Nozzle 10
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SSME Nozzle results
Quasi-one-dimensional flow
A=A(x), p=p(x),
r=r(x), T=T(x), M=M(x)

See the new Atlas 5
RD-180
Rocket Motor Analysis

ROCKET MOTOR DESIGN
RAMJET AND SCRAMJET PERFORMANCE
This Release Makes All Previous Versions Obsolete
Copyright © 1999-2022 John Cipolla/AeroRocket

SCRAMJET engine cycle analyses

Nozzle 10 introduces RAMJET cycle results for aircraft speeds between Mach 2 and Mach 4 and SCRAMJET cycle results for aircraft speeds greater than Mach 5.



Nozzle Instructions
Nozzle Instructions


Plume Instructions
2-D Plume Instructions



Turbulent Free Jet Instructions

Nozzle 10 is a one-dimensional and two-dimensional, compressible flow computer program for the analysis of converging-diverging nozzles, RAMJET ENGINES and SCRAMJET ENGINES. Nozzle models inviscid, adiabatic and hence isentropic flow of a calorically perfect gas through variable-area ducts. Nozzle internal flow may be entirely subsonic, entirely supersonic or a combination of subsonic and supersonic including shock waves in the diverging part of the nozzle. Shock waves are clearly identified as vertical red lines on all plots. The cross-sectional shape in the axial direction of the nozzle is specified by selecting from five standard nozzle types or by defining nozzle geometry using the Free-Form nozzle geometry method. Nozzle plots color contours of pressure ratio, temperature ratio, density ratio, and Mach number and has a slider bar that displays real-time values of all nozzle flow properties. New in this version is the ability to determine shock-angle, jet-angle (plume-angle) and Mach number for axisymmetric and two-dimensional nozzles in the region near the lip for underexpanded and overexpanded flow. The plume analysis capability has been greatly enhanced in the new version of  Nozzle 4.1.
 
NOZZLE INSTRUCTIONS Back To Top
Summary of Features
1) Specify nozzle geometry as either Parabolic, Conical, Bell, Imported, or Free-Form. Free-Form nozzle shapes may use up to 30 points to define nozzle geometry.
2) Standard and Import nozzle shapes may have up to 1000 axial points defining the cross-sectional area distribution of the nozzle.
3) Select either the classical isentropic and normal-shock relations method or the MacCormack backward-predictor forward-corrector finite difference method to determine characteristics of nozzle internal flow.
4) Locate internal shock waves quickly using the slider bar that displays nozzle property verses axial location in real time.
5) Determine Mach number (V/c), pressure ratio (P/P0), density ratio (R/R0) and temperature ratio (T/T0) at each axial location in the nozzle.
6) Determine shock wave location, Mach number before the shock wave, Mach number after the shock wave and nozzle area at the shock wave location.
7) Specify fluid properties for a large number of inert gases, liquid fluid rocket propellants and solid fuel rocket propellants or specify your own.
8) Specify the units of analysis as MKS (meter-newton-seconds), CGS (centimeter-newton-seconds), IPS (inch-pound-seconds) and FPS (foot-pound-seconds).
9) Enlarge all plots for easy data reduction and output all data and plots to a color printer.
10) Print Detailed Results to a printer and Save Data File As for displaying X, R coordinates and flow properties in CSV format for spreadsheet display and review.
11) Fast solution - most analyses completed in less than 15 seconds.
12) Generate color contour plots for Mach number (Mn), Pressure ratio (P/P0), Temperature ratio (T/T0), and density ratio (R/R0).
13) Determine exterior flow properties in the nozzle-lip region for underexpanded nozzles and overexpanded nozzles.
14)
Added a hybrid rocket motor propellant having the following fuel and oxidizer to the list of combustion gases: 85% Nitrous Oxide, 15% HTPB.
15)
Made the SSME example (shown below) the start-up data for Nozzle program analyses. Data easily cleared for new data entries.
16)
Two-dimensional plume analysis using the method of characteristics for underexpanded (Patm < Pexit) flow.
17) Nozzle_Examples.zip in the Nozzle directory includes 34 nozzle examples used for validation purposes.
18) Design Conditions routine for those who wish to quickly design subsonic/supersonic wind tunnels or efficient every-day nozzles
19) Added Turbulent Circular and Turbulent 2-D Free Jet analysis capability based on theory from Viscous Fluid Flow by Frank M. White
20)
NEW! Display Conical nozzle geometry in Computer Aided Design (CAD) formatted LINES and CIRCLES for generating imported shapes using the Imported shape option command. Accessed by clicking File then CAD Input For Conical Shapes then SHOW NOZZLE CAD. Use these LINE and CIRCLE values in any CAD program to generate the text file required to generate a Nozzle 3.7 import geometry file.
21)
NEW! For overexpanded nozzles, the value for pressure ratio (Pa/P3), Mach number (M3) and oblique shock diameter at point-2 are inserted into the 2-D Plume Analysis and the Method of Characteristics results are automatically displayed starting at the end of the external oblique shock wave pattern as illustrated in Figure-16. Previously, the plume analysis did not compute the expansion wave pattern for overexpanded nozzles. For underexpanded nozzles the value for pressure ratio (Pa/Pe), exit Mach number (Me) and nozzle exit diameter (De) are inserted and plume results automatically displayed from nozzle exit to several diameters downstream as in previous versions of Nozzle.

