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Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) applications in rocket propulsion analysis and designComputational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been used in recent applications to affect subcomponent designs in liquid propulsion rocket engines. This paper elucidates three such applications for turbine stage, pump stage, and combustor chamber geometries. Details of these applications include the development of a high turning airfoil for a gas generator (GG) powered, liquid oxygen (LOX) turbopump, single-stage turbine using CFD as an integral part of the design process. CFD application to pump stage design has emphasized analysis of inducers, impellers, and diffuser/volute sections. Improvements in pump stage impeller discharge flow uniformity have been seen through CFD optimization on coarse grid models. In the area of combustor design, recent CFD analysis of a film cooled ablating combustion chamber has been used to quantify the interaction between film cooling rate, chamber wall contraction angle, and geometry and their effects of these quantities on local wall temperature. The results are currently guiding combustion chamber design and coolant flow rate for an upcoming subcomponent test. Critical aspects of successful integration of CFD into the design cycle includes a close-coupling of CFD and design organizations, quick turnaround of parametric analyses once a baseline CFD benchmark has been established, and the use of CFD methodology and approaches that address pertinent design issues. In this latter area, some problem details can be simplified while retaining key physical aspects to maintain analytical integrity.
Document ID
19940018581
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other
Authors
Mcconnaughey, P. K.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Garcia, R.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Griffin, L. W.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Ruf, J. H.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Pennsylvania State Univ., NASA Propulsion Engineering Research Center, Volume 2
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Accession Number
94N23054
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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