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: The present disclosure provides variable geometry nozzle or valve assemblies utilizing magnetic fluid (e.g., ferromagnetic fluid; magnetorheological fluid; non-Newtonian magnetic fluid; general viscous magnetic fluid). More particularly, the present disclosure provides variable geometry nozzle or valve assemblies utilizing magnetic fluid for high efficiency expansion and/or mass flow control in fluidic systems (e.g., gas injectors; micro-satellite propulsion systems; gas burners; fluid injectors; etc.).

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: A power system includes a liquid hydrogen fuel source including a fuel tank containing a volume of hydrogen fuel. The fuel tank includes two or more vacuum insulation layers, and a liquid insulation material positioned between the two or more vacuum insulation layers. A first power generator located fluidly downstream of the hydrogen fuel source. The first power generator utilizes a flow of hydrogen fuel from the volume of hydrogen fuel to generate electrical or mechanical power.

Abstract: An airfoil includes a first end opposite a second end in a spanwise direction. A leading edge extends in the spanwise direction from the first end to the second end and a trailing edge extends in the spanwise direction from the first end to the second end and aft of the leading edge in a chordwise direction. A suction surface extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge and a pressure surface extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The airfoil further includes at least one channel with an inlet on a surface of the leading edge and an outlet aft of the leading edge.

Abstract: A radial diffuser includes an inlet section, outlet section, diffuser wall, and movable diffuser hub. The inlet section has a cylindrical shape and a circular cross section. The diffuser wall includes an inner surface defining a fluid flow path which is non-linear, and includes a convex curved section and a concave curved section. The convex curved section is adjacent to the inlet section and has a convex curvature. The concave curved section is adjacent to the outlet section and has a concave curvature. The movable diffuser hub is configured to move with respect to a central flow axis relative to the diffuser wall and can thereby alter a fluid flow through the radial diffuser.

Abstract: A heat exchanger core comprises a plurality of tubes extending along a first fluid axis, each of the plurality of tubes comprising a leading edge, a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, and a pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The leading edge, trailing edge, and the pair of sidewalls define an inner surface and an outer surface of each of the plurality of tubes. Each of a first subset of the plurality of tubes further comprises a roughened region on the outer surface of one of the pair of sidewalls.

Abstract: An additively manufactured component includes an outer shell, the outer shell enclosing a space therein. An inner lattice structure is in the space of the outer shell. Interspaces are formed in the inner lattice structure. A method of forming an additively manufactured component includes evacuating a chamber in which the additively manufactured component will be formed, and forming in the chamber layer by layer an outer shell enclosing a core. The core includes a lattice structure with interspaces formed in the lattice structure.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a turbomachine includes a base, a tip opposite the base in a spanwise direction, a leading edge, and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge in a chordwise direction. A pressure surface extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and extends from the base to the tip. A suction surface extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and extends from the base to the tip. The tip includes a tip seal additively manufactured to the rotor blade. The tip seal includes a first portion with a first composition and a second portion with a second composition different from the first composition.

Abstract: A rotor includes a blade, a hub connected to a radially inner edge of the blade, an outlet, and a channel. The blade includes a first side between a leading edge and a trailing edge and a first channel inlet in the first side of the blade. The outlet is in a radially inner surface of the hub. The channel is between the first channel inlet and the outlet.

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: A rotor for a machine under this disclosure could be said to include a hub having a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly of the hub. At least one of the hub and the plurality of blades is formed of at least two metal materials. The two metal materials are selected to have different thermal expansion coefficients such that the overall rotor will be more resistant to forces it may experience as temperature or speed increases. There are layers of each of the two metal materials, with an intermediate gradient wherein the two materials are mixed. Alternatively, a shape memory alloy may be used. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat exchanger element includes a body and at least one deformable surface feature disposed at an outer body surface of the body. A cross-section of the heat exchanger element is oriented parallel to a cross-sectional plane of the heat exchanger element. At least one of the body and the at least one surface feature is configured to selectively respond to a temperature change such that a physical characteristic of the heat exchanger element changes in response to a temperature change. The physical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of: a shape of the heat exchanger element, a surface area of the heat exchanger element, a surface roughness of the heat exchanger element, and combinations thereof.

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: A rotor includes a blade, a hub connected to a radially inner edge of the blade, an outlet, and a channel. The blade includes a first side between a leading edge and a trailing edge and a first channel inlet in the first side of the blade. The outlet is in a radially inner surface of the hub. The channel is between the first channel inlet and the outlet.

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; where the first portion has a first value of a property and where the second portion has a second value of the same property, such that the first value acts as a restraining or enhancing force on the second value; wherein the first portion comprises a first metal and wherein the second portion comprises a second metal that is different from the first metal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integral impeller and motor rotor. The method includes manufacturing an impeller with a shroud, modifying a radially outer surface of the shroud to prepare the radially outer surface for additive manufacturing, additively manufacturing a motor rotor onto the radially outer surface of the shroud such that the motor rotor has a magnetic field with a geometry designed by computer modeling, and magnetizing the rotor.

Abstract: A shaftless rotary machine includes an impeller, a motor positioned radially outward from the impeller, and a housing. The impeller includes a hub, blades connected to the hub, and a shroud connected to the blades. The motor includes a rotor connected to the shroud and a stator. The housing includes an inlet, an outlet, and a duct. The duct extends from the inlet to the outlet. The duct partially surrounds the motor and the impeller.

Abstract: A rotor for a machine under this disclosure could be said to include a hub having a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly of the hub. At least one of the hub and the plurality of blades is formed of at least two metal materials. The two metal materials are selected to have different thermal expansion coefficients such that the overall rotor will be more resistant to forces it may experience as temperature or speed increases. There are layers of each of the two metal materials, with an intermediate gradient wherein the two materials are mixed. Alternatively, a shape memory alloy may be used. A method is also disclosed.

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.