Transmission of a detonation wave across a sudden expansion with varying mixture composition
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Authors
Touse, Elizabeth J.
Subjects
Pulse detonation engines
PDE
Detonation diffraction
PDE
Detonation diffraction
Advisors
Brophy, Christopher M.
Sinbaldi, Jose O.
Date of Issue
2003-12
Date
December 2003
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Detonation waves were examined in axisymmetric and two-dimensional test configurations to determine the limits at which a detonation will successfully initiate and diffract from a small initiator tube into a larger main combustor. Tests were conducted for various initiator-to-main combustor area ratios. Additionally, for each area ratio, the fuel-oxygen initiator mixture was diluted with various nitrogen concentrations attempting to approach the mass fraction of nitrogen in air (79%). Results of the axisymmetric testing showed that with an expansion area ratio of 2.0, detonations began to fail to initiate in the initiator section with nitrogen dilution as low as 45%. Although, through constructive interference such as wall reflections and shock-shock interactions, a detonation wave initiated in the main combustor for up to 60% nitrogen dilution. Results of the two-dimensional testing showed that for area ratios of 1.33 to 2.67, detonation waves successfully transmitted for all nitrogen dilution cases, including 79%. For an area ratio of 4.0, detonation waves successfully transmitted with 65% nitrogen dilution but failed with 70% nitrogen dilution.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
N0001403WR20159.
Format
xiv, 77 p. : ill. (some col.)
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.