analyze the discharge coefficients for different discharges to compare the Cd values to literature data and 2) to analyze and improve energy dissipation downstream of the structure. All tests were performed for a structure at laboratory scale with a height of approx. P = 30.5 cm, a ratio of the total crest length to the total width of 4.7, a sidewall angle of 10° and a quarter-round weir crest shape. Tested headwater ratios were 0.089 ≤ HT/P ≤ 0.817. For numerical simulations, FLOW-3D Hydro was employed, solving the RANS equations with use of finite-volume method and RNG k-ε turbulence closure. In terms of discharge capacity, results were compared to data from physical model tests performed at the Utah Water Research Laboratory (Utah State University), emphasizing higher discharge coefficients from CFD than from the physical model. For upstream heads, some discrepancy in the range of ± 1 cm between literature, CFD and physical model tests was identified with a discussion regarding differences included in the manuscript. For downstream energy dissipation, variable tailwater depths were considered to analyze the formation and sweep-out of a hydraulic jump. It was found that even for high discharges, relatively low downstream Froude numbers were obtained due to high energy dissipation involved by the three-dimensional flow between the sidewalls. The effects of some additional energy dissipation devices, e.g. baffle blocks or end sills, were also analyzed. End sills were found to be non-effective. However, baffle blocks with different locations may improve energy dissipation downstream of labyrinth weirs. Y1 - 2022 SN - 978-90-832612-1-8 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3850/IAHR-39WC252171192022738 SN - 2521-7119 (print) SN - 2521-716X (online) N1 - 39th IAHR World Congress, 19. - 24. Juni 2022, Granada SP - 2313 EP - 2318 PB - International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR) CY - Madrid ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Crookston, Brian M. A1 - Bung, Daniel Bernhard ED - Ortega-Sánchez, Miguel T1 - Application of RGB-D cameras in hydraulic laboratory studies T2 - Proceedings of the 39th IAHR World Congress N2 - Non-intrusive measuring techniques have attained a lot of interest in relation to both hydraulic modeling and prototype applications. Complimenting acoustic techniques, significant progress has been made for the development of new optical methods. Computer vision techniques can help to extract new information, e. g. high-resolution velocity and depth data, from videos captured with relatively inexpensive, consumer-grade cameras. Depth cameras are sensors providing information on the distance between the camera and observed features. Currently, sensors with different working principles are available. Stereoscopic systems reference physical image features (passive system) from two perspectives; in order to enhance the number of features and improve the results, a sensor may also estimate the disparity from a detected light to its original projection (active stereo system). In the current study, the RGB-D camera Intel RealSense D435, working on such stereo vision principle, is used in different, typical hydraulic modeling applications. All tests have been conducted at the Utah Water Research Laboratory. This paper will demonstrate the performance and limitations of the RGB-D sensor, installed as a single camera and as camera arrays, applied to 1) detect the free surface for highly turbulent, aerated hydraulic jumps, for free-falling jets and for an energy dissipation basin downstream of a labyrinth weir and 2) to monitor local scours upstream and downstream of a Piano Key Weir. It is intended to share the authors’ experiences with respect to camera settings, calibration, lightning conditions and other requirements in order to promote this useful, easily accessible device. Results will be compared to data from classical instrumentation and the literature. It will be shown that even in difficult application, e. g. the detection of a highly turbulent, fluctuating free-surface, the RGB-D sensor may yield similar accuracy as classical, intrusive probes. Y1 - 2022 SN - 978-90-832612-1-8 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3850/IAHR-39WC252171192022964 SN - 2521-7119 (print) SN - 2521-716X (online) N1 - 39th IAHR World Congress, 19. - 24. Juni 2022, Granada SP - 5127 EP - 5133 PB - International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR) CY - Madrid ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Hülsen, Benjamin A1 - Mulsow, Niklas A. A1 - Dabrowski, Adam A1 - Brinkmann, Wiebke A1 - Gützlaff, Joel A1 - Spies, Leon A1 - Czupalla, Markus A1 - Kirchner, Frank T1 - Towards an autonomous micro rover with night survivability for lunar exploration T2 - Proceedings of the 74th International Astronautical Congress N2 - In Europe, efforts are underway to develop key technologies that can be used to explore the Moon and to exploit the resources available. This includes technologies for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), facilitating the possibility of a future Moon Village. The Moon is the next step for humans and robots to exploit the use of available resources for longer term missions, but also for further exploration of the solar system. A challenge for effective exploration missions is to achieve a compact and lightweight robot to reduce launch costs and open up the possibility of secondary payload options. Current micro rover concepts are primarily designed to last for one day of solar illumination and show a low level of autonomy. Extending the lifetime of the system by enabling survival of the lunar night and implementing a high level of autonomy will significantly increase potential mission applications and the operational range. As a reference mission, the