Numerical Investigation on detonation combustion waves of hydrogen-air mixture in pulse detonation combustor with blockage

The detonation combustion is a supersonic combustion process follows on shock wave oscillations in detonation tube. In this paper numerical studies are carried out combined effect of blockage ratio and spacing of obstacle on detonation wave propagation of hydrogen-air mixture in pulse detonation combustor. The deflagration to detonation transition of stoichiometric (& phi;=1) fuel-air mixture in channel has been analyzed for effect of blockage ratio (BR)=0.39, 0.51, 0.59, 0.71 with spacing of 2D and 3D. The reactive Navier-Stokes equation is used to solve the detonation wave propagation mechanism in Ansys Fluent platform. The result shows that fully developed detonation wave initiation regime is observed near smaller vortex generator ratio of BR=0.39 inside the combustor. The turbulent rate of reaction has also a great significance role for shock wave structure. However, vortices of rapid detonation wave are appears near thin boundary layer of each obstacle. Finally, detonation combustor demonstrates the superiority of pressure gain combustor with turbulent rate of reaction of 0.6 kg mol/m3-s inside the detonation tube with obstacle spacing of 12 cm, this blockage enhanced the turbulence intensity and propulsive thrust. The successful detonation wave propagation speed is achieved in shortest possible time of 0.031s with a significance magnitude of 2349 m/s, which is higher than Chapman-Jouguet (C-J) velocity of 1848 m/s. Furthermore, stronger propulsive thrust force of 36.82 N is generated in pulse time of 0.031s.