Expert Details
Turbomachinery, Gas Turbine Engines, Aircraft Auxiliary Power Units
ID: 725595
Michigan, USA
Expert is sole-inventor of a significant patent concerning "floating vane diffuser" for high-performance centrifugal compressors. Well versed in application and development of centrifugal compressors for gas turbine engines.
Expert has held positions in industrial fan companies as Manager of R & D and VP Engineering. Made detailed analysis for customers and been on industrial committee for application of power plant fans.
Lead engineer for F-16 Engine Start System, which uses an 8-disc hydroviscous clutch newly designed and developed for that application. Intimately involved in testing and re-design of shut-off and actuation valving for the cooling flow of that clutch. Also did engagement analysis and re-design recommendations for the APU clutch for the V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft.
Have made detailed presentations to Air Movement and Control Association regarding use and definition of Specific Speed parameter on which to base fan/compressor selection criteria.
Has experimented with surge control techniques for industrial blower operation, to include re-directing a portion of outflow into the inlet with sensing and actuation methods.
Of more importance, is his long-involvement with compressor surge, including his patent on extending compressor range by means of a "floating vane diffuser", particularly as it might apply to gas turbine engines.
Expert holds a patent in this area for a floating vane diffuser, which was specifically created as a surge range extension means. This means was mentioned specifically as a potential surge preventer in "Centrifugal Compressor Design", by David Japikse. A polycarbonate working demonstrator was created and constructed using a vacuum cleaner impeller. That demonstrator is currently on-loan to UK-Paducah extension with Dr. V. Capece.
Lead engineer for F-16 Engine Start System, which required first company-wide design and development of a torque converter for the use of a small single-shaft gas turbine engine to engage and apply rotation torque to the main engine. That torque converter probably is the only one that uses a high degree of back-swept impeller blading, with splitters, to facilitate a flat input power demand from the small gas turbine engine. Such a characteristic was implemented in conjunction with him and a renowned consultant, Dr. George F. Wislicenus. He also instituted unique methodology to make minor corrections to the stator vanes to modify the power input/output characteristics necessitated by initial production inadequacies.
Principal investigator and experimenter concerning ultra fuel-rich combustion of air/JP and oxygen/JP mixtures for application to high-altitude emergency power systems for aircraft. Utilized methodology adapted from Rocketdyne in determining ratio of specific heats of combustion products for application in determining downstream turbine performance. Included assignment as project engineer for Air/JP system used for high altitude engine re-start assist on TR-1 (U2) aircraft.
Week-long consulting session with South Korean Agency for Defense Development, regarding presentation and discussion of disciplines regarding design and development of small jet engines, in 2002.
Also, similar consulting session with Samsung Techwin in Changwon, South Korea during March 2006, except subject was auxiliary power units for helicopters/aircraft. Re-designed an airfoil industrial centrifugal fan for Sheldons Manufacturing Co. in Elgin, IL so as to result in a single thickness blade with near-identical performance, which led to full-time employment with Sheldons. Subsequently tested ventilation system for FermiLab (Chicago suburb) after conclusion of employment with Sheldons Manufacturing Co.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1970 | Degree: MSME | Subject: Mechanical Engineering | Institution: Bradley University |
| Year: 1962 | Degree: BSME | Subject: Mechanical Engineering | Institution: University of Kentucky |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1994 to 2002 | Employer: | Title: Technical Advisor | Department: Fort Worth/Korea |
Responsibilities:Technical adviser to Korea Aerospace Industries on T-50 Aircraft Secondary Power Systems.1994-96 and 2001-02 only. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1985 to 1993 | Employer: | Title: Master Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Investigate pumps, ejectors, combustion, and engine processes in a research environment.Direct participation in aircraft APU (APS 3200 and V22) development in San Diego (1992 and 1993) Program manager for TR-1 In-Flight Engine Start System (fuel-rich air/JP) in San Diego (1990). Preliminary proposal efforts and analysis regarding the application of fuel-rich oxygen/JP or catalytic oxygen/hydrogen systems |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1983 to 1985 | Employer: SHELDON MANUFACTURING CORPORATION | Title: VP, Engineering | Department: |
