Supersonic Compression Stage Design and Test Results

Abstract

Ramgen Power Systems, Inc. (RPS) is developing a family of high performance supersonic compressors that combine many of the aspects of shock compression systems commonly used in supersonic flight inlet design with turbo-machinery design practices employed in conventional axial and centrifugal compressor design. The result is a high efficiency compressor that is capable of single stage pressure ratios in excess of those available in existing axial or centrifugal compressors. A variety of design configurations for land-based compressors utilizing this system have been explored. A proof-of-concept system has been designed to demonstrate the basic operational characteristics of this family of compressors when operating on air. The test unit was designed to process ~1.43 kg/s and produce a pressure ratio across the supersonic rotor of 2.25:1. The theory of operation of this system will be reviewed along with selected results from initial performance tests.

Design and Fabrication of a 400kW Pre-Prototype Engine

“…For coal mine operators the 1 Source of greenhouse gas resulting from human activity economic incentive to install this technology would have equaled $4,831,280,418 per year in 2000 from the combined sales of electricity 2 and carbon credits earned 3 by utilizing and preventing the methane in bleeder vents, gob well, and sealed areas of active coalmines from entering the atmosphere.…”

“…Using the acoustic Transfer Matrix Method described by Munjal (1987) 1 , the acoustic impedance of the inlet air piping can be calculated. A simplified network of the acoustic transfer matrices for the inlet air piping (i.e., T1, T2, and T3) is shown in Figure 1.…”

A Numerical Study on the Effect of Bleed System on Starting Ability and Flow Performance of Rampressor Inlet

“…Ramgen engine with a proof-of-concept version of a new type of compression system has been proposed by American Ramgen Power Systems, Inc., [1,2], The core part of Ramgen engine is Rampressor. Rampressor inlet is formed by the rotor compression ramp and engine casing.…”

Effect of vane opening on aerodynamic performance of the ram-rotor test system

“…As a supersonic compressor rotor, the ram-rotor is competitive in size and can obtain high single stage total pressure ratio in the meantime. Till now many efforts have been devoted to the design method, flow characteristic prediction and performance test [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Some power machinery control techniques are used to regulate aerodynamic loading and mass flow rate of compressors at part load and rotational speed conditions, so as to make the compressor run efficiently and steadily.…”