Propellant Gases Available

Inert Gases
Dry Air Hydrogen Helium Water Vapor Argon Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide Nitrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Monoxide Nitrous Oxide Chlorine
Methane          
 
Liquid Fuel Propellant Gases
Oxygen, 75% Ethyl Alcohol(1.43) Oxygen, Hydrazine(.09) Oxygen, Hydrogen(4.02)
Oxygen, RP-1(2.56) Oxygen, UDMH(1.65) Fluorine, Hydrazine(2.3)
Fluorine, Hydrogen(7.60) Nitrogen Tetroxide, Hydrazine(1.34) Nitrogen Tetroxide, 50% UDMH, 50% Hydrazine(2.0)
Nitric Acid, RP-1(4.8) Nitric Acid, 50% UDMH, 50% Hydrazine(2.20) Liquid Oxygen, Liquid Methane (2.70, 2.80, 2.90)

Solid Fuel Propellant Gases
Ammonium Nitrate, 11% Binder, 4-20% Mg Ammonium Perchlorate, 18% Binder, 4-20% Al Ammonium Perchlorate, 12% Binder, 4-20% Al

Hybrid Rocket Motor Propellant Gases
85% Nitrous Oxide, 15% HTPB    

User-Defined Gases
Specify custom or user-defined gases by inserting Ratio of specific heats (Cp/Cv) and Gas constant (R=Cp-Cv) in the nozzle data entry section.

A) BACKGROUND THEORY - NOZZLE INTERNAL FLOW
As the exit back pressure, Pe is reduced below Po, flow through the nozzle begins. If Pe is only slightly less than Po, the flow throughout the nozzle is subsonic and the pressure profile along the axis would be like curve A in Figure 1. Reducing Pe increases the mass flow rate through the nozzle. As the flow rate increases, the pressure at the throat decreases until it reaches the critical pressure as indicated by curve B (PCRIT-1). The exit pressure Pe which exactly corresponds to sonic conditions at the throat can be easily determined from isentropic flow relations. The flow is subsonic everywhere in the nozzle except at the throat, and mass flow is the maximum possible for the given nozzle and the reservoir conditions.

Suppose the exit pressure is now reduced to a value corresponding to curve F (PCRIT-3) in Figure 1 where no shocks are present in the nozzle. The exit pressure at F is such that the entire expansion is isentropic and the flow is supersonic in the diverging portion of the nozzle. The value for pressure is simply obtained from the isentropic relationships for Mach number, pressure, temperature and density and represents an optimal nozzle design. The pressure within the nozzle exit cannot be reduced further and when the external pressure is reduced to G the fluid leaving the nozzle changes its pressure through a complicated flow pattern outside the nozzle. Thus, the curves B and F represent the two limiting cases of exit pressure for isentropic flow in such a nozzle. For exit pressures below that at B, a shock wave forms within the diverging part of the nozzle, changing the flow from supersonic to subsonic and compressing the gas exactly enough to match the nozzle exit conditions. Because of the entropy rise across the shock, the overall flow through the nozzle is not isentropic, although the flow on either side of the shock can still be considered isentropic. The lower limit for this kind of flow pattern is given by a shock occurring exactly at the exit of the nozzle as indicated by curve D (PCRIT-2). The flow conditions for exit pressures between curves B and D may be computed with aid of the isentropic relationships and normal shock analysis. At still lower exit pressures the flow adjusts itself through a series of two-dimensional or three-dimensional shock waves and the average exhaust velocity is generally still supersonic.

The designer must chose an appropriate condition from the previous possibilities for his particular application. When the flow leaves the nozzle at supersonic speeds and its pressure exactly equals the surroundings (curve F) , the nozzle is called correctly expanded (PCRIT-3). If the exit area of the nozzle is less than the correctly expanded value for a given back pressure, the nozzle is underexpanded and the fluid leaving the nozzle has a pressure greater than the surroundings (curve G). On the other hand, if the exit area of the nozzle is too large, shock waves form within or just outside the nozzle and the flow is called overexpanded. The particular mode of operation of any nozzle can be quickly checked by first establishing the limiting pressure curves B and D and comparing them with the specified exit pressure. REFERENCE: Pages 299 and 300 Fluid Flow, Sabersky and Acosta.

  
Figure 1 and Figure 2: Flow conditions depending on Pressure Ratio (Pe/Pc)

 -------------------------- SHAPES Nozzle 4.1 CAN MODEL --------------------------
One-dimensional circular nozzle One-dimensional rectangular nozzle

Figure 3: Nozzle 4.1 determines isentropic internal flow properties for axisymmetric nozzles where the cross-sectional area distribution is directly specified by throat diameter, exit diameter and nozzle program axial shape selections. Exit area, Ae for the circular cross-section case is, Ae=p/4*De^2. Using this relationship the exit diameter, De for the circular cross-section case is, De=sqr(4/p*Ae), where Ae is nozzle exit area. A similar relationship determines throat diameter for the circular nozzle case to be, Dt=sqr(4/p*At). In practice De and Dt are specified directly without having to apply these simple relationships. Compressible fluid flow properties only vary along the x-axis of the one-dimensional nozzle.

