HOT-HYDROGEN-POWERED SCRAMJET

THE PROPOSED CONCEPT IS THE APPLICATION OF HOT HYDROGEN FROM A COMPACT, HIGH-POWER (CLASSIIED) SOURCE TO MIX WITH, AND HEAT AMBIENT SUPERSONIC AIR IN A SCRAMJET DUCT TO HIGH TEMPERATURES. THE STUDY PROGRAM WILL CHARACTERIZE SUCH A SYSTEM, INVESTIGATING FLOW AEROTHERMODYNAMICS, INDUCTION OF HOT GAS INTO A SUPERSONIC AIR FLOW, MIXING TIMES AND DYNAMICS, AND DETERMINE THE PROSPECTIVE ISP FOR THIS TYPE OF SCRAMJET. PHASE II EFFORT WILL REFINE PHASE I CODES (SUCH AS FOR HYDROGEN/SUPERSONIC AIR FLOW MIXING), DO DETAILED PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF THE HOT GAS SCRAMJET -PARTICULARLY OF THE INLET AND MIXING REGIONS, PERFORM BREAD-BOARD TESTING OF CRITICAL ISSUES, AND DEFINE THE POTENTIAL FOR MEANINGFUL PHASE III EXPERIMENTAL DEMONSTRATIONS.