CREARE LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF103-197

Description

Combustion stability is critical to the performance of augmented military jet engines. Instabilities such as screech can result in reduced augmentor performance, blowout, or even catastrophic failure. Screech remains a difficult problem to predict and mitigate, and its occurrence can limit the operational flight envelope of military systems. Many of the passive techniques used to suppress combustion instabilities in stationary gas turbines are unsuitable for military propulsion systems. Advanced active control techniques involving high-bandwidth active cancellation of instabilities have not been applied to real systems due to their inherent complexity. In this research program, Creare and Georgia Institute of Technology propose to develop an advanced fueling system for low-bandwidth active screech suppression in augmentors. The fueling system provides control of the spatial distribution of heat release in the augmentor allowing for manipulation of symmetry and convective time delays in the augmentor without structural modifications. In Phase I, we will demonstrate the feasibility of this approach for transverse instability suppression in a subscale, cylindrical augmentor rig. In Phase II, we will design, fabricate, and demonstrate our technical approach at a realistic scale. Design activity will be supported by an existing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool for predicting fuel distribution in augmentors. BENEFIT: Technology derived from this project will be in two forms. First, we will develop a novel fueling system for low-bandwidth active control of augmentor screech. The system will be suitable for retrofit into modern systems such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. In addition, this research program is expected to improve the overall understanding of the mechanism(s) that couple heat release and acoustics in augmentor systems. These technologies will expand the flight envelope for augmented military jet engines, increase the robustness of augmentor systems, and lead to more capable, cost-effective aircraft.