Figure 4: Nozzle 4.1 determines isentropic internal flow properties for rectangular nozzles where the cross-sectional area distribution is specified by the equivalent circular area defined by throat diameter, exit diameter and nozzle program axial shape selections. Exit area, Ae for the rectangular cross-section case is, Ae=Wz*Hy=p/4*De^2. Using this relationship the equivalent exit diameter, De for the rectangular cross-section case is, De=sqr(4/p*Wz*Hy), where Wz is nozzle exit width in the z-direction and Hy is nozzle exit height in the y-direction. A similar relationship determines throat diameter for the rectangular nozzle case to be, Dt=sqr(4/p*Wz*Hy), where Wz is nozzle throat width in the z-direction and Hy is nozzle throat height in the y-direction. Compressible fluid flow properties only vary along the x-axis of the one-dimensional nozzle.


B) STEP-BY-STEP NOZZLE ANALYSIS EXAMPLE (REFER TO FIG 5 and FIG 6)
BASIC DIMENSIONS ARE FOR THE SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE (SSME)
1) Using the Units pull-down menu check Length(inch), Pressure(lb/in^2) to specify the units of the analysis.
2) Select Bell nozzle in the Nozzle Shapes section. The data entries for a Bell nozzle having a bell shape will appear. Please see notes below.
3) Enter an entrance temperature of 5400 degrees R.
4) Enter an entrance pressure of 3000 psia.
5) Enter an Atmospheric pressure of .0017 psia to simulate vacuum conditions in space. Please see Note-5 for other options, for example the optimal design condition where no shocks are present.
6) Using the Gases pull-down menu select OXYGEN, HYDROGEN as the working fluid in the nozzle. By selecting OXYGEN, HYDROGEN the value for the ratio of specific heats (
g) and the Gas Constant (Rgas) are automatically specified in the appropriate spaces in thi s case having units, in^2 *sec^2/R.
7) Enter total nozzle length as 127 inches (The converging section is 6 inches long and the diverging section is 121 inches long).
8) Enter throat diameter as 10.3 inches.
9) Enter the throat location from the origin as 6 inches.
10) Enter the upstream throat radius as 7.725 inches (1.5 * Rthroat).
11) Enter the downstream throat radius as 1.967 inches (0.382 * Rthroat) .
12) Enter the entry angle of parabolic section as 32 degrees.
13) Enter the exit diameter as 90.7 inches.
14) Enter the total number of grids along the nozzle axis as 1000 points. A maximum of 1000 nozzle X,Y coordinates may be defined.
15) In the Solve Flow section select the Classical gasdynamics method option.
16) Click the SOLVE NOZZLE FLOW command button to determine nozzle flow characteristics using the method specified in step (16).

SPECIAL NOTE ON UNITS: Nozzle 3.7 design Units should be specified before dimensional data and fluid properties data are entered. Please see the nozzle design example in the section labeled, STEP-BY-STEP NOZZLE ANALYSIS EXAMPLE. In this step-by-step example of the SSME, Units are specified at the beginning of each Project not in the middle or end of each Project. If however, the user decides to “short circuit” the normal input procedure here is what happens if Units are changed "after" entering nozzle dimensional and fluid properties data. First, Entrance temperature and Entrance pressure are reinitialized to 5400 degrees Rankin and 1000 psig or their values in the specified units. The value for Atmospheric (back) pressure remains unchanged from the value entered by the user because it is not considered a basic property for the isentropic variations in the nozzle from chamber to nozzle exit. Then, Ratio of specific heats and Gas Constant are converted to their proper values in the specified units. The remaining nozzle dimensional values are unchanged because Nozzle 3.7 assumes the user knows which units are required. To properly operate Nozzle 3.7 the user needs to know that changing Units is considered a basic operational change that reinitializes the nozzle fluid dynamic analysis similar to choosing a new nozzle shape.

Figure 5: Nozzle Dimension Locations

NOZZLE RESULTS (REFER TO FIGURE 7)
17) Use the slider-bar to see real-time results for Nozzle radius [Y(X)], Nozzle cross-sectional area [A(X)], Mach number [Mn], Pressure ratio [P/Po], Temperature ratio [T/To] and Density rio [R/Ro].
18) After selecting the desired plot variable option-button, enlarge the plot by clicking the ENLARGE PLOT command button. The plots can be printed from the enlarged plot screen.
19) Nozzle results may be sent directly to a printer in text form by clicking File and then Print Detailed Results.
20) Click the Show results option to display the Results section.
The results of the analysis are:
a) Mach number (Mn) at exit is 5.182
b) Pressure ratio (P/P0) at exit is .0007
c) Temperature ratio at exit is .2227
d) Thrust produced is 466,151.266 pounds.
e) Mass flow rate through nozzle is 1024.329 pounds per second.
f) Thrust coefficient (CF) is 1.865

SSME ACTUAL MEASUREMENT
Mass flow rate: 1035 pounds per second (1.0% difference)
Vacuum thrust: 470,000 pounds (0.80% difference)

Note-1:
The Bell nozzle shape uses a parabolic curve approximation from the throat to the nozzle exit. For an approximate G.V.R. Rao Bell nozzle configuration the contour immediately upstream of the throat is a circular arc with radius 1.5*Rthroat. The divergent part of the nozzle immediately downstream of the throat is made up of a circular section with a radius of 0.382*Rthroat and then a parabola to the exit of the nozzle.

