Temperature and concentration measurements in a solid fuel ramjet combustion chamber

Abstract

The combustion of solid fuels has been studied by using a solid fuel ramjet combustion chamber equipped with a vitiated air heater. The fuels were polyethylene (PE) and hydroxyl-terminated poly butadiene (HTPB), with PE being the prevailing fuel. The air was heated by combustion of hydrogen and oxygen. In order to get a better understanding of the combustion process, a thermocouple and a gas-chromatogr aphic technique were used to obtain temperature and species concentration profiles throughout the combustion chamber. The measurements were taken at several axial and radial positions of the combustion chamber, including measurements in the recirculation zone of the flameholder and in the afterburner chamber. The influence of different test conditions, like mixture ratio, inlet temperature, and mass flux, was also investigated. The results are discussed with regard to flame position, turbulent mixing, and combustion efficiency.