The performance of a two-stage ejector during high-altitude testing of large-area-ratio satellite thrusters is numerically investigated. Since the flow rateof the exhaust from the satellite thrusterisvery low, self-ejector action of the exhaust is quite weak; therefore, a two-stage external ejector is required to create the desired low vacuum in the test chamber. The present work attempts to investigate the effects of various operational and geometric parameters on the performance of the two-stage ejector. Predicted results show that the downstream ejector (E2) operation is more critical for maintaining the required vacuum. However, for optimal performance, it is possible to tune the parameters such that both ejectors deliver the same suction effect. Maximum performanceofeach ejector is obtained when the primary jet expanding from the nozzle smoothly seals the mixer throat against backflow. Employing a low molecular weight fluid and high stagnation temperature helps in reducing the quantity of fluid required for test facility evacuation. Useful correlations have been derived to quantify the suction performance of the two-stage ejector, and the predicted results compare well with in-house experimental data. Copyright © 2012 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.

T Sundararajan

Department of Mechanical Engineering

R. Manikanda Kumaran

backflow

Experimental data

Geometric parameter

HIGH ALTITUDE

LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT

LOW VACUUM

Optimal performance

SATELLITE THRUSTERS

SUCTION PERFORMANCE

TEST CHAMBERS

Satellites

EJECTORS (PUMPS)

IIT Madras is a public technical and research university located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Founded in 1959, it is recognised as an Institute of National Importance.

IIT Madras has been ranked as the top engineering institute in India for four years in a row by the National Institutional Ranking Framework of the MHRD

It currently offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees across 16 disciplines in Engineering, Sciences, Humanities and Management. About 596 faculty belonging to science and engineering departments and centres of the Institute are engaged in teaching, research and industrial consultancy.

IIT Madras

Modeling of Two-Stage Ejector for High-Altitude Testing of Satellite Thrusters

AIAA Journal

This paper investigates the mixing of two supersonic streams in a supersonic exhaust diffuser using theoretical, numerical, and experimental approaches. It has focused attention on the startup and stationary operation of the two-stream supersonic diffusers. The diffuser geometry consists of a constant area throat which connects two ducts of convergent and divergent cross-sections. The effects of diffuser contraction ratio (CR) and convergence angle (θ) on the starting process, pressure recovery, and flow features. Experiments have been performed at five different secondary Mach number (Ms) values in the range of 1.8 &lt; Ms &lt; 2.6, at a fixed primary Mach number (Mp) value of 2. Synchronized pressure measurements are used to study the diffuser performance characteristics. Numerical simulations were also carried out to obtain a better insight into the flow field and computed results have been compared with the experimental results. It was found that the starting behavior has a hysteresis. As a result, the tunnel can be operated at lower pressure ratio than the starting pressure ratio. It is observed that the settling chamber pressure required to start a Constant-Area Diffuser (CAD) is decreased with increase in the diffuser length up to an L/D ratio of 9; subsequently, starting pressure remains almost constant with the further increase in the length due to frictional and pressure recovery losses. The present study provides valuable insights into the multi-stream supersonic mixing and diffusion problem. © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS

Aerospace Science and Technology

A study on the performance characteristics of two-stream supersonic diffusers

The performance of a second-throat ejector-diffuser system employed in high-altitude testing of large-area-ratio rocket motors is considered under various steady and transient operating conditions. When the diffuser attains started condition, supersonic flow fills the entire inlet section and a series of oblique shock cells occurring in the diffuser duct seal the vacuum environment of the test chamber against backflow. The most sensitive parameter that influences the stagnation pressure needed for diffuser starting is the second-throat diameter. Between the throat and exit diameters of the nozzle, there exists a second-throat diameter value that corresponds to the lowest stagnation pressure for starting. When large radial/axial gaps exist between the nozzle exit and diffuser duct, significant reverse flow occurs for the unstarted cases, which spoils the vacuum in the test chamber. However, the starting stagnation pressure value remains unaffected by the axial/radial gap. Numerical simulations establish that it is possible to arrive at an optimum diffuser geometry that facilitates early functioning of the high-altitude-test facility during motor ignition phase. The predicted axial variations of static pressure and temperature along the diffuser for the testing of a cryogenic upper-stage motor agree well with available experimental data. Copyright © 2009 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.