Note-2: If Free-Form Shape is selected in step (2) the Imported and Graphical Shapes entry box appears. Enter all required data and then bring up the Free-Form screen by double-clicking on the DEFINE FREE-FORM NOZZLE SHAPE icon. Generate the nozzle shape by dragging up to 30 points into position on the screen and then return to the main screen.

Note-3: In step (2) Import a list of X,Y nozzle coordinates by clicking File and then Import Nozzle Shape. The data must be in the following format: First line: [Total number of nozzle X,Y coordinates]. Second and subsequent lines: [Point number], [X nozzle location], [Y nozzle location] and have a .TXT file delimiter. A maximum of 1000 nozzle X,Y coordinates may be defined. Use the AeroGRID option of AeroRocketCAD to generate the
fluid boundary of a nozzle by moving several points into place and by specifying the number of intermediate grids. See the simple nozzle example in the AeroGRID section.

Note-4: In step (15) the selection of the MacCormack finite difference method will allow Nozzle to use the forward-predictor backward-corrector finite difference CFD method to compute nozzle flow. This option computes curve F (PCRIT-3) which is the optimum design condition when no shocks are present in the nozzle (isentropic) and the flow is entirely supersonic in the diverging part of the nozzle. For optimum nozzle expansion the nozzle exit pressure, P2 is equal to the external pressure, Patm. Rocket nozzles are normally designed using the PCRIT-3 flow expansion condition for optimal performance. This method is only accurate if the residuals are reduced to at least 1.0E-6. In practice the number of nozzle points is usually less than 50, the CFL should be about 0.80, the starting Mach number should be around 0.001 and finally the total number of iterations should be at least 750 and sometimes up to 2000.

Note-5: To compute an optimal nozzle design when no shocks are present and If the Classical gasdynamics method is selected insert 0.0 for the Atmospheric (back) Pressure. SOLVE the flow and the value for PCRIT-3 and therefore atmospheric pressure is automatically determined and displayed in the Results section and reflected in the input data section. To compute the case where the flow is sonic (M=1) at the throat and subsonic everywhere else (PCRIT-1) insert a value for Exit Pressure just slightly smaller than the Entrance Pressure. SOLVE the flow and an estimate for PCRIT-1 appears in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. Insert this estimate for PCRIT-1 into the value for Exit Pressure and SOLVE again. The new value for the Exit Pressure in the Results section is the new value for PCRIT-1.

Note-6: Please remember to "Click" back using the Return icon. Using the [X] box will kill the results and delete the modifications or may hang the application.


Figure 6: Input data for ideal expansion, no shock in nozzle.


Figure 7: Results for ideal expansion, no shock in nozzle.


Figure 8: Mach number contour plot for ideal expansion, no shocks in nozzle.


Figure 9: Results where back pressure is 100 psig causing a shock in the diverging part of the nozzle. This figure is not part of the SSME example.

This part of the description is to illustrate the Free-Form screen and is not part of the SSME nozzle example.

Figure 10: Free-Form screen for generating nozzle geometry and is not part of the SSME nozzle example.


OVEREXPANDED (Pa > Pe) AND UNDEREXPANDED (Pa < Pe) EXTERNAL NOZZLE FLOW
Nozzle uses two-dimensional oblique shock and Prandtl-Meyer expansion theory to predict shock-angles (b, b2), jet-angle (q) and Mach number for underexpanded and overexpanded flow. If the nozzle is axisymmetric the solution is valid in the immediate vicinity of the nozzle-exit. Further than a half diameter from the nozzle-exit, axisymmetric expansions and shocks are not accurately defined by two-dimensional oblique shock and Prandtl-Meyer theory. For this reason the external nozzle analysis is accurate for two-dimensional flow at large distances from the nozzle exit and a good approximation for axisymmetric flow within a half diameter from the nozzle exit. A nozzle is underexpanded when Pa/Pc < Pe/Pc and is characterized as a nozzle that experiences a series of external Prandtl-Meyer expansion waves starting from the lip of the nozzle. Similarly, a nozzle is overexpanded when Pa/Pc > Pe/Pc and is characterized as a nozzle that experiences a series of oblique shocks starting from the lip of the nozzle. In this analysis, Pa/Pc is the ratio of the atmospheric (Pa) or back pressure to the chamber pressure (Pc) and Pe/Pc is the ratio of the nozzle exit pressure (Pe) to the chamber pressure (Pc). Variables with subscript (c) are related to the entrance of the nozzle and variables with subscript (jet) for underexpanded flow and (2), (3) for overexpanded flow are related to the exterior region of the nozzle after the nozzle-exit. Finally, variables with subscript (a) are related to the atmospheric pressure or back pressure of the environment.

For underexpanded flow, Nozzle determines flow properties using the Pa/Pc and Pe/Pc pressure ratio criteria. Then, Nozzle uses Me the exit Mach number to determine the Prandtl-Meyer function in region (e) of the flow. Mjet is computed using the isentropic expansion equation by assuming Pjet = Pa. Then, using Mjet the Prandtl-Meyer function is determined in region (jet) of the flow. Finally, the outer boundary or jet-angle is determined using the relationship, Theta(
q) = n(Mjet) - n(Me). Theta (q) is defined as the angle the jet boundary makes with the horizontal axis of the nozzle-lip.

