ESTEC

Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

CFD Analysis of Rocket Engine Combustion Chambers

J. Steelant
TOS-MPA ESA - ESTEC
Acknowledgement: R. Schmehl
Noordwijk The Netherlands

Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

ESTEC

Application: Start-Up of Upper Stage Engines

Oxidizer dome Injectors Combustion chamber Cooling channels Fuel feed line Avum (Vega) Aestus (Ariane 5)
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ESTEC

Multi-physical phenomena during start-up of LRE

1. Priming of feed lines and domes during start-up: a. b. c. Waterhammer: pressure and expansion waves Phase change i.c.w. cavitation Absorption/desorption of pressurant (Helium)

2. Injection of liquid fuel and oxidizer into the combustion chamber: a. b. c. Atomization evolution in near vacuum conditions Vaporization modes in near vacuum conditions Droplet wall impact and break-up processes

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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

ESTEC

Study: priming effects in vacuum

1. 2. 3. Waterhammer with phase change Unsteady injection process Checking coupling with CCinstabilities modes

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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

ESTEC

CFD-Analysis (1/3)
1. Geometrical aspects - axisymmetric fuel dome with annular injector slits - spatial : 20K nodes; temporal: 1 sec

P_cent P9D1

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Multi-Physics in Rocket Engines J. Steelant

Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

ESTEC

CFD-Analysis (2/3)
2. Numerical aspects - Spatial: 3rd order Smart-scheme - Time: backward Euler (1st order) - Solver: Pressure-Correction method 3. Physical modelling: - Transient laminar and isothermal Navier-Stokes equations - Vapor transport equations: MMH vaporization/condensation & presence of non-condensable gas.

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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

ESTEC

CFD-Analysis (3/3)
Vapor transport equation: f = vapour mass fraction

f r + ( uf ) = (f ) + Re R f t
expressions for Re and Rc derived from Rayleigh-Plesset equation with:
V Re = C e ch v l 2 p sat p (1 f ) 3 l V Rc = C c ch v l 2 p p sat f 3 l

where Ce, Cs psat Vch

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= phase change rate coefficients = surface tension = saturation pressure = characteristic velocity
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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

ESTEC

Evolution of void fraction

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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

ESTEC

Spectral analysis: CFD result for 50mg N2/kg MMH

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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

ESTEC

Study: injection processes in near vacuum

1. Thermodynamic behaviour of a liquid jet into near vacuum 2. Atomization behaviour of a liquid jet in near vacuum 3. Transport and deformation of atomized jets (spray)

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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

ESTEC

Thermodynamic behaviour in near vacuum: flashing

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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

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Flash vaporization model

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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

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Flash vaporization in near vacuum

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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

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Transport and deformation of atomized jets

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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

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Wall impact, deposition and rebounce

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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

ESTEC

Wall deposition rate

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Division of Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

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Conclusion
1. Multiphysical processes in LRE a. Phase change icw waterhammer, cavitation, absorption, during priming b. Processes during injection Flashing atomization & vaporization Primary and secondary break-up of jets Wall deposition/interaction of droplets

2. Modelling and numerical simulation allows qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of processes difficult to analyse experimentally
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