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Revolutionary Performance For Ultra Low Reynolds Number Vehicles

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NND06AA01C
Agency Tracking Number: 041892
Amount: $600,000.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: A2.07
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2006-01-25
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2008-01-25
Small Business Information
420 N. Nash Street
El Segundo, CA 90245-2822
United States
DUNS: 121331057
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Michael Kerho
 Principal Investigator
 (310) 640-8781
 mike@RollingHillsResearch.com
Business Contact
 Brian Kramer
Title: Business Official
Phone: (310) 640-8781
Email: BKramer@RollingHillsResearch.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

A novel technique for controlling transition from laminar to turbulent flow in very low Reynolds number conditions has been developed. Normally flows with Reynolds numbers in the range of 20,000 to 120,000 are dominated by laminar separation bubbles and are difficult to transition without using very large traditional trip devices, such as distributed roughness. Additionally, these traditional trips are sized for one flow condition and are either not effective at off-design conditions or create a large device drag penalty. RHRC's innovative transition control technology is capable of transitioning flow across a wide range of low Reynolds number conditions without resizing or incurring an off-design performance penalty. The system also produces minimal device drag. The novel transition control technology was shown to reduce trip drag penalties by as much as 35% to 60% when compared to correctly sized traditional trips, and increasing to as much as 190% at off-design conditions. In addition, the system can be implemented without external power. The commercialization potential for the technology is extremely promising, with applications such as micro unmanned air vehicles, high-altitude long-endurance aircraft, Mars exploratory flyers, and propeller systems.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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