Dynamics combustion characteristics in scramjet combustors with transverse fuel injection

A comprehensive DES quality numerical analysis has been carried out for reacting flows in constant-area and divergent scramjet combustor configurations with and without a cavity. Transverse injection of hydrogen is considered over a broad range of injection pressure. The corresponding equivalence ratio of the overall fuel/air mixture ranges from 0.167 to 0.50. The work features detailed resolution of the flow and flame dynamics in the combustor, which was not typically available in most of the previous studies. In particular, the oscillatory flow characteristics are captured at a scale sufficient to identify the underlying physical mechanisms. Much of the flow unsteadiness is related not only to the cavity, but also to the intrinsic unsteadiness in the flowfield. The interactions between the unsteady flow and flame evolution may cause a large excursion of flow oscillation. The roles of the cavity, injection pressure, and heat release in determining the flow dynamics are examined systematically.