Abstract Although hybrid rocket motor is prospected to have distinct advantages over liquid and solid rocket motor, low regression rate and insufficient efficiency are two major disadvantages which have prevented it from being commercially viable. In recent years, complex fuel grain configurations are attractive in overcoming the disadvantages with the help of Rapid Prototyping technology. In this work, an attempt has been made to numerically investigate the flow field characteristics and local regression rate distribution inside the hybrid rocket motor with complex star swirl grain. A propellant combination with GOX and HTPB has been chosen. The numerical model is established based on the three dimensional Navier–Stokes equations with turbulence, combustion, and coupled gas/solid phase formulations. The calculated fuel regression rate is compared with the experimental data to validate the accuracy of numerical model. The results indicate that, comparing the star swirl grain with the tube grain under the conditions of the same port area and the same grain length, the burning surface area rises about 200%, the spatially averaged regression rate rises as high as about 60%, and the oxidizer can combust sufficiently due to the big vortex around the axis in the aft-mixing chamber. The combustion efficiency of star swirl grain is better and more stable than that of tube grain.

    Highlights Star swirl fuel grain configuration is more complex than conventional fuel grain. The numerical model is accurate and adaptable to different oxidizer flux levels. Regression rate and efficiency of motor with star swirl fuel grain are analyzed. Combustion efficiency of star swirl grain performs better than that of tube grain. Star swirl grain performs higher regression rate with larger burning surface area.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff prüfen

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen

    Bestellung bei Subito €


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    Numerical investigation on the regression rate of hybrid rocket motor with star swirl fuel grain


    Beteiligte:
    Zhang, Shuai (Autor:in) / Hu, Fan (Autor:in) / Zhang, Weihua (Autor:in)

    Erschienen in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 127 ; 384-393


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2016-06-03


    Format / Umfang :

    10 pages




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch