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JASC Delivers GDE-2.0 Hot Gas Valves to
Pratt & Whitney
Originally Published,
September 2003
On August 22,
2003, JASC, Inc. completed performance verification testing of three
five-channel hot fuel control valve arrays slated for use on the
Ground Demonstration Engine V2.0 (GDE-2.0) later this year, with
Pratt & Whitney taking delivery of the valves the following
week. These Hot Gas Valves (HGVs) form an integral part of the scramjet
engine’s fuel control system, which will be used to precisely
control the flow of hightemperature, gaseous hydrocarbon fuel to
various regions of the engine’s combustor.
This engine will be tested in the NASA LaRC 8-ft High Temperature
Tunnel (HTT), which
will provide data to further define critical engine operating parameters,
fine-tune the engine’s thermal management system, and validate
CFD analysis for the full-height and width, single module, flight-weight
engine. This engine is the penultimate version of theone envisioned
to power the X-43C Hypersonic Research Vehicle, scheduled to make
its maiden flight in CY06.
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An
artist's rendering of the air-breathing, hypersonic X-43C,
part of NASA's
Hyper-X series of flight demonstrators. CREDIT:
Media Fusion, Inc./NASA |
All valves performed
flawlessly during ambient temperature testing at JASC, and exceeded
all performance requirements for dynamic response, metering accuracy,
repeatability, and
sealing. Proof pressure testing was performed at levels simulating
actual worst-case loading conditions at the design temperature &
pressure. Valve testing with high-temperature fuel are scheduled
for this fall, after which the valves will be installed on the engine.
Engine testing in the 8’HTT is scheduled to occur during Q1-04.
The program is being funded through the Air Force's Hydrocarbon
Scramjet Engine Technology (HySET) Program, under the broader Hypersonic
Technology (HyTECH)
Program. The engine will ultimately operate in the Mach 4.5-6.5
range, and has both military and commercial applications.
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