Propulsion Chemistry for CFD Applications

SECA, Inc. proposes to develop a series of computational modules which describe real fluid thermodynamics and physical properties that are designed to be easily incorporated in computational fluid dynamics codes for the enhancing and the efficiency and use of such codes. The standard source of propulsion thermodynamics is the NASA Lewis CEC code, which describes the thermodynamics of multicomponent, ideal gases in the temperature range of 300 to 5000 @K. There are currently many important propulsion problems, that the proposed analyses would address, which lie outside this range of restrictions. Also, there are currently no systematic studies to generalize CEC type codes. Real fluid thermodynamics and transport properties including phase changes, combustion kinetics, and turbulent mixing modules will be produced as a result of this study. CFD codes are widely used to investigate propulsion problems, because they are not limited in the fluid properties or geometries used to describe the system. The proposed innovation would improve existing CFD methodology with a minimum cost and effort by providing better property descriptions in the new submodels which will be developed.