Flame response to acoustic excitation in a rectangular rocket combustor with LOx/H 2 propellants

Justin Hardi, Michael Oschwald, Bassam Dally

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Research efforts are currently underway at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Lampoldshausen, which aim to understand the mechanisms by which self-sustaining oscillations in combustion chamber pressure, known as high frequency combustion instabilities, are driven. Testing has been conducted in the rectangular combustor 'BKH', running cryogenic oxygen and hydrogen propellants under pressure and injection conditions which are representative of real rocket engines and with acoustic forcing. For the first time, such tests with LOx/H 2 propellants and acoustic forcing have been conducted at combustion chamber pressures above 10 bar, the reported results herein from a test at 42 bar. Optical access to the combustor allowed the application of high speed hydroxyl radical (OH*) chemiluminescence imaging of the flame during periods of forced excitation of acoustic resonance modes of the combustion chamber. This paper reports the investigation of flame response to acoustic excitation. Both fluctuation in OH* emission intensity and deflection of the flame at frequencies corresponding to the excitation frequency have been observed. These responses are then discussed as potential indicators of driving mechanisms for combustion instabilities. © 2011 CEAS.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)41-49
Number of pages9
JournalCEAS Space Journal
Volume2
Issue number1-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2011
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Generated from Scopus record by KAUST IRTS on 2022-09-12

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Aerospace Engineering

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