Effects of turbulence and flamelet combustion modelling on the CFD simulation of a dual inlet ramjet combustor

Abstract

This manuscript presents Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation of a ramjet combustor using Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes approach for turbulence with flamelet combustion modelling. In the approach a one-dimensional premixed flame simulation is performed to cover a wide range of mixture fraction space. After a mesh study, effects of turbulence, Realizable k-e and SST k-?, and combustion modelling, Steady Laminar Flamelet and Flamelet Generated Manifold, are investigated in detail. The Flamelet Generated Manifold model that offers a reaction delay by employing an additional progress variable, shows there are no reactions taking place in the vicinity of jet inlets, hence the unrealistic temperature rise that is seen in the case of using Steady Laminar Flamelet is not observed. A study on the choice of progress variable based on the combustion products is carried out. The present study readily demonstrates good predictability of Flamelet Generated Manifold combustion modelling in such a dual inlet ramjet combustion chamber.