The Mixing of Turbulent Supersonic Fuel-Air Streams

Abstract

SummaryAn integral part of the study of supersonic combustion is the investigation of supersonic turbulent mixing of dissimilar fluids. Experimental results obtained in the course of investigating the turbulent mixing zone between supersonic streams of CO3 and air are presented. Good correlation between observation and available theories has been obtained in terms of the parameter ξ=σy/x. The correlating parameter σ defines the spreading rate of the mixing zone. The available theories, though not developed for these specific conditions, are shown to be applicable to the turbulent mixing of supersonic streams.The correlating parameter σ was determined for three different combinations of internal and external flow Mach numbers. The values found for σ were 18, 16·3, 15·3 for constant external Mach number 1·62 and internal Mach number 1·62, 1·53, 1·47 respectively. The magnitudes of σ showed the expected trend, that is the higher value implies the least divergence of the mixing boundaries.The reasonable agreement with experiment and the simplicity of application of the momentum integral form of solution would appear to favour the use of this approach for the theoretical prediction of the mixing conditions.