Numerical Study of the Effects of Injection Conditions on Rotating Detonation Engine Propulsive Performance

Abstract

A three-dimensional upwind conservation element and solution element method (CESE) in cylindrical coordinates is first developed to effectively solve the unsteady reactive Euler equations governing a hydrogen–air rotating detonation engine (RDE) with coaxial structures. The effects of the annular width on the structure of the detonation front and the relationship between the thrust and mass flow rate are then investigated. Additionally, RDEs with various injection conditions are systematically analyzed regarding flow patterns and propulsion performance. The results reveal a positive correlation between the specific impulse and the area ratio of the injection slot to the head-end wall. Nevertheless, the specific impulse shows minimal dependence on the injector slot’s location when the area ratio is constant. Ultimately, it is concluded that the area ratio between the injector and the head-end wall is critical in determining the loss of specific impulse.