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The Personal Computer Transport Analyzer Program
Technical Paper
2006-01-2050
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
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English
Abstract
Since flight requirements often necessitate last-minute re-analysis, it became crucial to develop flexible and comprehensive transport phenomena analysis software that would quickly ensure all vehicle and payload requirements would be satisfied. The software would replace various mainframe-based software, such as the Thermal Radiation Analyzer System (TRASYS) and the Systems Improved Numerical Differencing Analyzer (SINDA).
The software would need to have the flexibility to employ models that could be developed and modified as vehicle systems change. By use of event files which contain simple, intuitive commands, the characteristics of individual missions could be built as inputs to the model. By moving the Environmental Control & Life Support (ECLS) system model to the PC environment, each analyst would have execution, storage, and processing management control. And of course, software portability would be greatly increased.
It was decided that the most effective way to achieve a user-friendly interface was to develop a C++ object-oriented Windows language (heat and mass) transport phenomena analysis program. The Personal Computer Transport Analysis Program (PCTAP) would allow the programmer to develop small models of different transport devices, such as heat exchangers and tubes, and then link and modify these models to form the overall PCTAP. By having small user-definable models, users can easily build models of any system, then import these into the PCTAP. It also allows parameters to be redefined anywhere in the process flow through event files that the user can customize for each process. In addition, the overall program can be modified by developing new module programs and linking them to existing PCTAP modules.
Authors
Citation
Dunaway, B., "The Personal Computer Transport Analyzer Program," SAE Technical Paper 2006-01-2050, 2006, https://doi.org/10.4271/2006-01-2050.Also In
References
- Martin Marietta Company Thermal Radiation Analyzer System (TRASYS) June 1983
- Martin Marietta Company Systems Improved Numerical Differencing Analyzer (SINDA) March 1990
- DiStefano, Frank J. III The Boeing Company Houston, Texas The Personal Computer Transport Analyzer Program September 2003
- Current development employs Borland C++ Version 5.02 Subsequent development will use Microsoft Visual C++
- Dunaway, The Boeing Company Assessment of Lithium Hydroxide Conservation via International Space Station Control of Orbiter Carbon Dioxide presented at the International Conference on Environmental Systems San Antonio, Texas July 2002
- Run times vary greatly depending upon the size of the model
- PC Plot is currently being updated with new features, including color plotting, and is currently being documented
- Software is currently in development that generates event files based on a series of queries. For Orbiter PCTAP runs, the .ev file reflects mission event timelines that include Flash Evaporator System (FES) operation, water dumps, radiator configuration, Flow Proportioning Module configuration, Freon Coolant Loop flow rates, LiOH change-outs, etc
- In order to provide a separate accounting of the Shuttle Orbiter component heat loads and the payload heat loads, both a .hl file and a .pay file were created for this purpose. Any heat load applied to the model can appear in either the .hl file or .pay file. Both files are required to make a PCTAP run, but either or both the .hl file or .pay file may be “dummy” files, containing only a start time and end time. For Orbiter PCTAP runs, the .pay file reflects the mission-specific payload heat loads for the Middeck, PLB, Avionics Bays, etc. The Orbiter-related mission-specific heat loads are contained in the .hl file, and can be created using the generic MOD-provided electronic Tools and Resources Analysis Management (TRAM) files
- Dunaway, Brian R. Rockwell International Employing TRASYS Database for PC Model 2 June 1995 Dunaway, Brian R. The Boeing Company Edeen, Marybeth Orbiter Capability for Providing Water to the International Space Station according to the Most Probable Flight Attitudes presented at the International Conference on Environmental Systems Toulouse, France July 2000 Dunaway, Brian R. The Boeing Company Modification of Radiator Flux Database Software to Incorporate Form Factor Database 11 April 2003
- For simplicity, many of the elements integrated into PCTAP are specific to Shuttle Orbiter and ISS systems; though if an element is not consistent with a current class, PCTAP can be modified to represent it
- This HTE has been modified to accept the characteristics and performance of the ISS carbon dioxide removal elements Vozdukh and CDRA