You are here

Chemical Kinetics Modeling Tools for Hydrocarbon Scramjet Propulsion System Design

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8650-06-C-2659
Agency Tracking Number: O054-002-1016
Amount: $750,000.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: OSD05-T002
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2005
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2006-07-10
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2008-07-10
Small Business Information
8940 Old Annapolis Road Suite L
Columbia, MD 21045
United States
DUNS: 018413208
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Michael Klassen
 Principal Research Engineer
 (410) 884-3266
 mklassen@csefire.com
Business Contact
 Douglas Carpenter
Title: Vice President
Phone: (410) 884-3266
Email: dcarpenter@csefire.com
Research Institution
 GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
 Suresh Menon
 
School of Aerospace Engineerin, 270 Ferst Drive
Atlanta, GA 30332
United States

 (404) 894-9126
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

One of the difficulties in reactive flow simulation is the development of reduced models that are capable of predicting the non-equilibrium processes such as ignition and blow-out. Hydrocarbon fuels become viable alternatives to hydrogen at Mach numbers below 10, because of greater fuel densities and endothermic cooling capabilities. However, hydrocarbon fuels show difficulties for flame holding under supersonic conditions due to their long ignition delay times. In present approach, the fuel molecule breaks-down into CH2O and H2 and a detailed CH2O/H2/O2 reaction sub-set consisting of 14 species and around 40 reactions is used for accurate predictions. In Phase I, Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc. has demonstrated this approach for ethylene by implementing the reduced kinetic model in RANS and LES codes to predict combustion stability in WPAFB cavity flameholder experiments. The rate parameters for the fuel decomposition reaction are estimated from ignition delay time measurements. In Phase II, the model reduction strategy will be extended to JP-type fuels. Also, the model reduction procedure will be automated by implementing parameter estimation and optimization algorithms to validate and optimized the reduced kinetic model against detailed model predictions. This reduced kinetic modeling tool will be coupled with CFD codes for commercial applications.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government