Continuous spin detonation of a hydrogen-air mixture with addition of air into the products and the mixing region

Abstract

Results of an experimental study in a flow-type annular cylindrical combustor with an outer diameter of 30.6 cm are described. The influence of air addition to the products of continuous spin detonation of a hydrogen-air mixture and to the mixing region on parameters of detonation waves, pressure in the combustor, and specific impulse is studied. The range of continuous spin detonation of the hydrogen-air mixture is extended to specific flow rates of the mixture equal to 560 kg/(sec · m2) and fuel-to-air equivalence ratios equal to 0.5–4.4. It is demonstrated that addition of air decreases the detonation velocity, increases the pressure in the combustor and thrust, and decreases the specific flow rate of the fuel. The total pressure loss due to the mixing process and heat transfer to a colder gas increases. The minimum specific flow rate of hydrogen reached in the combustor of the examined geometry is 0.04 kg/(h · N).