CFD Analysis of Gas-Dynamic and Heat Transfer Processes in a Propulsion System Using Polymer Fuel

Abstract

In the presented work, a computer model of thermodynamic and gas-dynamic processes in a rocket engine of a new type, which uses solid polymers as fuel is considered. The design feature is the presence of a central body - a gasification chamber, where solid polymer fuel is decomposed into volatiles. To conduct the research, a preliminary thermodynamic analysis of the combustion of gasification products was carried out. Based on the results of the thermodynamic analysis using the mathematical model of the turbulent flow of viscous compressible gas, the processes of gas dynamics and heat transfer in the chamber and nozzle of the rocket engine were simulated. Analyses are made for the geometry of a real experimental sample of a polymer-fueled rocket engine developed at Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (Ukraine), which has passed the first successful tests. As a result of CFD simulation, dynamic and thermal fields in the combustion chamber and engine nozzle were obtained, and ways of further improvement of the design were determined.