An Experimental Investigation of a Four Inlet, Side Dump Combustor of a Kerosene - Fuelled Boosted Ramjet

An experimental investigation of a four-inlet side dump combustor configuration suitable for a boosted ramjet has been carried out. Combustor characteristics were obtained from water tunnel simulation and direct-connect combustion tests. A perspex, one third scale, model of the ramjet combustor was tested in a water rig. Flow field visualisation was accomplished by employing the hydrogen bubble streak technique. The best placement of the cruciform flameholder relative to the air inlet plane was determined. A similar combustor was made from stainless steel and tested in a combustor test rig. Combustion efficiency, cold and hot total pressure loss and ignition characteristics and lean blow-out limits were obtained. A design methodology for ramjet combustors has been arrived at.