Effect of blockage ratio on the existence of multiple waves in rotating detonation engine

Abstract

The effect of blockage ratio on the existence of multiple waves in rotating detonation engine was investigated through experimental approach. It has been shown experimentally that four typical detonation propagation modes (single wave, hybrid mode of single wave and double waves, double waves, longitudinal pulsed detonation) were obtained by varying blockage ratios and air mass flow rates at the global equivalence ratio of around 1.60. The results show that the increase of blockage ratio reduces the critical mass flow rate for the occurrence of multiple waves. The occurrence of multiple waves experiences coexistence of single wave and two co-rotating detonation waves, and steady two co-rotating detonation waves. The increase of blockage ratio intensifies the effect of reflected oblique shock waves on fresh reactants and elevates average pressure in the combustor, which play important role in the occurrence of multiple waves. Moreover, the increase of blockage ratio elevates the pre-combustion pressure. The high pre-combustion pressure resulting from high blockage ratio leads to the existence of volumetric explosion immediately after ignition, which extends the formation time of rotating detonation wave. Further increasing of blockage ratio triggers the longitudinal pulsed detonation (LPD), and the highly decreased injection pressure ratio is considered to be the main reason for the occurrence of LPD.