Numerical study on multiphase combustion characteristics of aluminum-based powder-fueled water ramjet engine

作者：Shixuan HUI, Hui Qi, Dianlong Sun, Tao Yan, Pingan Liu · 发表于：Chinese Journal of Aeronautics · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1016/j.cja.2024.10.005 · 被引用次数：13 · 研究领域：Rocket and propulsion systems research、Energetic Materials and Combustion、Combustion and Detonation Processes

Powder-Fueled Water Ramjet Engine (PFWRE) is of great attraction for high-speed and long-voyage underwater propulsion, as well as air–water trans-media navigation applications due to its high energy density and thrust adjustability . However, the complex multiphase combustion process in the combustor significantly affects engine performance. In this study, a detailed model for aluminum particle combustion in water vapor is developed and validated via literature data as well as the ground direct-connected test we conducted. Thereafter, the numerical study on the multiphase combustion process inside the aluminum-based PFWRE combustor is carried out within the Euler–Lagrange framework using the developed model. Results show that a reverse rotating vortex pair before the primary water injection causes particles to flow back towards the combustor head and leads to product deposition. Aluminum particles external to the powder jet have shorter preheating time than internal particles and burn out in advance. The analysis of the particle combustion process indicates that the flame structure inside the combustor consists of the particle preheating zone, the surface combustion heat release zone, the gas-phase combustion heat release zone, and the post-flame zone. In the present configuration, as the particle size increases from 10 μm to 20 μm, the preheating zone length increases from 35 mm to 85 mm. Meanwhile, heat release from gas-phase combustion decreases, and the average temperatur...