Study of Magnetogasdynamic Flow Acceleration in a Scramjet Nozzle

The research project studied the benefits of Magnetogasdynamic (MGD) acceleration on a scramjet nozzle. MGD is a technology that relies on electromagnetic fields to extract and/or add energy to flow fields. The scramjet engine in the AJAX concept proposed by D.I. Brichkii et al. (2001) of St. Petersburg, Russia would utilize an MGD power generator in the diffuser user which could potentially provide electrical power for the aircraft support systems and an MGD accelerator in the nozzle of the engine. Using an AFRL/VAAC CFD code that was modified for MGD computations, this project investigated the effect conductivity and load factor had on the specific thrust and efficiency of an MGD accelerator composed of segmented electrodes in the nozzle of a scramjet engine. For a load factor of 1:6, results showed a 95% increase in specific thrust. When MGD generation was employed at a load factor of 0:8, a 31% decrease in specific thrust was calculated. The solutions included high wall temperatures which need more investigation for MGD acceleration to be practical