Recent Developments in Wave Rotor Combustion Technology and Future Perspectives: A Progress Review

Abstract

In recent decades, considerable efforts have been made to exploit the non-steady combustion and gasdynamic phenomenon. The superior performance potential of nonsteady flow machines has led to development of various intermittent devices such as pulse detonation engines, wave rotors, pulse jets, and non-steady ejectors. This paper aims to provide a succinct progress review of past and current research in developing a particular combustion concept: the wave rotor combustor. This pressure-gain combustor appears to have considerable potential to enhance the performance and operating characteristics of gas turbine engines. The history, potential benefits, past setbacks, and existing challenges and obstacles in developing these non-steady combustors are reviewed. This review particularly focuses on recent efforts, highlighting needs to improve the performance and costs of future propulsion and power generation systems.