Exit Flow Field of Methane-Fueld Rotating Detonation Engine Measured by Time Resolved Particle Image Velocimetry
- Dept. Mechanical Enginering, University of Alabama; University of Alabama
- Dept. Mechanical Enginering, University of Alabama
Pressure gain combustion (PGC) seeks to convert fuel’s chemical energy simultaneously into thermal energy and mechanical energy, thereby reducing the entropy production in the process. Recent research has shown that the rotating detonation combustion or combustor (RDC) can provide excellent specific thrust, specific impulse, and large pressure gain through rapid energy release by continuous detonation in the circumferential direction. However, few past studies have employed fuels relevant to power generation gas turbines, since RDC research has focused mainly on aerospace applications. In this study, we present experimental results from RDC operated on methane and oxygen-enriched air to represent reactants used in gas turbines for land-based power generation. The RDC is operated at high pressures by placing a back-pressure plate downstream of the annular combustor. We apply time-resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique, for the first time, to quantify the RDC exit flow at framing rate of 30 kHz. Results show that even though the exit flow is dominantly axial, a significant circumferential velocity component is also present, highlighting the need to condition the flow between RDE exit and turbine inlet. The flow field undergoes cyclic fluctuations, and the key features of the flow field repeat during each cycle. Interestingly, the circumferential velocity shows a reversal in the direction during the cyclic process. Results also show noticeable cycle-to-cycle variations, related to changes in the detonation wave speed, ultimately caused by the rapid fuel-air mixing process at the RDC inlet prior to detonation.
- Research Organization:
- Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FE0023983
- OSTI ID:
- 1817691
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-AR-3983-3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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