Simulation of kerosene combustion sustaining with cavities in a strut-based RBCC engine

Three-dimensional turbulent simulations have been performed by using a RANS based CFD in the paper to understand the kerosene combustion process in two RBCC configuration combustors with and without cavities. For validation, grid resolution and turbulence modeling were firstly accommodated with experimental data from the ground direct-connect test. In the paper non-reacting and reacting flow simulations for the two combustor configurations are presented and discussed by analyzing contour maps of flow fields, fuel droplet trajectories and mixing efficiency. Combustion efficiency and specific impulse are used to identify the regions of mixing and heat release inside the combustor when rocket on or off. The simulations at flight conditions of Mach 5.5 showed fuel and air mixing enhancement and combustion efficiency improvement for the combustor with cavities. Furthermore, combustion can sustain in the combustor with cavities even if the rocket off, and thus cavities might be concluded promising as a flame holder for RBCC.