Numerical Investigation of Injector Location and Equivalence Ratio in a Flame‐Holder Cavity Scramjet
Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
Award Date
2026
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Mechanical Engineering
First Advisor
Jeffrey Doom
Abstract
This thesis presents a CFD-based parametric study of injector location and fuel rate in an ethylene-fueled flame-holder cavity scramjet using STAR-CCM+. Simulations are performed for three injector locations (x/D = 18, 36, and 54) and nine equivalence ratios spanning from ϕ = 0.2 to 1.0 in 0.1 increments. The study aims to determine how injector placement and fueling level alter scramjet performance across a broad operating sweep. The results show a clear regime change between ϕ = 0.2 and ϕ ≥ 0.3. At ϕ = 0.2, combustor behavior is weakly sensitive to injector location compared to the higher-fueling cases. For ϕ ≥ 0.3, injector placement produces larger performance differences, indicating stronger coupling between injection location, mixing, and heat release. Across the ϕ ≥ 0.3 sweep, the x/D = 54 injector location produces the most consistent and stable combustion behavior.
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Sorenson, Matthew, "Numerical Investigation of Injector Location and Equivalence Ratio in a Flame‐Holder Cavity Scramjet" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2044.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/2044
Rights Statement
