Abstract: A shrouded impeller includes an impeller having a plurality of blades and configured to rotate about an axis, and a shroud disposed adjacent to the impeller and configured to corotate about the axis with the impeller and translate axially relative to the impeller. A method of varying a geometry of a flow area of the shrouded impeller includes rotating the shroud and the impeller about the axis and axially translating the shroud relative to the impeller to increase or decrease a rate of flow between the shroud and the impeller.

Abstract: A rotor for use in a turbomachine includes a hub centered on a central axis and having a disk portion and a shaft portion and a blade extending outward from the hub. The hub and the blade together include a plastic substrate and metal plating disposed on at least apportion of an outer surface of the plastic substrate. The plastic substrate has a matrix material and fibers embedded in the matrix material. The fibers have a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The metal plating has a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The fibers are selected such that a bulk coefficient of thermal expansion of the plastic substrate at the outer surface of the plastic substrate substantially matches the second coefficient of thermal expansion of the metal plating.

Abstract: An impeller includes a metallic inducer portion and a polymeric exducer portion connected to the metallic inducer portion. The metallic inducer portion includes an inducer hub, inducer blades attached to the inducer hub, and an inducer coupling on an end of the inducer hub. The polymeric exducer portion includes an exducer hub, exducer blades attached to the exducer hub, and an exducer coupling on an end of the exducer hub. The exducer coupling connects to the inducer coupling.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub. The hub has a first end and a second end and includes an impeller disk at the second end of the hub. The impeller disk includes a first annular protrusion extending from the impeller disk. A first pocket is in a radially outer side of the first annular protrusion. The impeller also includes a first preloading band positioned in the first pocket. The first preloading band encircles the radially outer side of the first annular protrusion. The impeller also includes blades connecting to a radially outer surface of the hub.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an article comprises a plurality of structural units, wherein each structural unit comprises a first portion; a second portion; wherein the second portion contacts the first portion; and a third portion; wherein the third portion is in communication with the first portion and the second portion and is more compressible than the first portion and the second portion; wherein the first portion comprises a first shape memory alloy having a first preset state and wherein the second portion comprises a second shape memory alloy that has a second preset state; wherein the second preset state is different from the first preset state.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides air cooling systems and methods for propulsion systems (e.g., aviation or aerospace propulsion systems). More particularly, the present disclosure provides integrated air cooling systems and methods utilizing air cycle machine cooling for hybrid-electric aircraft or aerospace propulsion systems or the like. The present disclosure provides integrated air cycle machine cooling into the hybrid propulsion system (e.g., into the wing-mounted hybrid propulsion system). As such, the air cooling systems and methods of the present disclosure can minimize weight while improving electric motor/generator cooling.

Abstract: A containment structure for a rotor includes a shroud and a shroud reinforcement. The shroud is coaxial with and partially surrounds the rotor and includes a tubular section, a transition section, and a flange section. The tubular section extends axially past a first side of the rotor. The transition section connects to the tubular section and is adjacent to a curved side of the rotor. The flange section connects to the transition section opposite the tubular section. The flange section extends radially past a radially outer side of the rotor. The shroud reinforcement is connected to a radially outer surface of the transition section. The shroud reinforcement encloses the transition section and includes a support scaffold and a reinforcing material. The support scaffold includes a series of geometric retaining features encircling a radially outer surface of the transition section. The reinforcing material couples to the support scaffold and restricts shroud radial expansion.

Abstract: An assembly for use in an aircraft includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a flow path for an airflow extends between the inlet and the outlet. The assembly additionally includes a rotatable portion including a rotor mounted within the housing between the inlet and the outlet along the flow path. The rotor has a body including a first side facing the inlet, a second opposite side, and a plurality of impeller blades protruding from the first side. An axial flux electric motor includes a motor rotor having at least one first flux element and a motor stator. The at least one first flux element is integrated into the rotatable portion and the motor stator is remote from the flow path.

Abstract: An air cycle machine for use in environmental control system of an aircraft includes a first wheel having a rotatable portion and a second wheel operably coupled to the rotatable portion of the first wheel. An axial flux electric motor includes a motor rotor having at least one first flux element and a motor stator including at least one second flux element. The at least one first flux element is integrated into the rotatable portion of the first wheel.

Abstract: A compressor includes a housing and a mixed-flow rotor mounted within the housing. The mixed-flow rotor includes a blade and a rotor hub with an interior flow passage. The blade includes an internal channel between a pressure surface and a suction surface of the blade. The internal channel extends radially within the blade and is in fluidic communication with the interior flow passage. The blade also includes a plurality of air outlets formed on the blade proximate a leading edge of the blade. The plurality of air outlets extends into the blade to fluidically connect with the internal channel.

