Swirl Effects on Coaxial Injector Atomization.
Abstract
The focus of this AASERT grant was the investigation of atomization processes for swirl coaxial gas/liquid spray injection for rocket combustor applications. The work has included review and analysis of atomization literature for swirled and non-swirled gas/liquid sprays, design and fabrication of a rocket-scale swirl coaxial injector for research, and cold-flow and hot-fire characterizations of atomization and combustion with the designed injector. Two significant findings have emerged from the present studies; (1) our experiments in a windowed research combustor were the first to demonstrate that swirl coaxial injection allows for highly efficient propellant combustion (liquid oxygen/gaseous hydrogen) over a wide range of oxidizer-to-fuel ratios from 3 to 175. The result was of interest to industry in conceptual design of a novel rocket-engine cycle, for RLV application, relying upon very high oxidizer-to-fuel ratio combustion in a liquid oxygen preburner, and (2) optical diagnostics were applied to demonstrate a methodology for scaling spray drop size/velocity results based on liquid Weber number. This is of intrinsic value to the spray community, and of direct impact within the rocket-injector design community, where the scaling approach can be incorporated into injector sizing activities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA316054
Entities
People
- Robert J. Santoro
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University