deployment of a micro rover in the equatorial region of the Moon is being considered. An overview of mission parameters and a detailed example mission sequence is given in this paper. The mission parameters are based on an in-depth study of current space agency roadmaps, scientific goals, and upcoming flight opportunities. Furthermore, concepts of the ongoing international micro rover developments are analyzed along with technology solutions identified for survival of lunar nights and a high system autonomy. The results provide a basis of a concise requirements set-up to allow dedicated system developments and qualification measures in the future. Y1 - 2023 N1 - 74. International Astronautical Congress (IAC-2023), October 2-6 2023, Baku, Azerbaijan PB - dfki ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Mulsow, Niklas A. A1 - Hülsen, Benjamin A1 - Gützlaff, Joel A1 - Spies, Leon A1 - Bresser, Andreas A1 - Dabrowski, Adam A1 - Czupalla, Markus A1 - Kirchner, Frank T1 - Concept and design of an autonomous micro rover for long term lunar exploration T2 - Proceedings of the 74th International Astronautical Congress N2 - Research on robotic lunar exploration has seen a broad revival, especially since the Google Lunar X-Prize increasingly brought private endeavors into play. This development is supported by national agencies with the aim of enabling long-term lunar infrastructure for in-situ operations and the establishment of a moon village. One challenge for effective exploration missions is developing a compact and lightweight robotic rover to reduce launch costs and open the possibility for secondary payload options. Existing micro rovers for exploration missions are clearly limited by their design for one day of sunlight and their low level of autonomy. For expanding the potential mission applications and range of use, an extension of lifetime could be reached by surviving the lunar night and providing a higher level of autonomy. To address this objective, the paper presents a system design concept for a lightweight micro rover with long-term mission duration capabilities, derived from a multi-day lunar mission scenario at equatorial regions. Technical solution approaches are described, analyzed, and evaluated, with emphasis put on the harmonization of hardware selection due to a strictly limited budget in dimensions and power. Y1 - 2023 N1 - 74. International Astronautical Congress (IAC-2023), October 2-6 2023, Baku, Azerbaijan PB - dfki CY - Saarbrücken ER - TY - INPR A1 - Schmülling, Max A1 - Gützlaff, Joel A1 - Czupalla, Markus T1 - A thermal simulation environment for moving objects on the lunar surface N2 - This paper presents a thermal simulation environment for moving objects on the lunar surface. The goal of the thermal simulation environment is to enable the reliable prediction of the temperature development of a given object on the lunar surface by providing the respective heat fluxes for a mission on a given travel path. The user can import any object geometry and freely define the path that the object should travel. Using the path of the object, the relevant lunar surface geometry is imported from a digital elevation model. The relevant parts of the lunar surface are determined based on distance to the defined path. A thermal model of these surface sections is generated, consisting of a porous layer on top and a denser layer below. The object is moved across the lunar surface, and its inclination is adapted depending on the slope of the terrain below it. Finally, a transient thermal analysis of the object and its environment is performed at several positions on its path and the results are visualized. The paper introduces details on the thermal modeling of the lunar surface, as well as its verification. Furthermore, the structure of the created software is presented. The robustness of the environment is verified with the help of sensitivity studies and possible improvements are presented. KW - Dynamic modeling KW - Thermal analysis KW - ESATAN-TMS KW - Lunar Surface KW - Thermal Model Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3902363/v1 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Kohlberger, David-Sharif A1 - Wild, Dominik A1 - Kasper, Stefan A1 - Czupalla, Markus T1 - Modeling and analyses of a thermal passively stabilized LEO/GEO star tracker with embedded phase change material applying the Infused Thermal Solutions (ITS) method T2 - ICES202: Satellite, Payload, and Instrument Thermal Control N2 - Phase change materials offer a way of storing excess heat and releasing it when it is needed. They can be utilized as a method to control thermal behavior without the need for additional energy. This work focuses on exploring the potential of using phase change materials to passively control the thermal behavior of a star tracker by infusing it with a fitting phase change material. Based on the numerical model of the star trackers thermal behavior using ESATAN-TMS without implemented phase change material, a fitting phase change material for selected orbits is chosen and implemented in the thermal model. The altered thermal behavior of the numerical model after the implementation is analyzed for different amounts of the chosen phase change materials using an ESATAN-based subroutine developed by the FH Aachen. The PCM-modelling-subroutine is explained in the paper ICES-2021-110. The results show that an increasing amount of phase change material increasingly damps temperature oscillations. Using an integral part structure some of the mass increase can be compensated. KW - passive thermal control KW - PCM KW - star tracker KW - Infused Thermal Solutions KW - GEO KW - LEO Y1 - 2021 N1 - 50th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 12-15 July 2021, held virtually PB - Texas Tech University CY - Lubbock, Tex. ER -