Advancement of Scramjet Magnetohydrodynamic Concept

Abstract

A comparative thermodynamic analysis of several schemes of scramjets was performed. A conventional scheme and two alternative versions were considered. These versions differ by incorporation of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) devices into the propulsion-system e ow train. The e rst version relates to the earlier-developed AJAX concept, and asecondoneisaconceptmodie cation thatrepresents acombination ofMHDgeneratorwith downstream part of combustor. The cycles under study were composed of elementary thermodynamic processes. In numerical modeling of these processes, real air properties were used because of wide range of thermodynamic parameters variation. Engineering limitations on the maximum allowable values of statictemperature in thee ow train and velocity in the combustor were introduced. It was determined that under e ight conditions chosen for the analysis the conventional design ofthescramjet doesnotmeetthelimitations. Appropriateworking regimesmay beprovided in theAJAXconcept, butin thatcasedissipation lossesincreasesignie cantlyandthepropulsionsystem specie cthrust isreduced.Amodie cationoftheAJAXconceptwiththecombustion heatbypassingfrom combustorinto thenozzle allows obtaining high integral parameters of the cycle with compliance within imposed engineering constraints.