Fuel-Flow System

A fixed fuel-flow system is a simple set-up that is operated to maintain a constant fuel-flow rate. The fuel-rich gas flows out from the gas generator through a choked orifice that is attached at its aft-end. The mass generahon rate of the fuel-rich gas is therefore independent of the pressure in the ramburner. When a projectQe operated by a fixed-flow ducted rocket flies at a constant supersonic speed and at constant altitude, the airflow rate through the air-intake remains constant. Since the gas generahon rate in the gas generator is kept constant, the air-to-fuel raho also remains constant. Ophmized combustion performance is thereby obtained. This class of ducted rocket is termed a fixed fuel-flow ducted rocket . 

In order to overcome the difficulties associated with the non-choked fuel-flow system and the fixed fuel-flow system, a variable fuel-flow system is introduced the fuel gas produced in a gas generator is injected into a ramburner. The fuel-flow rate is controlled by a control valve attached to the choked nozzle according to the airflow rate induced into the ramburner. An optimized mixture ratio of fuel and air, which is dependent on the flight altitude and flight velocity, is obtained by modulating the combustion rate of the gas-generating pyrolant When a variable fuel-flow-rate system is attached to the choked nozzle of the gas generator, the fuel-flow rate is altered in order to obtain an optimized combustible gas in the ramburner. This class of ducted rockets is termed variable fuel-flow ducted rockets or VFDR . 

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