Direct Current Forcing of an Atmospheric Multiburner Flame for Rocket Combustor Emulation

This study investigated the effect of direct current electric fields on the response of an atmospheric, premixed methane-air flame using electrode geometries intended to emulate a simplified liquid rocket engine combustion chamber. The burners consisted of single- and multielement configurations to determine the difference between element radial location and flame-to-flame interaction as an atmospheric analogy to the functionality of a multiport liquid-propellant rocket engine injector. The results showed that electric field–induced ionic winds were capable of improving flame stability by extension of the lean flammability limit and increased blowoff velocity. Single-burner configurations closer to the anode wall had more significant effects on the flame response due to stronger electric fields generated at those locations. The cylindrical anode was more effective in changing the flame response due to larger surface area, leading to higher field strengths. It has been concluded that a system with multiple flames enhances the effects of applied electric fields, which seems to indicate the potential to effectively modify the flame response in rocket engines with multiple injection ports.