Numerical investigations on the hydrogen jet pressure variations in a strut based scramjet combustor

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to study the influences of hydrogen jet pressure on flow features of a strut-based injector in a scramjet combustor under-reacting cases are numerically investigated in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

The numerical analysis is carried out using Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) equations with the Shear Stress Transport k-ω turbulence model in contention to comprehend the flow physics during scramjet combustion. The three major parameters such as the shock wave pattern, wall pressures and static temperature across the combustor are validated with the reported experiments. The results comply with the range, indicating the adopted simulation method can be extended for other investigations as well. The supersonic flow characteristics are determined based on the flow properties, combustion efficiency and total pressure loss.

Findings

The results revealed that the augmentation of hydrogen jet pressure via variation in flame features increases the static pressure in the vicinity of the strut and destabilize the normal shock wave position. Indeed, the pressure of the mainstream flow drives the shock wave toward the upstream direction. The study perceived that once the hydrogen jet pressure is reached 4 bar, the incoming flow attains a subsonic state due to the movement of normal shock wave ahead of the strut. It is noticed that the increase in hydrogen jet pressure in the supersonic flow field improves the jet penetration rate in the lateral direction of the flow and also increases the total pressure loss as compared with the baseline injection pressure condition.

Practical implications

The outcome of this research provides the influence of fuel injection pressure variations in the supersonic combustion phenomenon of hypersonic vehicles.

Originality/value

This paper substantiates the effect of increasing hydrogen jet pressure in the reacting supersonic airstream on the performance of a scramjet combustor.

Citation

Suppandipillai, J., Kandasamy, J., Sivakumar, R., Karaca, M. and K., K. (2021), "Numerical investigations on the hydrogen jet pressure variations in a strut based scramjet combustor", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 93 No. 4, pp. 566-578. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-08-2020-0162