Overcoming fuel-air mixing issues with pulsed scramjets and pelletized fuel.

MacLeod, Christopher; Capanni, Niccolo F.; Gow, Kenneth S.

Abstract

In this paper the concept of a pulsed Scramjet using pelletized fuel is examined. The aim is to overcome the main technical problem inherent in more traditional designs - poor air-fuel mixing. In this new paradigm, airflow is diverted away from the main engine duct and fuel pellets are injected at timing intervals which ensure that they are evenly distributed throughout the mixing volume. The main airflow is then permitted to enter the duct and the inertia of the pellets allows the air to envelop and then vaporise them - and so their fuel load is evenly spread through the duct volume. The paper outlines the basic concept and calculations and simulations are used to demonstrate its feasibility.

Citation

MACLEOD, C., CAPANNI, N.F. and GOW, K.S. 2015. Overcoming fuel-air mixing issues with pulsed scramjets and pelletized fuel. Journal of the British Interplanetary Society [online], 68, pages 354-362. Available from: http://www.jbis.org.uk/paper.php?p=2015.68.354

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 16, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Nov 30, 2016
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2016
• Deposit Date: May 12, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: May 12, 2016
• Journal: Journal of the British Interplanetary Society
• Print ISSN: 0007-084X
• Publisher: British Interplanetary Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 68
• Pages: 354-362
• Keywords: Scramjet; Mixing; Capsules; Pellets; Pulsed; Solid fuel; PDE
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1471
• Publisher URL: http://www.jbis.org.uk/paper.php?p=2015.68.354