Evaluation of a liquid-fueled pulse detonation engine combustor

Abstract

An evaluation of five liquid-fueled pulse detonation engine combustor geometries and flow field conditions was performed over a wide range of equivalence ratios. Particle sizing and spray characterization of commercially available atomizers was conducted to determine the optimum conditions that produced acceptable mass flow and particle size distribution for use in the combustor. The chosen atomizer was installed in the combustor geometries and then analyzed over a range of combustor conditions to measure deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) distances and detonation wave velocities for each condition. Testing was conducted for ambient (100-110 deg F) and higher wall temperatures (>300 deg F) at an operating frequency of 5Hz. It was found that the shortest DDT for JP10 and O2 was achieved using a stepped front-end insert under hot conditions and with a loaded equivalence ratio greater than .75, but less than 1.15.