SPECTRAL ENERGIES LLC — Department of Defense STTR Phase I: X22D-OTCSO1

Description

The goal of this work is to design, build, test, and optimize low-loss diodic injectors with rapid external mixing to overcome a key technological barrier to the successful deployment of stable and efficient next-generation hypersonic and detonation propulsion systems. Potential shock interactions using cavity-based flame stabilization or rotating detonation can lead to injection-system feedback, slow injector response, combustion instabilities, system unstart, and/or flame out. These phenomena can greatly limit propulsion system performance and reliability, potentially leading to catastrophic failure of the vehicle and the warfighting mission.  This work will leverage new additive manufacturing technologies to build complex internal geometries that promote efficient injection into the combustion chamber while resisting/damping backflow and feedback from shock dynamics. To maintain or improve the rate of mixing between the fuel and oxidizer, additional features that were not feasible with conventional manufacturing techniques, such as precisely shaped lobed fuel injector nozzles, will be incorporated into the design. This will be used in combination with impinging jet and supersonic crossflows to enable lightweight and affordable air-breathing propulsion systems that can operate efficiently over a wide range of conditions.