For overexpanded flow, Nozzle determines flow properties using the Pa/Pc and Pe/Pc pressure ratio criteria. Then, Nozzle computes the pressure ratio across the initial and reflected oblique shocks to compute Mach number in region 2 and 3 and oblique shock angles (
b, b2) using two-dimensional gas dynamics. Figure-11 and Figure-12 define the variables used for overexpanded flow and underexpanded flow, respectively. Figure-13 illustrates the SSME nozzle having an atmospheric pressure of 14.7 psia and the resulting overexpanded external flow with shock and jet boundary. Finally, Figure-14 illustrates the SSME nozzle having an atmospheric pressure of 2.0692 psia with a slightly underexpanded external flow and a jet boundary set at almost 0.0 degrees. This condition can be understood to mean optimal expansion when no shocks are present and the nozzle is exhausting directly into the atmosphere.


Figure11: Overexpanded nozzle (Pa/Pc > Pe/P



Figure 12: Underexpanded nozzle (Pa/Pc < Pe/Pc)


Figure 13: SSME overexpanded nozzle where Patm/Pc > Pe/Pc and external lip shocks and reflected shocks occur.


Figure 14: SSME properly expanded nozzle (Slightly Underexpanded) where Patm/Pc < Pe/Pc.


2-D PLUME ANALYSIS BY THE METHOD OF CHARACTERISTICS Back To Top
OVEREXPANDED
 NOZZLES FROM POINT-2 AND UNDEREXPANDED  NOZZLES FROM POINT-1

overexpanded nozzleFor underexpanded (Patm < Pexit) nozzles the external flow must adjust itself through a series of expansion and compression waves as the flow proceeds downstream. Starting at nozzle-exit the flow goes through a Prandtl-Meyer expansion wave to adjust the flow to ambient pressure (Pa). Then, to maintain the constant-pressure boundary condition on the outer boundary of the plume, the expansion wave reflects off the outer boundary as a compression wave. This process is repeated through several cycles of expansion waves and compression waves that reflect off the boundary of the jet's plume. The routine in NOZZLE that models the external jet plume assumes the exit flow is supersonic, two-dimensional and underexpanded. The user may run the plume analysis at any time by clicking FILE and then clicking 2-D Plume Analysis. The plume analysis is used by first inserting the ratio of ambient pressure to exit pressure (Pa/Pe), exit-plane Mach number, ratio of specific heats and nozzle exit diameter. If results for the flow on the main screen are for an underexpanded nozzle, the value for pressure ratio (Pa/Pe), exit Mach number (Me) and nozzle exit diameter (De) are inserted and plume results automatically displayed from nozzle exit to several diameters downstream.

underexpanded nozzleHowever, If results for the flow on the main screen are for an overexpanded nozzle, the value for pressure ratio (Pa/P3), Mach number (M3) and oblique shock diameter at point-2 are inserted into the plume analysis and results automatically displayed starting at the end of the external oblique shock wave pattern as illustrated below. The user must first click SOLVE and click Show Contours before performing a 2-D Plume Analysis. Otherwise, the user can override the automatic input and manually insert another value for Pa/Pe. The other 2-D plume input variables, Nozzle exit plane Mach number (Me), Specific heat ratio (Gamma) and Nozzle exit diameter (De) may be entered manually and the external 2-D plume computed for underexpanded flow. The user may step though the flow field by clicking the LOCATION button to display the physical location in the plume and the properties at that location.  Finally, the screen may be enlarged and screen results printed by the click of a button. In these illustrations, "e" represents the correctly expanded value at the exit-plane of the converging-diverging nozzle and "a" represents the atmospheric or back pressure of the environment which is 14.7 psig at sealevel.


The following steps generate solutions for overexpanded and underexpanded flows.
STEP-1: Perform fluid flow analysis on main screen and click Show Contours then click Plot external pattern and contours
to generate the oblique shock wave geometry for overexpanded flow or the expansion wave geometry for underexpanded flow.
Please refer to Figure-15, below

Figure-15: Test case from Gas Dynamics: Theory and Applications, Example-3 on page 97 to 99 for an overexpanded nozzle.
Example-3 predicts that a nozzle defined by M1 = 2.44, Pb/Pc = 0.1 and Ae/At = 2.5 that
b = 29.9 deg, q = -7 deg, and M2 = 2.14
Also, this example displays the CAD definitions for a conical nozzle design composed of two LINEs and two CIRCLEs.

STEP-2: Click File then click 2-D Plume Analysis to generate underexpanded nozzle properties from nozzle-exit to several
diameters downstream. OR generate overexpanded nozzle properties from point-2 on the main screen plot of the oblique shock
wave region to several diameters downstream. Please refer to Figure-16, below.

Figure 16:Two-Dimensional plume analysis for underexpanded flow where Patm < Pexit. Nozzle 4.1 starts the 2-D plume
Method of Characteristics analysis starting at Point-2 of the overexpanded reflected oblique shock wave in Region-2.


