Quasi-One-Dimensional Model of Hydrocarbon-Fueled Scramjet Combustor Coupled with Regenerative Cooling

Abstract

In order to rapidly predict the performance of hydrocarbon-fueled regeneratively cooled scramjet engine in system design, a quasi-one-dimensional model has been developed. The model consists of a supersonic combustor model with finite-rate chemistry and a cooling channel model with real gas working medium, which are governed by two sets of ordinary differential equations separately. Additional models for wall friction, heat transfer, sonic fuel injection, and mixing efficiency are also included. The two sets of ordinary differential equations are coupled and iteratively solved. The SUNDIALS code is used since the equations for supersonic combustion flow are stiff mathematically. The cooling channel model was verified by electric heating tube tests, and the supersonic combustor model was verified by experimental results for both hydrogen and hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet combustors. Three cases were comparatively studied: (1) scramjet combustor with an isothermal wall, (2) scramjet combustor with an adiabatic wall, and (3) scramjet combustor with regenerative cooling. Results showed that the model could predict the axial distributions of flow parameters in the supersonic combustor and cooling channel. Differences on ignition delay time and combustion efficiency for the three cases were observed.