Optimization of an Active and Passive Thermal Protection System for a Scramjet-Powered Hypersonic Vehicle

摘要

The reduced-order model MASIV is used to optimize an active and passive thermal protection system for a scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise vehicle. The passive thermal protection system consists of an insulation layer sandwiched between a radiation shield and the vehicle skin; an optimization is performed to determine the minimum insulation required during cruise. The active thermal protection systems is comprised of heat exchangers surrounding the propulsion system internal flow-path, including a portion of the inlet. The liquid hydrogen fuel is used as the coolant and the fuel is partially recirculated back into the fuel tank after passing through the heat exchangers. Recirculating the heated fuel causes the fuel tank temperature to rise. An optimization is performed to determine the active cooling system operating conditions, including the coolant mass flow rate, which minimize the rise in fuel tank temperature while still ensuring that the failure temperatures of the vehicle are not exceeded.