PROPERLY DESIGNED NOZZLES THAT EXHAUST DIRECTLY INTO THE ATMOSPHERE
WITH NO SHOCKS FOR DESIGNING WIND TUNNELS AND MORE EFFICIENT NOZZLES

For some users the relative complexity of standard Nozzle computer program features are to complex to apply for routine nozzle design. The new Design Conditions routine is for those who need nozzle designs where the diverging nozzle flow is entirely subsonic or supersonic, including the exit jet where Pexit = Patm. Results from Design Conditions is suitable for designing subsonic or supersonic wind tunnels or for designing efficient nozzles where no shocks are present in the diverging part of the nozzle or in the jet exhaust. Please see Figure-1 and Figure-2 where design condition
refers to flows that leave the nozzle at supersonic velocity and whose exit pressure equals the surroundings (curve F). The nozzle is called correctly expanded (PCRIT-3) for a supersonic design condition nozzle. Simply specify exit Mach number (Me) or Pressure Ratio (Pc/Pe) for either subsonic (PCRIT-1) or supersonic (PCRIT-3) exit flow as depicted by Curve-B or Curve-F in Figure-1 and Figure-2. For Curve-B and Curve-F the area ratio (Ae/At) exactly equals the critical ratio (Ae/Astar) for subsonic and supersonic correctly expanded flow. The throat velocity becomes sonic (M = 1), mass flux reaches a maximum and the exit pressure (Pexit) exactly equals the atmospheric pressure (Patm) or in other words Pexit = Patm. The applicable nozzle equations required for design condition nozzles is displayed in the Basic Equations menu. For a complete understanding of the technical aspects of nozzle design please refer to Fluid Mechanics by Frank M. White, pages 513 to 547 in chapter, Compressible Flow. Quickly plot color contours and flow properties verses axial location for Mach number (Mn), Pressure Ratio (Pc/P), Temperature Ratio (Tc/T) and density Ratio (Rc/R). Please be aware these ratios are the inverse of the flow properties computed in the main nozzle analysis.


Figure 17: Main screen for the Design Conditions routine showing properly designed nozzle results.


Figure 18: Main screen for the Design Conditions routine showing color contours of Mn verses axial location.


Figure 19  Main screen for the Design Conditions routine showing Mn verses axial location.


Figure 20:  Main screen for the Design Conditions routine showing page one of three pages of nozzle equations.


TURBULENT CIRCULAR AND 2-D FREE JET ANALYSIS Back To Top
Turbulent Free Jet Velocity ProfilesSteady-State Viscous Boundary Layer Analysis of a Free Jet issuing from an orifice: The sketch on the left shows a typical subsonic streamline pattern for circular and two-dimensional, turbulent free jets. For free jets at some distance down stream of the beginning of the jet or wake, the viscous boundary layer approximations apply and the velocity profiles become nearly similar in shape when normalized by local velocity and jet width. Similarity holds well for jets and wakes to determine the velocity profile along the axis of the jet. Please see Viscous Fluid Flow by Frank M. White, starting on page 505 for a complete derivation of the boundary layer approximation for the circular and two-dimensional free jet flow used in this analysis.

The turbulent free jet geometry is completely defined by specifying Nozzle-exit radius (b1), Jet Computational length (Lmax) and Jet starting (centerline) velocity (Umax). Results include velocity profile plots at each of five predetermined axial locations as a percentage of Lmax, velocity contour plots having a maximum of 256 plot levels and velocity vector plots. In addition, this routine includes the ability to save the five-station velocity profile results in CSV format for spreadsheet applications. Finally, all Free Jet analysis screens may be sent to the printer.
Figure 21: Typical free jet streamline pattern with definitions.


Figure 22: Turbulent Circular Free Jet velocity profiles at each of five predetermined axial locations as a percentage of Lmax.


Figure 23: Turbulent Circular Free Jet velocity contour plot having a maximum of 256 plot levels. Line illustrates jet boundary.


Figure 24: Turbulent Circular Free Jet velocity vector plot. Line illustrates jet boundary.

 

ATLAS RD-180 ROCKET MOTOR ANALYSIS Back To Top
The RD-180 rocket engine is a Russian designed and built dual-combustion chamber, dual-nozzle rocket engine used to provide first-stage power for the US built Atlas 5 launch vehicle. The two combustion chambers of the RD-180 share a single turbopump fueled by a mixture of RP-1 (kerosene) and LOX (Liquid oxygen) that uses an extremely efficient, high-pressure staged combustion cycle. The RD-180 rocket engine operates on an oxidizer to fuel mixture ratio (O/F) of 2.72 and like its predecessor the RD-170, employs an oxygen-rich pre-burner. The thermodynamics of the staged combustion cycle allows the efficient oxygen-rich pre-burner to provide greater than usual thrust to weight operation. However, to achieve greater efficiency the rocket motor must tolerate high pressure and high temperature gaseous oxygen that must be cycled through the engine.

The following Nozzle 4.1 input variables are used to model the RD-180 rocket motor. Chamber pressure for the RD-180 rocket motor is 26.7 MPa, nozzle exit diameter is 1.4 m, nozzle area ratio (Ae/At) is 36.87 which establishes the throat diameter to be 0.2306 meters, atmospheric pressure is 0.10135293 MPa. Entrance temperature, Ratio of specific heats and Gas constant are defined by specifying RP-1 and LOX as propellant and oxidizer for propulsion. The remaining input dimensions are used to define an approximate Bell nozzle geometry for the rocket motor. Nozzle 4.1 determines thrust for a single nozzle of the RD-180 which represents half of the total thrust generated. For the two nozzle RD-180 rocket motor total thrust is 3.79 MN at sea level and 4.1 MN in vacuum. Results for this analysis are tabulated in Table-1 below which shows that Nozzle 4.1 is capable of predicting thrust for the RD-180 rocket motor within 1.5% of measured results.

