Regression rate response in spin-stabilized solid fuel ramjets

Abstract

ABSTRACT The regression rate of the solid fuel in the spinning solid fuel ramjet is investigated here using numerical simulations. The finite volume solver of the reacting turbulent flow is developed to study the flow field in the back-step combustion chamber where the burning rate of the solid fuel is computed using the conjugate heat transfer. The dependence of the burning rate on the circumferential velocity of the ramjet is studied, and it is shown that the spin augments the burning rate due to the enhancement of the convective heat flux along the fuel grain. So, the spin can be used to improve the performance of the solid fuel ramjets. In addition, the effect of rapid change in spin velocity on the regression rate of the fuel is investigated, which shows the transient-burning behavior. The results show that although the spin may increase the burning rate by ∼10% in steady-state operation of the ramjet, the spin acceleration may cause the overshoot in burning rate with the peak value >30% in the unsteady operation.