Technical Papers
May 14, 2020

Combustion Characteristics of Paraffin-Polyethylene Blends Fuel for Solid Fuel Ramjet

Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 4

Abstract

In this paper, a series of firing tests have been conducted via a connected pipe facility to investigate the influences of the paraffin blends fuel on combustion characteristics of solid-fuel ramjet engines. A three-dimensional (3D) scanner and scanning electron microscope (SEM) have been used to obtain the local regression rate and the morphology of the solid fuel after combustion, respectively. The results indicate that decreasing the inlet diameter increases the performance of a solid fuel ramjet (SFRJ), and increasing the paraffin concentration and decreasing the port diameter of the solid fuel can enhance the average regression rate but have negative effects on the performance. The SEM results indicate that increasing paraffin concentration can lead to the reduction of the size and quantity of the carbon particles attached and agglomerated at the fuel surface and also has a significant effect on the morphology of the fuel surface, such as the roughness and the separation between paraffin and high-density polyethylene for blended fuel.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

Data Availability Statement

Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request (the reconstruction code written in MATLAB to obtain the 3D distribution of the regression rate).

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Six Talent Peaks Project of Jiangsu Province of China, No. 2016-HKHT-017, for their support.

References

Cai, W. 2002. “Two-phase flow interactions and combustion of AP/HTPB composite propellant in rocket motors with acoustic oscillations.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State Univ.
Carmicino, C., F. Scaramuzzino, and A. R. Sorge. 2014. “Trade-off between paraffin-based and aluminium-loaded HTPB fuels to improve performance of hybrid rocket fed with N2O.” Aerosp. Sci. Technol. 37 (Aug): 81–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2014.05.010.
De Wilde, J. P. 1991. “Fuel pyrolysis effect on hybrid rocket and solid fuel ramjet combustor performance.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of the Aerodynamics, Wind Energy, Flight Performance, and Propulsion, Delft Univ. of Technology.
Hadar, I., and A. Gany. 1992. “Fuel regression mechanism in a solid fuel ramjet.” Propellants Explos. Pyrotech. 17 (2): 70–76. https://doi.org/10.1002/prep.19920170205.
Hoegl, A., and D. Duesterhaus. 1988. “Measurement in a solid fuel ramjet combustion with swirl.” In Proc., 24th Joint Propulsion Conf., 3045. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.1988-3045.
Ishiguro, T., K. Sinohara, K. Sakio, and I. Nakagawa. 2011. “A study on combustion efficiency of a paraffin-based hybrid rockets.” In Proc., 47th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conf. and Exhibit, 5679. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2011-5679.
Karabeyoglu, M., D. Altman, and B. J. Cantwell. 2002. “Combustion of liquefying hybrid propellants: Part 1. General theory.” J. Propul. Power. 18 (3): 610–620. https://doi.org/10.2514/2.5975.
Karabeyoglu, M., B. Cantwell, and D. Altman. 2001. “Development and testing of paraffin-based hybrid rocket fuels.” In Proc., 37th Joint Propulsion Conf. and Exhibit, 4503. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2001-4503.
Kim, S., J. Lee, H. Moon, H. Sung, J. Kim, and J. Cho. 2010. “Effect of paraffin-LDPE blended fuel on the hybrid rocket motor.” In Proc., 46th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conf. and Exhibit, 7031. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2010-7031.
Kim, S., H. Moon, and J. Kim. 2015a. “Thermal characterizations of the paraffin wax/low density polyethylene blends as a solid fuel.” Thermochim. Acta. 613 (Aug): 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2015.05.016.
Kim, S., H. Moon, J. Kim, and J. Cho. 2015b. “Evaluation of paraffin–polyethylene blends as novel solid fuel for hybrid rockets.” J. Propul. Power. 31 (6): 1750–1760. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.B35565.
Krishnan, S., and P. George. 1998. “Solid fuel ramjet combustor design.” Prog. Aerosp. Sci. 34 (3–4): 219–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0376-0421(98)00005-0.
Krupa, I., G. Miková, and A. S. Luyt. 2007. “Phase change materials based on low-density polyethylene/paraffin wax blends.” Eur. Polym. J. 43 (11): 4695–4705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2007.08.022.
