Date of Award

5-6-2024

Degree Type

Capstone Project

First Advisor

Bahram Nassersharif

Abstract

This project, spearheaded by Team 21H under the guidance of Professor Nassersharif, and NASA, aims to design and develop an innovative turbine system for a Centrifugal Thermal Rocket (CNTR), capable of supporting a 420-day manned space mission. The primary objective was to create a gas turbine and control system that could spin the fuel cell at speeds ranging from 5000 to 7000 RPM, using hydrogen propellant as the working fluid, and withstand extreme temperature variations from the cold of space up to 5500 Kelvin. The team's approach involved extensive research, design, and testing, with a focus on maximizing speed and selecting appropriate materials. The key to this project was the development of a prototype that could operate efficiently under dynamic fluid motion, and high rotation speeds. This involved creating CAD models of the moderator block as well as a turbine created around gas turbine theory. A 3D printed prototype was built for proof of concept, accompanied by CFD simulations and computational calculations to verify the design's efficacy in terms of speed, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, blade interaction, vibration, and pressure. The scalded model was placed into a wind tunnel where it was placed under conditions and asset to view its performance and have data collected.

Innovations in the project included conceptualizing a control system that allows for variable gas flow and turbine velocity, from zero to maximum. This was complemented by a backup system inspired by the NERVA design, featuring four fuel tanks for enhanced redundancy. The turbine's design and functionality were tested in a wind tunnel, confirming its ability to achieve desired top speeds with minimal vibrations. As the project progresses, Team 21H will continue to refine and iterate our turbine design, focusing on the construction and assembly improvements. This approach ensures the turbine not only meets NASA's stringent requirements for space missions but also advances the field of aerospace engineering through practical innovation and rigorous testing.

Comments

Team Name: NASA 21H (Team 21H)

Company Sponsor: NASA

Sponsor Representative: Michael Houts

Document Reference: URI-MCE-401-CAP-FDR-2023-21H

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