Calculation of Combustion Stability Limits Using Linear Stability Analysis in Liquid Rocket Engines

A method to calculate stability limits is investigated to predict the characteristics of high-frequency combustion instability in liquid-propellant rocket engine. It is based on the theory of linear stability analysis proposed in previous works and useful to predict combustion stability at the beginning stage of engine development. The system of equations governing reactive flow in combustor has the simplified and linearized forms. The overall equation expressing stability limits is adopted. The procedures to evaluate quantitatively each term included in the equation are proposed. The thermo-chemical properties and flow variables required in the evaluation can be obtained from calculation of thermodynamic equilibrium, CFD results, and experimental test data. Based on the existent data, stability limits are calculated with actual rocket engine (KSR-III rocket engine). The present calculations show the reasonable stability limits in a quantitative manner and the stability characteristics of the engine are discussed. The prediction from linear stability analysis could be serve as the first approximation to the true prediction.