Basics of Mixer-Ejectors for Quiet Propulsion
A series of numerical and experimental studies were undertaken to take a fresh look at how a mixer-ejector exhaust system might provide noise reduction for the LTO operation of a commercial supersonic vehicle. Historical understandings of aero and acoustic performance were challenged and new details of noise reduction mechanisms were uncovered. New CFD-based noise prediction tools, applied to conceptual designs, predicted noise reductions of 3-5EPNdB for a few percent thrust loss. Recommendations from the study include validation of the acoustic prediction method, and using it to refine variants of practical nozzle systems for low noise exhaust systems that perform well both acoustically and aerodynamically.