Propulsion Engineering Laboratory

RAMJET ENGINE PERFORMANCE

CHARACTERIZATION

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Aims:
1. To investigate the drag force in the ramjet engine at a range of approach Mach numbers at cold run.
2. To measure the pressure distribution through the ramjet engine and the thrust developed under hot flow
conditions.

Theory:
In a Ramjet engine thrust is produced by passing the hot exhaust from the combustion of a fuel through a nozzle. The
nozzle accelerates the flow, and the reaction to this acceleration produces thrust. To maintain the flow through the
nozzle, the combustion must occur at a pressure that is higher than the pressure at the nozzle exit. In a ramjet, the high
pressure is produced by "ramming" external air into the combustor using the forward speed of the vehicle. So, the
external air that is brought into the propulsion system becomes the working fluid, much like a turbojet engine. In a
turbojet engine, the high pressure in the combustor is generated by a piece of machinery called a compressor. But there
are no compressors in a ramjet. Therefore, ramjets are lighter and simpler than a turbojet. Ramjets produce thrust only
when the vehicle is already moving; ramjets cannot produce thrust when the engine is stationary or static. Since a ramjet
cannot produce static thrust, some other propulsion system must be used to accelerate the vehicle to a speed where the
ramjet begins to produce thrust. The higher the speed of the vehicle, the better a ramjet works until aerodynamic losses
become a dominant factor. A photograph of the ramjet engine experimental setup at IIST is shown in Fig. 1. Here, a
centrifugal blower is used to generate the flow through the ramjet engine to create the thrust. The flow through the
blower is varied to simulate ramjet engine flight conditions at different Mach numbers.

Fig 1: Ramjet engine experimental setup

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Specifications:
Ramjet engine : Type – 5/300, 127mm diameter X 407mm long
Fuel : LPG
Air supply : Single stage centrifugal Air Blower

Mach number:
Static pressure = ps cm of water (Absolute)
Total pressure = p cm of water (Absolute)
Atmospheric pressure = 1036 cm of water
 1
 
2  p   
Mach number of intake Air, M =    1
  1  p s  
 
Where  for air = 1.4

Temperature

Pressure
readings
Thrust/Drag
indicator

Fuel flow
meter

Fig 2: Ramjet engine control panel

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Test 1: Investigation of drag force in the ramjet engine at a range of approach Mach numbers at cold run.

Procedure:
1) Set the pitot static tube at a position 3 to 5 cm in front of the intake side by adjusting the position
adjuster.
2) Set zero in the thrust/drag indicator in the control panel shown in Fig. 2.
3) Close the blower intake damper fully by turning clockwise until it stops, then start the blower.
4) By opening the intake damper of the blower gradually and simultaneously note down the drag force,
pitot static pressure, total pressure, blower total pressure, intake air temperature, etc from the control
panel.
5) Repeat the experiment for various drag forces and tabulate readings.

Observations:

Blower total Temperature of

Drag Static pressure Total pressure
Sl. pressure intake air
F ps p
No Pb Ti
(N) (cm of water) (cm of water)
(cm of water) (0c)

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Sample calculation:

Result:

Inference:

Sample Graph:

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Test 2: Investigation of thrust and pressure distribution in ramjet engine under hot flow conditions.

Procedure:
1) Connect the cooling water circuit to the pressure probes.
2) Set the pitot static tube at a position 3 to 5 cm in front of the intake side by adjusting the position
adjuster, as shown in fig. 2.
3) Set zero in the thrust/drag indicator shown in the control panel in Fig. 2.
4) Close the blower intake damper fully by turning clockwise until it stops, then start the blower.
5) Start the ramjet engine by allowing the blower air pressure to 5 cm of water.
6) Adjust the fuel control valve and the blower damper to the required conditions and from the control
panel note down the thrust, fuel flow rate, fuel temperature, exhaust temperature, inlet air temperature,
pitot static pressure, pitot total pressure, blower total pressure, etc. at that point.
7) Move the pitot static tube to different positions and take the readings and tabulate it.
8) Repeat the experiment with different fuel flow rate and Mach numbers.
9) Close the fuel control valve gradually and switch off the ignition switch and stop the blower.

Fig 2: Distance in cm (pressure probe positions)

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 Pitot static tube
Observations:

Fuel Pitot static Pitot total Blower total Inlet air Fuel Exhaust
position from Thrust
Sl. No flow rate Pressure Pressure Pressure temperature temperature temperature
intake side F
mf ps p Pb Ti Tf Te
X

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cm of cm of cm of 0 0 0
Unit Cm g/s N C C C
water water water
+5

-5

-10

8
-15

-20

-25

-30

-35

-38
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 Propulsion Engineering Laboratory

Sample calculations:

Result:

Inference:

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