Development of a low density jet flow apparatus

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Date
2010
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Publisher
University of Alabama Libraries
Abstract

An apparatus was designed and constructed to study supersonic fluid flow in a low temperature and low pressure environment similar to the same conditions associated with near space. The apparatus allows the visualization of supersonic flows through an annular nozzle using a shadowgraph system. The flow system that creates supersonic flows is capable of producing pulsating jets at virtually any frequency. This thesis includes details of design of a near space jet flow apparatus that is capable of producing low temperature and low pressure environment for studying annular jets. The annular jets are produced from a nozzle that may be later incorporated on near space vehicle. After testing, it was discovered that the apparatus was capable of producing low temperatures and low pressures, but the results were inconsistent with a near space environment. The nozzle being studied has a blocking ratio of 0, 0.5 and 0.75. For each blocking ratio, the flow is choked, producing a constant mass flow rate. The theoretical and actual thrust were calculated using propulsion equations. The experimental results were compared to the theoretical, isentropic results. The jet length was also measured as a reference for vehicle design limitations. It was found that the maximum experimental thrust coefficients for a nozzle with blocking ratios of zero, 0.5 and 0.75 were calculated to be 0.430, 0.439, and 0.537 respectively. All maximum thrust coefficients occur at an ambient pressure of 0.5 kPa.

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Electronic Thesis or Dissertation
Keywords
Mechanical engineering
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