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Flow dynamics of a 15kHz supersonic coaxial injector: insights from PLIF and PIV measurements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2025

J.T. Solomon Open the ORCID record for J.T. Solomon [Opens in a new window] ,
R. Lockyer Open the ORCID record for R. Lockyer [Opens in a new window]  and
N. Hackworth Open the ORCID record for N. Hackworth [Opens in a new window]
J.T. Solomon*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, AIAA, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, USA
R. Lockyer
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, AIAA, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, USA
N. Hackworth
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, AIAA, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, USA
*
Corresponding author:J.T. Solomon; Email: jsolomon@tuskegee.edu
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Abstract

This paper presents experimental studies on a novel active high-frequency coaxial injector system designed for enhanced flow mixing and control at extreme flow velocity conditions. The flow dynamics and mixing characteristics of the system operating at 15kHz were captured using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) techniques and compared against its steady and baseline modes. In pulsed mode, this active injection system delivers a pulsed supersonic actuation air jet at the inner core of the coaxial nozzle that provides large mean and fluctuating velocity profiles in the shear layers of an acetone-seeded fluid stream injected surrounding the core through an annular nozzle. The instantaneous velocity, vorticity and acetone concentration fields of the injector are discussed. The high-frequency streamwise vortices and shockwaves tailored to the mean flow significantly enhanced supersonic flow mixing between the fluids compared to a classical steady coaxial configuration operating at the same input pressure. The paper analyses the dynamic and diffusion characteristics of this active coaxial injection system, which may have potential for supersonic mixing applications.

Keywords

actuatorsflow controlhigh-speed flow mixingpulsed co-axial flow

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , First View , pp. 1 - 19
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal Aeronautical Society

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