DURIP Long Duration Clean Air Tunnel for Research at Hypersonic Flow Conditions
Abstract
Hypersonic testing, in particular with true-enthalpy facilities that can provide air-like gas mixtures (78% nitrogen and 22% oxygen) with minimal impurities for several minutes or longer, is of significant interest to national defense. Among many important applications, thermo-structural testing, materials characterization, sensor development, and propulsion research would benefit from such afacility. Towards that goal, funds in the amount of $993,222 are requested for the acquisition of capital equipment necessary for the development of a hypersonic demonstration tunnel operating at up to 5 lbm/s (0.5X).Based on a proprietary technology, the demonstration hypersonic tunnel would provide high enthalpy, clean, air-like gas at low electrical power and low cost per minute of runtime. With careful control of the feed mixture and the ambient pressure in the test section, run times of several minutes at Mach 5.3 are achievable for several minutes at simulated altitudes of about 60,000 ft. Mach numbers greater than 5.3 are possible by increasingthe stagnation temperature in the test section. The equipment requested in this proposal would provide test durations of up to 20 minutes, enabling tests that would mimic the heat soak of a full vehicle trajectory.The proposed test facility would complement Purdue#s existing and upcoming hypersonic test capabilities, including the 65,000 sq. ft Hypersonic & Applied Research Facility (HARF) and a new 55,000 sq. ft research facility ZL9, which will contain some of the infrastructure to support the proposed tunnel, currentlyunder construction and expected to be operational in early 2025, perfectly fitting the schedule of a FY24 DURIP.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 15, 2024
- Source ID
- N000142412189
Entities
People
- Timothee Pourpoint
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Purdue University
- United States Navy