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Atomization and Sprays, Vol.13, No.4, 345-355, 2003
A technique for drop size control during throttling of a rocket engine
Experimental studies have been conducted on a new type of injector which can be used very advantageously in rocket engines designed for throttling applications. The aim is to keep the drop size constant for varying chamber pressures. The injector uses very small quantities of a gas to atomize a straight liquid jet before discharging into the combustion chamber. The concept is demonstrated over an eightfold variation of injector pressure drop. A feedback control system, which can regulate the air pressure with respect to the sensed chamber pressure, based on the input transfer function, so as to keep the drop size constant, is suggested. The transfer function is obtained from the experimental data. The major advantage of this injector is that it uses a very small quantity of gas, thereby limiting the weight penalty to a minimum. This system is much less complicated compared to variable area injector and cavitating venturi valves used for this purpose.