Numerical simulation of stable and unstable ram-mode operation of an axisymmetric ethylene-fueled inlet-isolator-combustor configuration

Caleb A. Hash, Paige M. Drummond, Jack R. Edwards, Nozomu Kato, Tonghun Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Large-eddy simulations of stable and unstable ramjet operational modes are presented for an axisymmetric inlet-isolator-combustor configuration experimentally tested in the University of Illinois's ACT-II arc-heated combustion tunnel. A 32 species ethylene oxidation mechanism including nitrous oxide formation reactions is used in the calculations (HyChem FFCM 2.0). Conjugate heat-transfer models based on an assumed penetration depth of the applied heating load are used to account for localized wall heating during the short durations (∼0.2 to 0.3 s) of the parts of the experiments simulated in this work. The results show a marked sensitivity to trace levels of atomic oxygen (∼1% by mass) in the free stream, a consequence of the arc-heating process. Atomic oxygen significantly reduces ignition delay at the relatively low pressures present within the configuration. With 1% atomic oxygen in the free stream, a jet-wake stabilized, partially-premixed flame structure emerges during thermal-throat ramjet operation at an equivalence ratio of 1.24, in accord with available experimental pressure and imaging measurements. Considering the free stream as pure air results in a cavity-wake stabilized, rich premixed flame. Simulations of unstable ram-mode operation leading to inlet unstart at an equivalence ratio of 1.97 also indicate a sensitivity to the free-stream composition. A reduction in atomic oxygen concentration to 0.8% by mass yields good agreement with the experimentally-observed isolator shock-train propagation speed. Both the computational and experimental results indicate that the shock train accelerates before being disgorged from the inlet. This acceleration stems from a rapid increase in the sizes of regions of low speed, sometimes separated flow behind Mach disks that form as the shock train proceeds upstream.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number112157
JournalCombustion and Flame
Volume242
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2022

Keywords

  • Isolator shock train
  • Large eddy simulation
  • Partially-premixed combustion
  • Thermal-throat ramjet

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Fuel Technology
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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