Multi-Phase Combustion and Transport Processes Under the Influence of Acoustic Excitation

Abstract

This experimental study examined the coupling of acoustics with reactive multiphase transport processes and shear flows. The first portion of this dissertation deals with combustion of various liquid fuels when under the influence of externally applied acoustic excitation. For this study, an apparatus at the Energy and Propulsion Research Laboratory, UCLA, used a horizontal waveguide to create a standing acoustic wave, wherein burning fuel droplets were positioned near pressure nodes within the waveguide. Alcohol fuels (ethanol and methonal) as well as aviation fuel replacements (Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synfuel and an FT blend with JP-8) were studied here. During acoustic excitation, the flame surrounding the droplet was observed to be deflected in a manner consistent with the direction of a theoretical acoustic radiation force, analogous to a buoyancy force, acting on the burning system. The second portion of this dissertation utilized a similar, but more advanced facility which was recently constructed at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Propulsion Directorate (RQR). These experiments explored the interaction between acoustics and nonreactive shear-coaxial jets under high chamber pressure, acoustically resonant conditions, using liquid nitrogen as the inner jet and gaseous helium as the outer jet.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2014
Accession Number
AD1005080

Entities

People

  • Jeffrey L. Wegener

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Waves
  • Acoustics
  • Air Force
  • Boundary Layer
  • Buoyancy
  • Combustion
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Control Systems
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Geometric Forms
  • Heat Energy
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Testing
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Standing Waves
  • Turbulent Mixing

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Petroleum Engineering