Ignition enhancement for hypersonic flight

Supersonic flight is challenging because of the very short time scales over which mixing and combustion must take place. At high altitude this becomes even more difficult because the mixing processes tend to be laminar rather than turbulent. It is still unclear what the maximum flight altitudes for air-breathing engines can be. In this project, the student will investigate the efficacy of various mixing and combustion enhancement technologies for high-altitude flight. These mechanisms include hypermixing fuel injection systems combined with short-duration discharge ignition technologies. The effectiveness of these mixing and ignition enhancement technologies will be determined using measurements of species concentrations in the combustor using laser-based diagnostics, most notably through laser absorption spectroscopy. If successful, this project will allow high-speed airbreathing propulsion systems to be developed for flight at high altitudes

This project will involve working closely with DST group.

Contact:

Sean O'Byrne s.obyrne@adfa.edu.au

Bianca Capra

Supervisor