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Investigation of Sustained Detonation Devices: the Pulse Detonation Engine-Crossover System and the Rotating Detonation Engine System

Driscoll, Robert B
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0723-5289
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1459155478

Abstract Details

2016, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Aerospace Engineering.
An experimental study is conducted on a Pulse Detonation Engine-Crossover System to investigate the feasibility of repeated, shock-initiated combustion and characterize the initiation performance. A PDE-crossover system can decrease deflagration-to-detonation transition length while employing a single spark source to initiate a multi-PDE system. Visualization of a transferred shock wave propagating through a clear channel reveals a complex shock train behind the leading shock. Shock wave Mach number and decay rate remains constant for varying crossover tube geometries and operational frequencies. A temperature gradient forms within the crossover tube due to forward flow of high temperature ionized gas into the crossover tube from the driver PDE and backward flow of ionized gas into the crossover tube from the driven PDE, which can cause intermittent auto-ignition of the driver PDE. Initiation performance in the driven PDE is strongly dependent on initial driven PDE skin temperature in the shock wave reflection region. An array of detonation tubes connected with crossover tubes is developed using optimized parameters and successful operation utilizing shock-initiated combustion through shock wave reflection is achieved and sustained. Finally, an air-breathing, PDE-Crossover System is developed to characterize the feasibility of shock-initiated combustion within an air-breathing pulse detonation engine. The initiation effectiveness of shock-initiated combustion is compared to spark discharge and detonation injection through a pre-detonator. In all cases, shock-initiated combustion produces improved initiation performance over spark discharge and comparable detonation transition run-up lengths relative to pre-detonator initiation. A computational study characterizes the mixing processes and injection flow field within a rotating detonation engine. Injection parameters including reactant flow rate, reactant injection area, placement of the fuel injection, and fuel injection distribution are varied to assess the impact on mixing. Decreasing reactant injection areas improves fuel penetration into the cross-flowing air stream, enhances turbulent diffusion of the fuel within the annulus, and increases local equivalence ratio and fluid mixedness. Staggering fuel injection holes produces a decrease in mixing when compared to collinear fuel injection. Finally, emulating nozzle integration by increasing annulus back-pressure increases local equivalence ratio in the injection region due to increased convection residence time.
Ephraim Gutmark, Ph.D. D.Sc. (Committee Chair)
Shaaban Abdallah, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
David Munday, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Mark Turner, Sc.D. (Committee Member)
241 p.
Aerospace Materials
Detonation; Pulse Detonation Engine; Rotating Detonation Engine; PDE-Crossover System; Reactant Injection Mixing

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Driscoll, R. B. (2016). Investigation of Sustained Detonation Devices: the Pulse Detonation Engine-Crossover System and the Rotating Detonation Engine System [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1459155478

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Driscoll, Robert. Investigation of Sustained Detonation Devices: the Pulse Detonation Engine-Crossover System and the Rotating Detonation Engine System. 2016. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1459155478.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Driscoll, Robert. "Investigation of Sustained Detonation Devices: the Pulse Detonation Engine-Crossover System and the Rotating Detonation Engine System." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1459155478

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1459155478
317
© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.