Detonation Initiation and Evolution in Spray- Fueled Pulsed Detonation Rocket Engines
Abstract
Successful pulsed detonation engine operation requires robust, reliable, repetitive detonation initiation and evolution, up to 100 times per second. Spark-initiated combustion of fuel-oxidizer mixtures appears to be the operational technology. Our research program was designed to model the transient events following time-resolved deposition of thermal energy into a finite volume of reactive mixture. Computational solutions of the reactive Euler equations are used to predict the time history of deflagration to detonation transitions (DDT's). Solutions describe the temporal variation of the spatial distributions of temperature, pressure and fuel concentration.. The presence of shocks, localized reactive hot spots and high speed reaction zones are noted. Solution dependence on the location of the initial power deposition, the amount of power deposition and the activation energy on a one step reaction is investigated. In all cases the DDT process is facilitated by the spontaneous appearance of localized high pressure and temperature ":reaction centers" that are the subsequent sources of acoustic compression waves.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 28, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA469561
Entities
People
- D. R. Kassoy
- J. A. Kuehn
- J. F. Clarke
- M. W. Nabity
Organizations
- University of Colorado Boulder