Atomization and dense-fluid breakup regimes in liquid rocket engines

Oefelein, Joseph; Dahms, Rainer Norbert Uwe

doi:10.2514/1.B35562

Title: Atomization and dense-fluid breakup regimes in liquid rocket engines

Journal Article · Mon Apr 20 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Propulsion and Power

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/1.B35562· OSTI ID:1237373

Oefelein, Joseph ^[1]; Dahms, Rainer Norbert Uwe ^[1]

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)

Until recently, modern theory has lacked a fundamentally based model to predict the operating pressures where classical sprays transition to dense-fluid mixing with diminished surface tension. In this paper, such a model is presented to quantify this transition for liquid-oxygen–hydrogen and n-decane–gaseous-oxygen injection processes. The analysis reveals that respective molecular interfaces break down not necessarily because of vanishing surface tension forces but instead because of the combination of broadened interfaces and a reduction in mean free molecular path. When this occurs, the interfacial structure itself enters the continuum regime, where transport processes rather than intermolecular forces dominate. Using this model, regime diagrams for the respective systems are constructed that show the range of operating pressures and temperatures where this transition occurs. The analysis also reveals the conditions where classical spray dynamics persists even at high supercritical pressures. As a result, it demonstrates that, depending on the composition and temperature of the injected fluids, the injection process can exhibit either classical spray atomization, dense-fluid diffusion-dominated mixing, or supercritical mixing phenomena at chamber pressures encountered in state-of-the-art liquid rocket engines.

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Research Organization:: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Under Secretary for Science (S-4)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

OSTI ID:: 1237373

Report Number(s):: SAND-2015-1156J; 567064

Journal Information:: Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 31, Issue 5; ISSN 0748-4658

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 13 works

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