High Heating Rate Electrical Discharge Calorimeter Calibration System

In answer to the need for an increased heat-flux calibration capability, Streamline Automation  proposes a novel calorimeter data reduction methodology and its implementation and demonstration in a high heat-flux calibration system, powered by an electrical discharge. The new calibration system will; enable calibration at the required flux levels, recreate conditions specific to high-enthalpy hypersonic flows, return all the necessary information required to recover the classical step response of the calorimeter, and feature a built-in means for correcting gauge output due to a zero intrinsic integrated energy deficiency. These characteristics will enable operation at a fraction of total heat flux required by classical step response calibration systems and help prevent calorimeter destruction during the calibration process. The proposed Phase I activities include: the design and fabrication of the calibration system, experimental system characterization, and system demonstration by calibration of a known temperature gauge. In Phase II SA will fully characterize and optimize the system and integrate all hardware and software components into a commercial package. BENEFITS: Hypersonic transport vehicles powered by air-breathing scramjet engines are beginning to come into focus as the quick-response space launchers and super-swift, far-ranging missiles of the future.  Future development programs will require unique ground testing capabilities, such as supersonic and hypersonic wind tunnels, and sophisticated instrumentation to provide flow and thermodynamic data.  Currently calorimeter calibration system at AEDC do not provide heat fluxes as high as the calorimeters experience during arc jet testing.  The proposed calorimeter calibration system will enable calibration to be performed in an environment more closely approximating the operational environment.  This will provide a greater degree of confidence in the measured data during testing, and improve test operations.