Atlas 5-400 rocket
Atlas 5-400 launch vehicle (left) and the RD-180 rocket motor (right).

Sea level analysis
Figure 25: Input data for sea level RD-180 Nozzle 3.7 analysis used to populate the results listed in Table-1, below.

RD-180 results
Figure 26: RD-180 analysis displaying Isp, CF, Vexhaust and external shock pattern compared to engine test at sea level.
The inserted exhaust plume of an RD-180 rocket motor is not part of Nozzle 4.1 output but the color contour plot is actual output.

Table-1, RD-180
Analysis Results
Sea Level (Patm = 101,353 N/m^2) Vacuum (Patm = 5 N/m^2 )
Thrust, lbf (MN) Isp, sec Thrust, lbf (MN) Isp, sec
Nozzle 4.1 851,421 (3.79) 302 921,567 (4.15) 327
RD-180 Test 860,568 (3.83) 311 933,400 (4.10) 338
Difference 1.1% 2.9% 1.3% 3.3%

RAMJET AND SCRAMJET ENGINE CYCLE ANALYSIS Back To Top
This new feature in Nozzle 10 introduces the concept of RAMJET and SCRAMJET engine cycle analyses. These propulsion systems are candidates where for the RAMJET engine the applications are for speeds between Mach 2 and Mach 4 and for the SCRAMJET engine the application are for speeds greater than Mach 5. Results for this routine are illustrated below for a SCRAMJET engine where the combustor Mach number is Mach 3. The RAMJET/SCRAMJET routine is in beta development and will be released soon and is based on the latest technical information available.



SCRAMJET engine where the combustor Mach number is Mach 1, Mach 3 and Mach 5.


Nozzle Minimum System Requirements
(1) Screen resolution: 800 X 600
(2) System: Windows 98, XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 10 (32 bit and 64 bit), NT or Mac with emulation
(3) Processor Speed: Pentium 3 or 4
(4) Memory: 64 MB RAM
(5) English (United States) Language
(6) 256 colors

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ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT: Input data for all AeroRocket programs must use a period (.) and not a comma (,) and the computer must be set to the English (United States) language. For example, gas constant should be written as  Rgas = 355.4 (J / kg*K = m^2 / sec^2*K) and not Rgas = 355,4. The English (United States) language is set in the Control Panel by clicking Date, Time, Language and Regional Options then Regional and Language Options and finally by selecting English (United States). If periods are not used in all inputs and outputs the results will not be correct.

NOZZLE REVISIONS
Nozzle 2.7 and Nozzle 2.8 Features

1) Nozzle outputs nozzle shapes in X,Y format. First, the user must run the program or click Plot Shape to generate the points describing the nozzle. The user may output X,Y nozzle coordinates and all axially varying nozzle parameters using the Save Data File As command. The data file created using Save Data File As has the .CSV extension to distinguish it from the imported shape file that has the .TXT extension.
2) Nozzle shows up on the Status Bar. The program may be minimized, maximized or terminated using the window controls.
3) Nozzle can model ultra-small nozzle shapes. Very small nozzles use scientific notation while larger (Greater than .001 diameter) nozzles use standard output format.
4) Mass flow rate in kg/sec or lbm/sec added to the output.

Nozzle 2.9 Features
1) Fixed a few minor problems involving display of very small nozzle dimensions and output results.

Nozzle 3.0 Features
1) Fixed error in the computation of thrust and mass flow rate.
2) Fixed a few spelling errors.

Nozzle 3.1 Features
1) Fixed error in the computation of thrust and mass flow rate.

Nozzle 3.2 Error Fix
1) Fixed an error in Nozzle that manifested itself when analyzing nozzles with area ratios (Ae/At) greater than 60. Specifically, for larger area ratios and for pressure ratios (Pe/Pc) sufficient for a shock to form in the diverging portion of the nozzle, Nozzle would incorrectly determine that the flow was sonic at the throat and subsonic everywhere else in the nozzle. The problem was that the constant PCRIT was miss-dimensioned as a string variable when it should have been defined as a single precision variable. This was an intermittent precision problem because sometimes the results were correct and sometimes incorrect depending on the value of the pressure ratio and area ratio.

Nozzle 3.3 Features and Error Fixes
1) Added color contour plots for Mach number (Mn), Pressure ratio (P/P0), Temperature ratio (T/T0), and density ratio (R/R0).
2) Fixed a few FREE-FORM screen nozzle geometry errors. Nozzle would occasionally fail to analyze some FREE-FORM nozzle geometries when the ratio of specific heats were less than 1.4.
3) Cleaned up a few presentation errors and enhanced results display.

Nozzle 3.4 Features
1) Added the ability to specify the upstream radius and downstream radius on either side of the throat for Conical and Bell nozzle shapes.

Nozzle 3.5 Features (12/14/03)
1) Added the ability to interrupt the nozzle analysis or to Stop the nozzle analysis.
2) Improved the initial slope of the parabolic portion of the Bell nozzle shape.