Journal of Propulsion and Power

Performance evaluation of second-throat diffuser for high-altitude-test facility

In the present work, a second throat ejector using nitrogen as the primary fluid is considered for the creation of a low vacuum in a high-altitude testing facility for large-area-ratio rocket motors. Detailed numerical investigations have been carried out to evaluate the performance of the ejector for various operational conditions and geometric parameters during the nonpumping and pumping modesof operation.In the nonpumping mode, the lowest vacuum chamber pressure is attained when the primary jet just expands up to the mixer throat and the resulting single shock cell seals the throat against any backflow. The study illustrates how each geometric and operational parameter of the ejector can be optimized to meet the test requirements in a high-altitude testing facility by ensuring that the primary jet completely expands without a strong impact on the duct wall. When the rocket motor is fully started, due to the self-pumping action, the required vacuum is almost maintained by the exhaust flow itself and the external nitrogen ejector plays only a supplementary role. Numerical predictions for both nonpumping and pumping modes of operation have been validated with experimental data obtained from a scaled-down model of a high-altitude testing facility.

Optimization of second throat ejectors for high-altitude test facility

Short cylindrical supersonic exhaust diffuser (SED) is needed for use in vertical firing rocket test stands. Design methods are developed and presented in this paper for short SEDs. Incorporation of shock generators further helps in reducing its starting pressure.

Experiments in Fluids

Development of design methods for short cylindrical supersonic exhaust diffuser

Experiments were carried out on straight cylindrical supersonic exhaust diffusers (SED) using cold nitrogen and hot rocket exhaust gases as driving fluids, in order to evaluate the effects of the ratios of the SED area to rocket nozzle throat area (Ad/At), SED area to rocket nozzle exit area (Ad/Ac), SED length to its diameter (L/D) and specific heat ratio of the driving gases (K) on the minimum starting pressure ratio, (Po/Pa)st, of SED. The rocket nozzle and SED starting transients were also simulated in the models. The study reveals that (Po/Pa)st increases monotonically with increase in (Ad/At) and k. One-dimensional normal shock relations were used in predicting the (Po/Pa)st since the compression in long ducts is basically a normal shock process. Predicted values of (Po/Pa)st were validated with experimental data. SED efficiency factors(ηns) were arrived at based on one-dimensional normal shock relations. ηns goes down at higher values of (Ad/Ac). (Po/Pa)st is lower for lower k values for the same (Ad/At). Cylindrical SEDs exhibit no hysteresis. The results of this investigation were utilised in validating the design of high altitude test (HAT) facility for testing the third stage motor (PS-3) of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The simulation of starting transients in the model revealed that the HAT facility shall not be operated in the unstarted phase, because the rocket nozzle may fail due to violent oscillations of the vacuum chamber pressure. These experimental data were also utilised for designing a SED for PS-3 sub-scale motor, the results of which are covered in this paper. The accuracy of measurements are within a range of ± 0.4%. Error analysis of the data were carried out and are presented in Appendix A.Experiments were carried out on straight cylindrical supersonic exhaust diffusers (SED) using cold nitrogen and hot rocket exhaust gases as driving fluids, in order to evaluate the effects of the ratios of the SED area to rocket nozzle throat area (Ad/At), SED area to rocket nozzle exit area (Ad/Ae), SED length to its diameter (L/D) and specific heat ratio of the driving gases (k) on the minimum starting pressure ratio, (Po/Pa)st, of SED. The rocket nozzle and SED starting transients were also simulated in the models. The study reveals that (Po/Pa)st increases monotonically with increase in (Ad/At) and k. One-dimensional normal shock relations were used in predicting the (Po/Pa)st since the compression in long ducts is basically a normal shock process. Predicted values of (Po/Pa)st were validated with experimental data. SED efficiency factors (ηns) were arrived at based on one-dimensional normal shock relations. ηns goes down at higher values of (Ad/Ae). (Po/Pa)st is lower for lower k values for the same (Ad/At). Cylindrical SEDs exhibit no hysteresis. The results of this investigation were utilized in validating the design of high altitude test (HAT) facility for testing the third stage motor (PS-3) of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The simulation of starting transients in the model revealed that the HAT facility shall not be operated in the unstarted phase, because the rocket nozzle may fail due to violent oscillations of the vacuum chamber pressure. These experimental data were also utilized for designing a SED for PS-3 sub-scale motor, the results of which are covered in this paper. The accuracy of measurements are within a range of ±0.4%. Error analysis of the data were carried out and are presented in Appendix A.

Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science

Evaluation of the performance of supersonic exhaust diffuser using scaled down models

Experimental studies on supersonic mixer-ejector using radially lobed nozzles

Modeling of two-stage ejector for high-altitude testing of satellite thrusters

Journal	AIAA Journal
ISSN	00011452
Open Access	No