Design and Fabrication of the Istar Direct-Connect Combustor Experiment at the NASA Hypersonic Tunnel Facility


Book Description

The Integrated Systems Test of an Airbreathing Rocket (ISTAR) project was a flight demonstration project initiated to advance the state of the art in Rocket Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) propulsion development. The primary objective of the ISTAR project was to develop a reusable air breathing vehicle and enabling technologies. This concept incorporated a RBCC propulsion system to enable the vehicle to be air dropped at Mach 0.7 and accelerated up to Mach 7 flight culminating in a demonstration of hydrocarbon scramjet operation. A series of component experiments was planned to reduce the level of risk and to advance the technology base. This paper summarizes the status of a full scale direct connect combustor experiment with heated endothermic hydrocarbon fuels. This is the first use of the NASA GRC Hypersonic Tunnel facility to support a direct-connect test. The technical and mechanical challenges involved with adapting this facility, previously used only in the free-jet configuration, for use in direct connect mode will be also described. Lee, Jin-Ho and Krivanek, Thomas M. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2005-213432, AIAA Paper 2005-0611, E-14966




Scramjet Combustion


Book Description

Scramjet Combustion explores the development of a high-speed scramjet engine operating in the supersonic/hypersonic range for various air and space transport applications. The book explains the basic structure, components, working cycle, and the relevant governing equations in a clear manner that speaks to both advanced and more novice audiences. Particular attention is paid to efficient air–fuel combustion, looking at both the underlying fundamentals of combustion as well strategies for obtaining optimum combustion efficiency. Methods for reaching the chemically correct air–fuel ratio, subsequent flame, and combustion stabilization as air enters at supersonic speed are also outlined. Further, it includes the continuous on-going efforts, innovations, and advances with respect to the design modification of scramjet combustors, as well as different strategies of fuel injections for obtaining augmented performance while highlighting the current and future challenges. - Outlines the fundamentals of scramjet engines including their basic structure and components, working cycle, governing equations, and combustion fundamentals affecting the combustion and mixing processes - Presents new design modifications of scramjet combustors and different fuel injection strategies including combined fuel injection approaches - Discusses core topics such as chemical kinetics in supersonic flow, fuel–air mixing methods, strategies for combating combustion difficulties, and subsequent flame and combustion stabilization that can be applied to scramjets - Describes the pedagogy for computational approaches in simulating supersonic flows




Scramjets


Book Description

Scramjet engines are a type of jet engine and rely on the combustion of fuel and an oxidizer to produce thrust. While scramjets are conceptually simple, actual implementation is limited by extreme technical challenges. Hypersonic flight within the atmosphere generates immense drag, and temperatures found on the aircraft and within the engine can be much greater than that of the surrounding air. Maintaining combustion in the supersonic flow presents additional challenges, as the fuel must be injected, mixed, ignited, and burned within milliseconds. Fuel mixing, along with the configuration and positioning of the injectors and the boundary conditions, play a key role in combustion efficiency. Scramjets: Fuel Mixing and Injection Systems discusses how fuel mixing efficiency and the advantage of injection systems can enhance the performance of the scramjets. The book begins with the introduction of the supersonic combustion chamber and explains the main parameters on the mixing rate. The configuration of scramjets is then introduced with special emphasis on the main effective parameters on the mixing of fuel inside the scramjets. In addition, basic concepts and principles on the mixing rate and fuel distribution within scramjets are presented. Main effective parameters such as range of fuel concentration for the efficient combustion, pressure of fuel jet and various arrangement of jet injections are also explained. This book is for aeronautical and mechanical engineers as well as those working in supersonic combustion who need to know the effects of compressibility on combustion, of shocks on mixing and on chemical reactions, and vorticity on the flame anchoring. - Explains the main applicable approaches for enhancement of supersonic combustion engines and the new techniques of fuel injection - Shows how the interaction of main air stream with fuel injections can develop the mixing inside the scramjets - Presents results of numerical simulations and how they can be used for the development of the combustion engines







Design Considerations of Istar Hydrocarbon Fueled Combustor Operating in Air Augmented Rocket, Ramjet and Scramjet Modes


Book Description

The development and ground test of a rocket-based combined cycle (RBCC) propulsion system is being conducted as part of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Integrated System Test of an Airbreathing Rocket (ISTAR) program. The eventual flight vehicle (X-43B) is designed to support an air-launched self-powered Mach 0.7 to 7.0 demonstration of an RBCC engine through all of its airbreathing propulsion modes - air augmented rocket (AAR), ramjet (RJ), and scramjet (SJ). Through the use of analytical tools, numerical simulations, and experimental tests the ISTAR program is developing and validating a hydrocarbon-fueled RBCC combustor design methodology. This methodology will then be used to design an integrated RBCC propulsion system that produces robust ignition and combustion stability characteristics while maximizing combustion efficiency and minimizing drag losses. First order analytical and numerical methods used to design hydrocarbon-fueled combustors are discussed with emphasis on the methods and determination of requirements necessary to establish engine operability and performance characteristics. Andreadis, Dean and Drake, Alan and Garrett, Joseph L. and Gettinger, Christopher D. and Hoxie, Stephen S. Marshall Space Flight Center




Shock-Tunnel Combustor Testing for Hypersonic Vehicles


Book Description

Proposed configurations for the next generation of transatmospheric vehicles will rely on air breathing propulsion systems during all or part of their mission. At flight Mach numbers greater than about 7 these engines will operate in the supersonic combustion ramjet mode (scramjet). Ground testing of these engine concepts above Mach 8 requires high pressure, high enthalpy facilities such as shock tunnels and expansion tubes. These impulse, or short duration facilities have test times on the order of a millisecond, requiring high speed instrumentation and data systems. One such facility ideally suited for scramjet testing is the NASA-Ames 16-Inch shock tunnel, which over the last two years has completed a series of tests for the NASP (National Aero-Space Plane) program at simulated flight Mach numbers ranging from 12-16. The focus of the experimental programs consisted of a series of classified tests involving a near-full scale hydrogen fueled scramjet combustor model in the semi-free jet method of engine testing whereby the compressed forebody flow ahead of the cowl inlet is reproduced (see appendix A). The AIMHYE-1 (Ames Integrated Modular Hypersonic Engine) test entry for the NASP program was completed in April 1993, while AIMHYE-2 was completed in May 1994. The test entries were regarded as successful, resulting in some of the first data of its kind on the performance of a near full scale scramjet engine at Mach 12-16. The data was distributed to NASP team members for use in design system verification and development. Due to the classified nature of the hardware and data, the data reports resulting from this work are classified and have been published as part of the NASP literature. However, an unclassified AIAA paper resulted from the work and has been included as appendix A. It contains an overview of the test program and a description of some of the important issues. Loomis, Mark P. Unspecified Center NCC2-738...







Aerospace America


Book Description