Study of Parasitic Combustion in an Optically Accessible Continuous Wave Rotating Detonation Engine

Conference · Mon Jan 07 04:00:00 EST 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2019-0473· OSTI ID:1808460

Chacon, Fabian ^[1]; Gamba, Mirko

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1. University of Michigan

In this work we use cinematographic OH* chemiluminescence and double pass shadow- graph imaging to study non-ideal combustion phenomena in an optically accessible con- tinuous wave race-track-shaped rotating detonation engine and link them to the observed reduction in detonation properties. The study identifies and emphasizes three key non- ideal features of practical RDE operation: (1) a buffer region between post-detonation gases of the previous cycle and fresh mixture; (2) parasitic combustion upstream of the detonation wave due to premature ignition of the fresh mixture, which effectively vitiates the fresh mixture and reduces the heat release available to support the wave; and (3) what we term commensal combustion downstream of the detonation wave supported by mixture or heat release leakage through the detonation wave, which also reduces support to the wave. An evaluation of the effects of vitiation induced by parasitic combustion on detona- tion wave properties suggests that the reduction in wave speed and pressure ratio observed in experiments is consistent with the existence of such non-ideal combustion phenomena

• Research Organization: University of Michigan
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
• DOE Contract Number: FE0025315
• OSTI ID: 1808460
• Report Number(s): DOE-UMICH-FE0025315-012
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English