Wed, Nov 18, 2009
Significantly Improves Scramjet Mission Capability
Aerojet, under contract to the U.S. Air Force Research
Laboratory (AFRL), recently completed ground testing of an advanced
Scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) engine combustor
demonstrating a new thermal management approach. This approach,
called core burning, forces the combustion flames away from the
Scramjet surfaces thereby reducing overall heat load.
The technology overcomes the long-standing challenge of flight
speed limiting thermal loads in the combustor. It is expected that
the embodiment of core burning will require significantly less fuel
to cool the engine and will enable Scramjet engines to have more
thermal margin and/or to fly faster than with conventional
approaches. This will be crucial as the Air Force looks to progress
from "laboratory" engine scales to those of operational sizes for
long-range, time-critical missiles and high-speed military
aircraft.
Testing was conducted at Aerojet's Airbreathing Test Facility in
Orange, Virginia. The scramjet test article operated robustly as
data were obtained at simulated flight conditions of Mach 3 to Mach
5 and at various simulated altitudes and fuel injection settings.
An Air Force-provided video camera recorded views of the combustion
process clearly showing the flame holding and flame propagation
processes occurring from the combustor center, thereby proving the
core burning concept.
"We are very pleased with the results of the testing," said Vice
President of Defense Programs, Dick Bregard. "Initial observations
clearly indicate the potential for both significant thermal
management and engine length improvements." Further analysis is
ongoing to better quantify the improvements, and the results will
guide the Air Force and Aerojet in future scramjet propulsion
development.
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