Burning rate augmentation in solid fuel ramjets by swirling inlet air stream

Abstract

The influence of the inlet swirling flow on the regression rate of the fuel in the combustion chamber of the solid fuel ramjet is investigated in this study using numerical simulations. The finite-volume solver of the compressible turbulent reacting flow is developed to study the flow field where the burning rate is computed using the conjugate heat transfer method for the solid fuel. The correlation is found for the maximum regression rate versus an imposed inlet swirl when the linear distribution of the circumferential velocity is applied at the inlet stream. Although the regression rate augmentation is considerable due to the swirling flow field in the combustor, it is shown that the swirl is effective if is applied near the shear layer of the backstep flow in the combustor. The modified swirler with short blades is suggested to be used in solid fuel ramjets to increase the regression rate of the fuel and improve the performance, but with lower pressure loss.