Numerical simulations and physical analysis of an overexpanded reactive gas flow in a planar nozzle

A numerical investigation of the overexpanded reactive gas flow in the ATAC nozzle of rectangular section, equipped with an H2 injection, is carried out. This study is aiming at reproducing the reacting phenomena occurring when air engulfed in the separated region at the tip of the extension meets the H2 rich overexpanded flow. Both steady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) and unsteady Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) approaches are used to model turbulence and compared to each other. The effect of the chemical nature of the mixture (either frozen or reacting) on the flow dynamics is discussed. The computations are compared to wall pressure measurements and flowfield visualizations by instantaneous Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence of OH (PLIF-OH) and OH spontaneous emission. A self-sustained flow oscillation at a frequency of around 1 kHz is found numerically, in good agreement with the unsteady wall pressure measurements. An analysis of the space–time characteristics of the propagating disturbances contributes to a better understanding of this phenomenon.