Investigating Heat Release Dynamics in a High Pressure, Self-Excited Model Rocket Combustor Using High Fidelity Measurements and Modeling

摘要

Dynamics of the unsteady heat release in a self-excited, high energy density combustor operating at high pressures is investigated using simultaneous high fidelity measurements and reacting flow simulations. High fidelity pressure measurements are complemented by the optical fiber photo-multiplier tube measurements for better quantification of the flame emissions. Simulations are carried out with hybrid LES/RANS approach and the impact of chemical kinetics and the equation of state is assessed. The simulations are used to develop understanding of the combustion instabilities in the model rocket combustor and critical parameters such as flame anchoring location. Importance of the length and time scales of the heat release on the local fluid response is studied. The temporal variation of the heat release is found to be more important for the peak pressure reached.