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Modeling of combustion and flow in a single element GH2/GO2 combustor

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Abstract

A single element gaseous H2/O2 combustion test case set up by the Pennsylvania State University is investigated using the new Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) code, Rocflam3. There are considerable numbers of publications on this test case. Some of the publishing authors assume that it is not possible to achieve good results for this test case with simple RANS methods whereas others demonstrate the opposite. This is a reason for discussion which continues in this work. To obtain a reasonable solution for the test case, different simulation settings have been examined. This includes a grid study, a comparison of various \(k{\text{-}} \epsilon\) type turbulence models and the variation of the turbulent Prandtl and Schmidt numbers. Turbulent combustion is treated via an equilibrium-based, presumed probability density function approach with a mixture fraction formulation. The 2D steady state simulations show good agreement with the experimentally measured heat flux. However, a discrepancy between the computed chamber pressure and the measured one is observed and is discussed incorporating considerations about combustion efficiency. This discussion shows that the experimental data are inconsistent. Computations performed with the chemical equilibrium code by Gordon and McBride are used to support the statements.

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Acknowledgments

The authors like to thank Mr. Sibtosh Pal, Sr. Research Associate in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Penn State University. He has been very cooperative when discussing the experimental setup and the simulation results with the authors. Part of this work was funded by the national research program Transregio SFB-TR 40 (Universität Stuttgart) and by the technology program TEKAN 2010 II (Astrium GmbH) sponsored by the German Space Agency, DLR, Bonn, under contract No. 50RL0710. The authors thank the project manager J. Alting and the DLR contract officer H.-D. Speckmann for the good and fruitful cooperation within TEKAN.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astrium GmbH Space Transportation, 81663, Munich, Germany

    H. Riedmann, B. Kniesner & M. Frey

  2. Institut für Aerodynamik und Gasdynamik, Universität Stuttgart, 70550, Stuttgart, Germany

    C.-D. Munz

Authors
  1. H. Riedmann
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  2. B. Kniesner
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  3. M. Frey
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  4. C.-D. Munz
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Correspondence to H. Riedmann.

Additional information

This paper is based on a presentation at the German Aerospace Congress, September 10–12, 2012, Berlin, Germany.

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Riedmann, H., Kniesner, B., Frey, M. et al. Modeling of combustion and flow in a single element GH2/GO2 combustor. CEAS Space J 6, 47–59 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12567-013-0056-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12567-013-0056-3

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