Liquid rocket combustion chamber acoustic characterization

Pirk, Rogério; Souto, Carlos d'Andrade; Silveira, Dimas Donizeti da; Souza, Cândido Magno de; Góes, Luiz Carlos Sandoval

doi:10.5028/jatm.2010.02038810

Abstract:

Over the last 40 years, many solid and liquid rocket motors have experienced combustion instabilities. Among other causes, there is the interaction of acoustic modes with the combustion and/or fluid dynamic processes inside the combustion chamber. Studies have been showing that, even if less than 1% of the available energy is diverted to an acoustic mode, combustion instability can be generated. On one hand, this instability can lead to ballistic pressure changes, couple with other propulsion systems such as guidance or thrust vector control, and in the worst case, cause motor structural failure. In this case, measures, applying acoustic techniques, must be taken to correct/minimize these influences on the combustion. The combustion chamber acoustic behavior in operating conditions can be estimated by considering its behavior in room conditions. In this way, acoustic tests can be easily performed, thus identifying the cavity modes. This paper describes the procedures to characterize the acoustic behavior in the inner cavity of four different configurations of a combustion chamber. Simple analytical models are used to calculate the acoustic resonance frequencies and these results are compared with acoustic natural frequencies measured at room conditions. Some comments about the measurement procedures are done, as well as the next steps for the continuity of this research. The analytical and experimental procedures results showed good agreement. However, limitations on high frequency band as well as in the identification of specific kinds of modes indicate that numerical methods able to model the real cavity geometry and an acoustic experimental modal analysis may be necessary for a more complete analysis. Future works shall also consider the presence of passive acoustic devices such as baffles and resonators capable of introducing damping and avoiding or limiting acoustic instabilities.

Keywords:
Combustion chamber; Combustion instability; Acoustic resonance; Liquid rocket engine (LRE)

Full text is available only in PDF.

REFERENCES

Burnley, V. S., Culick, F. E. C., 1997, "The influence of Combustion Noise on Acoustic Instabilities", Air Force Research Laboratory, OMB Nº 0704-0188.
Culick, F. E. C., 2000, "Combustion Instabilities: Mating Dance of Chemical, Combustion and Combustor Dynamics, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, A00-36437 in 36th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, Alabama, USA.
Desmet, W., Vandepite, D., 2000, "Finite Element Method in Acoustic", Grasmech Course, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.
Huzel, D. K., Huang, D.H., 1992, "Modern Engineering for design of liquid - propellant rocket engines", American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Laudien, E., Pongratz, R., Piero, R., Preclik, D., 1995, "Experimental Procedures Aiding the Design of Acoustic Cavities", in: V. Yang, W. E. Anderson (Eds.), Liquid Rocket Engine Combustion Instability, Vol. 169, chap. 14, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, AIAA, Washington, DC, pp. 377-399.
NASA, 1974, "Rocket Engine Combustion Stabilization Devices", NASA Space Vehicle Design Criteria (Chemical Propulsion), NASA SP8113.
Gerges, S. N. Y., 2000, "Ruído, Teoria e Fundamentos", NR Editora, ISBN 85-87550-02-0.
Santana Jr., A., et al., 2009, "Acoustic Cavities Design Procedures" Engenharia Térmica, Vol. 6, pp. 27-33.
Sutton, G. P., Biblarz, O., 2001, "Rocket Propulsion Elements", New York, John Wiley & Sons.
Yang, V., Wicker, J. M., Yoon, M. W., 1994, "Acoustic Waves in Combustion Chambers", Liquid Rocket Engine Combustion Instability, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, Chapter 13, Vol. 169.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
Sep-Dec 2010

History

Received
14 Sept 2010
Accepted
20 Oct 2010

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

[1] Burnley, V. S., Culick, F. E. C., 1997, "The influence of Combustion Noise on Acoustic Instabilities", Air Force Research Laboratory, OMB Nº 0704-0188.

[2] Culick, F. E. C., 2000, "Combustion Instabilities: Mating Dance of Chemical, Combustion and Combustor Dynamics, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, A00-36437 in 36th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, Alabama, USA.

[3] Desmet, W., Vandepite, D., 2000, "Finite Element Method in Acoustic", Grasmech Course, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

[4] Huzel, D. K., Huang, D.H., 1992, "Modern Engineering for design of liquid - propellant rocket engines", American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

[5] Laudien, E., Pongratz, R., Piero, R., Preclik, D., 1995, "Experimental Procedures Aiding the Design of Acoustic Cavities", in: V. Yang, W. E. Anderson (Eds.), Liquid Rocket Engine Combustion Instability, Vol. 169, chap. 14, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, AIAA, Washington, DC, pp. 377-399.

[6] NASA, 1974, "Rocket Engine Combustion Stabilization Devices", NASA Space Vehicle Design Criteria (Chemical Propulsion), NASA SP8113.

[7] Gerges, S. N. Y., 2000, "Ruído, Teoria e Fundamentos", NR Editora, ISBN 85-87550-02-0.

[8] Santana Jr., A., et al., 2009, "Acoustic Cavities Design Procedures" Engenharia Térmica, Vol. 6, pp. 27-33.

[9] Sutton, G. P., Biblarz, O., 2001, "Rocket Propulsion Elements", New York, John Wiley & Sons.

[10] Yang, V., Wicker, J. M., Yoon, M. W., 1994, "Acoustic Waves in Combustion Chambers", Liquid Rocket Engine Combustion Instability, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, Chapter 13, Vol. 169.

Brasil