Assessment of NOx emissions of the Scimitar engine at Mach 5 based on a thermodynamic cycle analysis

Abstract

The Scimitar engine is a new advanced propulsion system designed to propel the aircraft A2 of the LAPCAT project. It is a hybrid system that utilizes the features of turbofan, ramjet and air-turborocket. Hydrogen and air are used as the fuel and oxidant, respectively, while helium is used to transfer heat from the hot incoming air to the hydrogen in the engine. In this study, we present a thermodynamic cycle analysis of the Scimitar engine for the assessment of NOx emissions. The combustion of fuel is studied in detail with an equilibrium model taking into account various dissociation and formation reactions since high levels of temperatures are achieved in its combustion chamber. The NOx emissions of the engine at Mach 5 and the effects of fuel and air flow rates, cruise speed and altitude on these emissions are presented by solving a nonlinear system of equations formed through our novel thermodynamic model. The results show that the NO emissions of the engine can be diminished significantly by decreasing air flow rate, cruise speed and altitude and by increasing the fuel flow rate. The variations of NO2 emissions with these parameters are similar except the variation with altitude which has an inverse effect as compared to the variation of NO.