Li, W., X. Chen, W. Cai, and O. Musa. 2019. “Numerical investigation of the effect of sudden expansion ratio of solid fuel ramjet combustor with swirling turbulent reacting flow.” Energies 12 (9): 1784. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12091784.
Li, W., X. Chen, O. Musa, L. Gong, and L. Zhu. 2018. “Investigation of the effect of geometry of combustor on combustion characteristics of solid-fuel ramjet with swirl flow.” Appl. Therm. Eng. 145 (Dec): 229–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2018.09.035.
Mady, C. J., P. J. Hickey, and D. W. Netzer. 1978. “Combustion behavior of solid-fuel ramjets.” J. Spacecraft Rockets 15 (3): 131–132. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.57296.
McDonald, B., J. Rice, and J. Stewart. 2017. “Decomposition characteristics of an elemental sulfur doped polysulfide based ramjet fuel.” Combust. Flame 176 (Feb): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2016.10.012.
Musa, O., Z. Changsheng, C. Xiong, and G. Lunkun. 2016. “Prediction of swirling cold flow in a solid-fuel ramjet engine with a modified rotation/curvature correction SST turbulence model.” Appl. Therm. Eng. 105 (Jul): 737–754. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.03.091.
Musa, O., L. Weixuan, C. Xiong, G. Lunkun, and L. Wenhe. 2018. “Experimental investigation on the effect of swirling flow on combustion characteristics and performance of solid fuel ramjet.” Acta Astronaut. 148 (Jul): 163–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.04.055.
Musa, O., C. Xiong, and Z. Changsheng. 2017a. “Combustion characteristics and turbulence modeling of swirling reacting flow in solid fuel ramjet.” Acta Astronaut. 139 (Oct): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2017.06.023.
Musa, O., C. Xiong, Z. Changsheng, and W. Li. 2017b. “Effect of inlet conditions on swirling turbulent reacting flows in a solid fuel ramjet engine.” Appl. Therm. Eng. 113 (Feb): 186–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.11.023.
Nakagawa, I., and S. Hikone. 2011. “Study on the regression rate of paraffin-based hybrid rocket fuels.” J. Propul. Power 27 (6): 1276–1279. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.B34206.
Netzer, A., and A. Gany. 1991. “Burning and flameholding characteristics of a miniature solid fuel ramjet combustor.” J. Propul. Power 7 (3): 357–363. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.23334.
Schulte, G. 1986. “Fuel regression and flame stabilization studies of solid-fuel ramjets.” J. Propul. Power 2 (4): 301–304. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.22886.
Schulte, G., R. Pein, and A. Högl. 1987. “Temperature and concentration measurements in a solid fuel ramjet combustion chamber.” J. Propul. Power 3 (2): 114–120. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.22962.
Van Der Geld, C. W. M., P. A. O. G. Korting, and T. Wijchers. 1990. “Combustion of PMMA, PE, and PS in a ramjet.” Combust. Flame 79 (3–4): 299–306. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-2180(90)90141-D.
Zhu, M., X. Chen, C. S. Zhou, J. S. Xu, O. Musa, and H. S. Xiang. 2017. “Experimental and numerical investigations on the decomposition and combustion characteristics of composite propellant with Mg/Al particles additives.” Appl. Therm. Eng. 111 (Jan): 863–875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.09.140.
Zvuloni, R., A. Gany, and Y. Levy. 1989. “Geometric effects on the combustion in solid fuel ramjets.” J. Propul. Power 5 (1): 32–37. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.23111.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 33Issue 4July 2020

History

Received: Aug 26, 2019
Accepted: Feb 5, 2020
Published online: May 14, 2020
Published in print: Jul 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Oct 14, 2020

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Ph.D. Candidate, School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing Univ. of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China. Email: [email protected]
Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing Univ. of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China (corresponding author). ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8854-5720. Email: [email protected]
Engineer, COMAC Shanghai Aircraft Design and Research Institute, 5188 Jinke Rd., Shanghai 200000, China. Email: [email protected]
Postdoctoral Student, School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing Univ. of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China. Email: [email protected]

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share