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Numerical analysis of the thermal characteristics of a gas-dynamic ignition system

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Abstract

As a multiple-start ignition method for liquid-fuel rocket engines, the gas-dynamic igniter has many advantages, such as a simple configuration, low weight and high structural strength. However, because of the complexity of the flow of the working fluid, the details of the thermal processes involved are not clearly understood. In this study, the thermal and flow characteristics of a gas-dynamic igniter are investigated through numerical simulations using the software OpenFOAM. The simulation results show that the pressure within the igniter undergoes oscillations. The axial flow velocity decreases across the pressure wave front so that the kinetic energy of the flow is converted to thermal energy. The temperature increase within the oscillation tube of the igniter is strongly correlated with the entry mass flow. Therefore, the tube inlet area should be designed according to the igniter nozzle flow to achieve the best performance from a gasdynamic igniter.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Korea

    Jaewon Lee

  2. Department of Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Korea

    Daehong Lim

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanbat National University, Daejeon, 34158, Korea

    Seonghyeon Seo

  4. Department of Aerospace System Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Korea

    Sang Hun Kang

Authors
  1. Jaewon Lee
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  2. Daehong Lim
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  3. Seonghyeon Seo
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  4. Sang Hun Kang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sang Hun Kang.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Jeong Park

Jaewon Lee received his Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Sejong University, Korea in 2016. He is now on a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Sejong University, Korea. He is researching CFD for applied aerodynamics and scramjet engines.

Sang Hun Kang received a Ph.D. from KAIST, Korea in 2004. He is currently an Associate Professor of Aerospace System Engineering, Sejong University, Korea. Prior to joining the faculty at Sejong University, he was a Senior Researcher at KARI. His research interests are in the area of ramjet engine, scramjet engine, combined cycle rocket engine, liquid rocket engine, turbulent combustion and radiation.

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Lee, J., Lim, D., Seo, S. et al. Numerical analysis of the thermal characteristics of a gas-dynamic ignition system. J Mech Sci Technol 32, 2385–2390 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-018-0450-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-018-0450-z

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