Nozzle 3.6.2 Features and Error Fix (06/02/04)
1) Added the ability to determine underexpanded and overexpanded external flow in the vicinity of the nozzle-lip region.
2) Fixed confusion concerning Nozzle exit (back) pressure and Atmospheric pressure (Patm). These two quantities should always be identical, but confusion about these entries caused thrust to be computed incorrectly. Now, the user enters only the Atmospheric (back) pressure. Previously, this entry did not accept pressures less than the optimal design condition (Pdesign) where no shocks are present in the nozzle and the flow exhausts directly into the atmosphere. However, to allow for underexpanded and overexpanded nozzles this constraint needed to be lifted. Now, a small non-zero value may be specified for the atmospheric pressure (Patm) corresponding to near-vacuum conditions.

Nozzle 3.6.3 Error Fix (02/22/05)
1) Under certain conditions when the maximum velocity exceeded Mach 7 in the diverging part of the nozzle, Nozzle would erroneously insert a shock wave. This condition has been fixed by increasing the upper limit of the maximum exit velocity (Me) to Mach 20 which increases the upper limit of the area ratio (Ae/At) to over 15,000.
2) Under certain conditions when the user decided to Cancel a nozzle geometry Import, Nozzle would repeatedly provide an error message. The user would have to perform a CTR-ALT-DEL to exit the program.

Nozzle 3.6.4 Features and Error Fix (07/25/05)
1) When displaying external flow contour plots for overexpanded nozzles the value of Mjet was inadvertently displaying the normal component of Mach number across the oblique shock emanating from the nozzle lip. Instead, the total Mach number in the jet region behind the oblique shock wave should have been displayed.
2) Added a hybrid rocket motor propellant having the following fuel and oxidizer to the list of combustion gases: 85% Nitrous Oxide, 15% HTPB.

Nozzle 3.6.5, 3.6.6 Feature (10/31/05)
1) Added a plume analysis for supersonic, two-dimensional and underexpanded nozzles.

Nozzle 3.6.7 Features and Error Fix (11/26/06)
1) Included Nozzle_Examples.zip in the Nozzle directory which includes 34 nozzle examples used for validation purposes.
2) The gas Nitrogen Dioxide in the Gases pull-down menu should be labeled Nitrous Oxide (N2O). (Fixed)
3) Program terminated if attempting to read a misspelled or non-existent file using the Open Project command. (Fixed)

Nozzle 3.7.0.1 Features (12/12/08)
1) Added a Design Conditions routine for those who wish to quickly design subsonic or supersonic wind tunnels or more efficient every-day nozzles when no shocks are present in the diverging part of the nozzle or in the exhaust jet. Design Conditions quickly plots color contours and flow properties verses axial location for Mach number (Mn), Pressure Ratio (Pc/P), Temperature Ratio (Tc/T) and density Ratio (Rc/R). No changes were made to the main nozzle analysis.

Nozzle 3.7.0.2 Features (09/14/09)
1) Added Turbulent Circular and Turbulent 2-D Free Jet analysis capability to Nozzle 3.7 based on the theory presented in Viscous Fluid Flow by Frank M. White, starting on page 505.
2) For Nozzle 3.7, fixed all input data text boxes for 32 bit and 64 bit Windows Vista. When operating earlier versions of Nozzle 3.7 in Windows Vista the input data text boxes failed to show their borders making it difficult to separate each input data field from adjacent input data fields.

Nozzle 3.7.0.3 Features (01/12/10)
1) In the Design Conditions routine increased the number of input digits from 3 to 6 digits after the decimal point. Nothing else has been modified.

Nozzle 3.7.0.4 Features (08/21/10)
1) This version displays Conical nozzle geometry in Computer Aided Design (CAD) formatted LINES and CIRCLES for generating imported shapes using the Imported shape option command. Accessed by clicking File then CAD Input For Conical Shapes then SHOW NOZZLE CAD.
2) For overexpanded nozzles, the value for pressure ratio (Pa/P3), Mach number (M3) and oblique shock diameter at point-2 are inserted into the 2-D Plume Analysis and the Method of Characteristics results are automatically displayed starting at the end of the external oblique shock wave pattern as illustrated in Figure-16. Previously, the plume analysis did not compute the expansion wave pattern for overexpanded nozzles. For underexpanded nozzles the value for pressure ratio (Pa/Pe), exit Mach number (Me) and nozzle exit diameter (De) are inserted and plume results automatically displayed from nozzle exit to several diameters downstream as in previous versions of Nozzle. Fixed a minor error in the computation of jet Mach number for overexpanded nozzles.

Nozzle 3.7.0.5 Features (11/28/11)
1) This version displays specific impulse (Isp) in place of Thrust Coefficient (CF) in the Results section. Also, Exhaust Velocity (Vexhaust) is also displayed as illustrated in Figure-27 in length units (meters/sec in this case) selected by the user.

Nozzle 4.1.01 Features (01/21/2021)
1) Increased numerical analysis speed for classical gasdynamics nozzle computations.
2) In the Gases pull down menu added properties for Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Methane (LOX/LMH4) gases for mass ratios; 2.70, 2.80 and 2.90.

Nozzle 10.1.01 Features (05/20/2021)
This new modification introduces the concept of RAMJET and SCRAMJET engine cycle analyses.

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