A multi-fidelity simulation method research on front variable area bypass injector of an adaptive cycle engine

Abstract

Front Variable Area Bypass Injector (Front-VABI) is a component of the Adaptive Cycle Engine (ACE) with important variable-cycle features. The performance of Front-VABI has a direct impact on the performance and stability of ACE, but the current ACE performance model uses approximate models for Front-VABI performance calculation. In this work, a multi-fidelity simulation based on a de-coupled method is developed which delivers a more accurate calculation of the Front-VABI performance based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation. This simulation method proposes a form of Front-VABI characteristic and its matching calculation method between it and the ACE performance model, constructs a coupling method between the (2-D) Front-VABI model and the (0-D) ACE performance model. The result shows, when ACE works in triple bypass mode, the approximate model cannot account for the effect of Front-VABI pressure loss on Core Driven Fan Stage (CDFS) design pressure ratio, and the calculated error of high-pressure turbine inlet total temperature is more than 40 K in mode transition condition (the transition operating condition between triple bypass mode and double bypass mode). In double bypass mode, the approximate model can better simulate the performance of Front-VABI by considering the local loss of area expansion. This method can be applied to the performance-optimized design of Front-VABI and the ACE control law design during mode transition.