The decoupled effect of oxidizer mass flux and combustion pressure on turbulent combustion characteristics of finite-length solid fuel

Abstract

Combustion pressure and oxidizer mass flux are key factors influencing the performance of hybrid rocket motors. In the present work, the decoupled effects of oxidizer mass flux and combustion pressure on turbulent combustion characteristics were investigated. First, a finite-length combustion theory of fuel grains was developed to identify the main sensitive parameters, including flame structure and the recirculation zone, which affect the combustion of solid fuel. Then, a two-dimensional transient numerical model, based on the coupling characteristics of the heat transfer process in solid fuel grains and dynamic combustion flow, was developed and validated through fire experiments under a wide range of inflow conditions. A quantitative analysis was conducted to assess the impact of flame structure and the recirculation zone on the dynamic combustion characteristics of finite-length solid fuel. The results showed that the fuel characteristic temperatures of the front and central parts are negatively correlated with flame height, while the characteristic temperature of the rear part is positively correlated with the recirculation zone temperature. Both the mass flow rate and combustion pressure are negatively correlated with flame height and positively correlated with the temperature of the recirculation zone. Compared to combustion pressure, the influence of mass flow rate is more significant. The transient processes of the solid fuel regression rate under different inflow conditions exhibit a consistent tendency: an increase in mass flow flux and combustion pressure results in faster attainment of peak regression rate and stabilization.