Conceptual study on integrated design of magnetohydrodynamic bypass scramjet for a waverider-based hypersonic vehicle

A parametric study on the conceptual design methodology and optimization criteria for an integrated magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) bypass scramjet of a generic waverider-based hypersonic vehicle was performed. An integrated parametric design of an MHD controlled inlet and a built-in MHD generator was first provided using a quasi-one-dimensional MHD model, in conjunction with the theory of oblique shock. Taking the designed configuration as the baseline configuration, a numerical procedure based on a five-equation model associated with low magnetic Reynolds number MHD flow was utilized to simulate and optimize the integrated MHD controlled inlet. It was found that the minimum nonuniform flow parameter at the exit of the inlet channel might act as the criterion for the built-in generator to possess an optimal magnetic interaction parameter capable of improving the performance of the inlet effectively.