Study on self-pulsation characteristics of gas centered shear coaxial injector for supercavitating underwater propulsion system

ABSTRACT In order to design a shear coaxial injector of solid particles for underwater propulsion system, basic experiments on gas-liquid shear coaxial injector are necessary. In the gas-liquid coaxial injector self-pulsation usually occurs with an intense scream. When self-pulsation occurs, mass flow rate oscillation and intense scream are detected by the interactions between the liquid and gas phase. Self-pulsation must be suppressed since this oscillation may cause combustion instabilities. Considerable research has been conducted on self-pulsation characteristics, but these researches are conducted in swirl coaxial injector. The main objective of this research is to understand the characteristics of self-pulsation in shear coaxial injector and reveal the mechanism of the phenomenon. Toward this object, self-pulsation frequency and spray patterns are measured by laser diagnostics and indirect photography. The self-pulsation characteristics of shear coaxial injector are studied with various injection conditions, such as the pressure drop of liquid and gas phase, and recess ratio. It was found that the frequency of the self-pulsation is proportional to the liquid and gas Reynolds number, and proportional to the L/d.