The Hummingbird: A Distributed Propulsion Concept

[RON_P]

The Hummingbird: A Distributed Propulsion Concept
https://beta.sam.gov/opp/5bd114d11ecc46578b06532963dd50de/view?keywords=ramjet&sort=-modifiedDate&index=&is_active=true&page=1
Looks rather interesting .

[Asteroza]

The Hummingbird: A Distributed Propulsion Concept
https://beta.sam.gov/opp/5bd114d11ecc46578b06532963dd50de/view?keywords=ramjet&sort=-modifiedDate&index=&is_active=true&page=1
Looks rather interesting .

  NASA Glenn wants to further develop a freaky shaftless linear jet engine! 

Also likely to be quite small in dimensions, because it seems to be using a reciprocating flapping blade compressor, as well as a solid state power generator via thermal cycling of sorts of a superparamagnetic composite alternating magnetic field generator via reverse magnetic hyperthermia, as a substitute for a conventional turbine in a jet engine providing shaft power to a compressor, so it can supply power to drive the actuators for the flapping blade compressor. The notice suggests blade retraction, such that the airflow space can be used for ramjet/scramjet purposes.

Wonder if this is the electric compressor equivalent of a 2D pulsejet?


The patent (reference code LEW-TOPS-53) link seems dead though

https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/LEW-TOPS-53
https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/TB2016/LEW-TOPS-53
https://twitter.com/NASAGlennBiz/status/915246421128904704

I wonder why the code is LEW (for Lewis airfield?), rather than GRC?

https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/tb/techbriefs/aerospace/26003


There's a possible related recent patent by a NASA Goddard employee for mag field manipulated shape memory actuators

https://patents.google.com/patent/US10581345B2/en?assignee=NASA&before=publication:20201231&after=publication:20200101&page=4

[john smith 19]

  NASA Glenn wants to further develop a freaky shaftless linear jet engine! 

This is an early-stage technology requiring additional development. Glenn welcomes co-development opportunities.

Too right.

This sounds like one of their researchers had a free Friday afternoon and sketched something.

What it mostly sounds like is the pulse jet on a V1 cruise missile but with electrically driven flap valves rather than reeds.

The bit about producing AC from a flow is quite intriguing but I'll be surprised if there's any actual hardware backing this. 

[CameronD]

This sounds like one of their researchers had a free Friday afternoon and sketched something.

What it mostly sounds like is the pulse jet on a V1 cruise missile but with electrically driven flap valves rather than reeds.

They mention "linear array of flapping blades".. so more like a string of pulse jets feeding each other. Certainly an interesting concept but not sure how well that would scale up in practice - at some point physics kicks in.

"reverse magnetic hyperthermia"?!??  I reckon he not only had a free Friday afternoon, but the key to the drinks fridge as well.

[Asteroza]

This sounds like one of their researchers had a free Friday afternoon and sketched something.

What it mostly sounds like is the pulse jet on a V1 cruise missile but with electrically driven flap valves rather than reeds.

They mention "linear array of flapping blades".. so more like a string of pulse jets feeding each other. Certainly an interesting concept but not sure how well that would scale up in practice - at some point physics kicks in.

"reverse magnetic hyperthermia"?!??  I reckon he not only had a free Friday afternoon, but the key to the drinks fridge as well.

Well, using the heat flux to generate an AC mag field, when usually heating stuff kills off the mag field is certainly a plus. The nature of the superparamagnetic composite that generates the alternating mag field is key. I wonder if it's similar to the giant magnetocaloric effect used in adiabatic demagnetization solid state refrigerators, but instead of an applied mag field to get thermal changes, use thermal changes to make the mag field...

pyromagnetic, thermomagnetic?

hey wait a minute, doesn't that put it into the same realm as other reversible effect stuff, like peltier cooler/thermoelectric generator, and piezoelectric actuators/generators?