Effect of pulsed plasma on the scramjet combustor

Abstract

To clarify the effect of pulsed plasma on the scramjet combustor and find the best area of pulsed plasma effect in the cavity, the effects of pulsed plasma on the pressure distribution, velocity distribution, transverse jet cross-sectional area, turbulent kinetic energy and total pressure loss in the combustor were analyzed at different position areas when the discharge frequency was 8 kHz under the condition of incoming flow Ma=1.7 and cold flow. The results show that the effect of pulsed plasma on the combustor is slightly stronger than that of constant plasma, causing a small fluctuation in the shear layer pressure and a further 12.20% increase in the degree of influence on the shear layer velocity. Among the position influence effects, the pulsed plasma has the greatest effect on enhancing the fuel mixing effect when it is located near the trailing edge of the cavity. Compared with the case without plasma, it can increase the shear layer longitudinal velocity by 81.62%; increase the transverse jet cross-sectional area by 2.14%, and increase the turbulent kinetic energy in the central region by 2.48%; reduce the intensity of the shock wave, and reduce the total pressure loss in the combustor by 0.25‰.