%0 Journal Article %A Mohammad Reza Soltani and Mohammad Farahani and Javad Sepahi Younsi %D 2008 %J International Journal of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering %B World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology %I Open Science Index 16, 2008 %T Performance Improvement of a Supersonic External Compression Inlet by Heat Source Addition %U https://publications.waset.org/pdf/2446 %V 16 %X Heat source addition to the axisymmetric supersonic inlet may improve the performance parameters, which will increase the inlet efficiency. In this investigation the heat has been added to the flow field at some distance ahead of an axisymmetric inlet by adding an imaginary thermal source upstream of cowl lip. The effect of heat addition on the drag coefficient, mass flow rate and the overall efficiency of the inlet have been investigated. The results show that heat addition causes flow separation, hence to prevent this phenomena, roughness has been added on the spike surface. However, heat addition reduces the drag coefficient and the inlet mass flow rate considerably. Furthermore, the effects of position, size, and shape on the inlet performance were studied. It is found that the thermal source deflects the flow streamlines. By improper location of the thermal source, the optimum condition has been obtained. For the optimum condition, the drag coefficient is considerably reduced and the inlet mass flow rate and its efficiency have been increased slightly. The optimum shape of the heat source is obtained too. %P 447 - 454