Responsibilities:Directed four-man engineering department for heavy-duty industrial fan and blower (ex: cooling blower for GE locomotives) manufacturer. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1979 to 1982 | Employer: CLARAGE FAN COMPANY | Title: Manager of R&D | Department: |
Responsibilities:Application engineering, new product design, and direction of a four-man prototype test laboratory for heavy-duty industrial fans. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1974 to 1979 | Employer: SUNDSTRAND AVIATION MECHANICAL | Title: Principal Engineer, Senior Project Engineer. | Department: |
Responsibilities:F-16 Engine Start System product support and sub-contractor coordination. Lead engineer for F-16 Engine Start System development, including first torque converter and hydroviscous clutch for Sundstrand.Commercial APU load compressor definition. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1965 to 1974 | Employer: Caterpillar | Title: Research Engineer | Department: Research, Peoria, IL |
Responsibilities:Responsibilities included gas turbine engine cycle analysis, compressor testing and design, turbine analysis and development, and combustor development. |
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International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 2001 to 2002 | Country / Region: South Korea | Summary: Contract engineer with Lockheed-Martin, serving as a Technical Adviser to Korea Aerospace Industries in Sachon, S.Korea., on the secondary power system for the T-50 Supersonic fighter/trainer aircraft. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| American Society of Mechanical Engineers (Retired) |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| P. E., Illinois (inactive) |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| Member AMCA (Air Movement and Control Association) 1981-82. |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Several peer-reviewed technical papers/articles, to include 2 for ASME, 1 for AIAA, 1 for POWER magazine, and one for AMCA. Two sole-inventor patents: (1)U.S. Pat. No Self-Aligning Vanes for a Turbomachine, 1976 (2) U.S. Pat. No. Method and Apparatus for Starting a Gas Turbine Engine, 1987. |
Additional Experience
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| Have had several instances of contact with South Korean government and industry regarding aircraft auxiliary power units and gas turbine engines for both commercial and military applications. Maintain social contacts with those individuals, to include Agency for Defense Development (Government, in Daejeon), Samsung Techwin (Changwon), and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI, Sachon). Also know some key individuals at Hamilton-Sundstrand in San Diego and one at Lockheed-Martin in Fort Worth. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Applications and use of high performance turbomachinery, mostly as result of years of experience and two major patents (sole inventor). |
Fields of Expertise
axial-flow compressor, centrifugal compressor, centrifugal blower, centrifugal fan, clutch, compressor selection, compressor surge, compressor surge control device, torque converter, combustion, compressed gas handling, pressure drop, fluid behavior, gas diffusion, fluid system dynamics, ethanol-fueled automobile, compressor design review, aerospace engine, gas compressibility, fluid compression, fluid channel, disk clutch, aspirator, British thermal unit, applied aerodynamics, compressor evaluation, compressor design, flight testing, compressor performance, rotating machinery, ventilation system, interfacial fluid mechanics, aerodynamic characteristics, energy-efficient compressor, radial-flow compressor, mechanical power transmission, high-pressure compressor, air-cycle refrigeration, aeronautics test-facility, rotor blade, internal fluid mechanics, ventilating equipment, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning equipment, gas mechanics, turboblower, combustion chamber, fluid, Bernoulli equation, power shaft, vortex, vaneaxial fan, vane compressor, turbocharging, storable rocket propellant, propulsion, propellant, monopropellant, mechanical engineering, jet propulsion, impeller, hydromechanics, gaseous rocket propellant, gas turbine engine, gas handling, gas flow through a nozzle, gas compressor, fluid mechanics modeling, fluid mechanics, fluid flow measurement, fluid drive, compressor (machine), combustion engine, centrifugal pump, Brayton cycle, blower, Bernoulli theorem, aircraft engine, air flow, air compressor, aviation science