Abstract: An integrally bladed rotor includes a rotor disk, rotor blade, internal channel and air outlets. The rotor blade includes a body defined by a pressure surface and suction surface between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The internal channel extends radially from the rotor disk internally within the body of the rotor blade. The air outlets are formed proximate the leading edge and extend within the body of the rotor blade to the internal channel.

Abstract: A hydrogen fueled power system of a vehicle includes a liquid hydrogen fuel source having a volume of liquid hydrogen fuel, and a thermal engine configured to expand the liquid hydrogen fuel into gaseous form via interaction between a heated first portion of the hydrogen fuel and a second portion of the hydrogen fuel. A heat exchanger is located between the liquid hydrogen source and the thermal engine. The heat exchanger is configured to heat the first portion of the hydrogen fuel via thermal energy exchange with a relatively warm fluid. A power generator is positioned fluidly downstream of the thermal engine. The power generator utilizes exhaust from the thermal engine to generate electrical or mechanical power.

Abstract: A compressor includes a housing and a mixed-flow rotor mounted within the housing. The mixed-flow rotor includes a blade and a rotor hub with an interior flow passage. The blade includes an internal channel between a pressure surface and a suction surface of the blade. The internal channel extends radially within the blade and is in fluidic communication with the interior flow passage. The blade also includes a plurality of air outlets formed on the blade proximate a leading edge of the blade. The plurality of air outlets extends into the blade to fluidically connect with the internal channel.

Abstract: An integrally bladed rotor includes a rotor disk, rotor blade, internal channel and air outlets. The rotor blade includes a body defined by a pressure surface and suction surface between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The internal channel extends radially from the rotor disk internally within the body of the rotor blade. The air outlets are formed proximate the leading edge and extend within the body of the rotor blade to the internal channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides absorption refrigeration systems, assemblies and methods utilizing waste heat for climate control and/or cooling (e.g., electric systems cooling; electronics cooling; motor cooling; generator cooling; oil cooling; etc.). More particularly, the present disclosure provides absorption refrigeration systems, assemblies and methods utilizing waste heat (e.g., from aviation/aerospace systems, such as hybrid-electric/electric aircraft/aerospace systems or the like) for climate control and/or cooling (e.g., electronics cooling; motor cooling; generator cooling; oil cooling; electric systems cooling for energy savings on aviation/aerospace systems, such as hybrid-electric/electric aircraft/aerospace systems). In example embodiments, the waste heat utilization provides up to 100% of the energy control system (ECS) input energy, and certain configurations allow for substantially no electric energy input (e.g., allows for gravity flow only).

Abstract: A rotor for a rotary machine includes a hub centered on a central axis, the hub comprising a shaft portion extending along the central axis, a disk portion circumferentially disposed about the shaft portion, a platform portion as a radially outermost extent of the shaft portion and the disk portion, and a branched support structure extending radially inward from the platform portion. The rotor further includes a plurality of blades extending outward from the platform portion of the hub. The branched support structure comprises a hub region and a blade support region associated with one blade of the plurality of blades.

Abstract: An air cycle machine includes an outer housing, a first section arranged within the outer housing, and a second section arranged within the outer housing and operably coupled to the first section. The first section includes a first housing and a first rotatable component and the second section includes a second housing and a second rotatable component. At least a portion of a fluid flow path extending between an outlet of the first rotatable component and an inlet of the second rotatable component is arranged within the outer housing.

Abstract: An air cycle machine includes a shaft rotatable about a shaft axis, a compressor section and a turbine section operably coupled to the compressor section. The compressor section includes a compressor housing and a compressor rotor connected to the shaft and the turbine section includes a turbine housing and a turbine rotor mounted to the shaft. At least one heat exchanger is positioned within one of the compressor housing and the turbine housing.

Abstract: A hydrogen fueled power system of a vehicle includes a liquid hydrogen fuel source having a volume of liquid hydrogen fuel and a thermal engine configured to expand the liquid hydrogen fuel into gaseous form via interaction between a heated first portion of the hydrogen fuel and a second portion of the hydrogen fuel. A heat exchanger is positioned between the liquid hydrogen source and the thermal engine, and is configured to heat the first portion of the hydrogen fuel via thermal energy exchange with a relatively warm fluid. A turbine is located fluidly downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of the thermal engine, and is driven by the heated first portion. A power generator is located fluidly downstream of the thermal engine. The power generator utilizes exhaust from the thermal engine to generate electrical or mechanical power. A compressor is operably connected to and driven by the turbine.

Abstract: A shrouded impeller includes an impeller having a plurality of blades and configured to rotate about an axis, and a shroud disposed adjacent to the impeller and configured to corotate about the axis with the impeller and translate axially relative to the impeller. A method of varying a geometry of a flow area of the shrouded impeller includes rotating the shroud and the impeller about the axis and axially translating the shroud relative to the impeller to increase or decrease a rate of flow between the shroud and the impeller.