Characterizing continuously rotating detonation via nonlinear time series analysis

The sampled pressure signals in continuously rotating detonation combustors have the inherence of nonlinear dynamics. To dig out more information on combustion modes, the nonlinear time series analysis method is thus applied to the pressure-time series obtained at a hydrogen/air rotating detonation combustor by using the phase space reconstruction and wavelet entropy algorithm. The variation of wavelet entropy is approved to be associated with the periodicity variation of pressure signals. Different structures of attractor as well as wavelet entropy distribution in the phase diagram can distinguish the deflagration mode from the unstable and stable detonation modes under the conditions of different air flow rates. The limit-cycle oscillation is exhibited in the phase space diagram with a very low flow rate, here 25 g/s. The mean wavelet entropy of pressure-time series can be a quantitative index of different combustion modes occurring in the combustor. The present study is expected to enhance the understanding of the physical mechanism of continuously rotating detonation and contribute on the development of detonation propulsion technology.     

Particle path tracking method in two- and three-dimensional continuously rotating detonation engines

The particle path tracking method is proposed and used in two-dimensional（2D） and three-dimensional（3D） numerical simulations of continuously rotating detonation engines（CRDEs）. This method is used to analyze the combustion and expansion processes of the fresh particles, and the thermodynamic cycle process of CRDE. In a 3D CRDE flow field, as the radius of the annulus increases, the no-injection area proportion increases, the non-detonation proportion decreases, and the detonation height decreases. The flow field parameters on the 3D mid annulus are different from in the 2D flow field under the same chamber size. The non-detonation proportion in the 3D flow field is less than in the 2D flow field. In the 2D and 3D CRDE, the paths of the flow particles have only a small fluctuation in the circumferential direction. The numerical thermodynamic cycle processes are qualitatively consistent with the three ideal cycle models, and they are right in between the ideal F–J cycle and ideal ZND cycle. The net mechanical work and thermal efficiency are slightly smaller in the 2D simulation than in the 3D simulation. In the 3D CRDE, as the radius of the annulus increases, the net mechanical work is almost constant, and the thermal efficiency increases. The numerical thermal efficiencies are larger than F–J cycle, and much smaller than ZND cycle.     

Critical condition of inner cylinder radius for sustaining rotating detonation waves in rotating detonation engine thruster

We describe the critical condition necessary for the inner cylinder radius of a rotating detonation engine (RDE) used for in-space rocket propulsion to sustain adequate thruster performance. Using gaseous C₂H₄ and O₂ as the propellant, we measured thrust and impulse of the RDE experimentally, varying in the inner cylinder radius r_i from 31 mm (typical annular configuration) to 0 (no-inner-cylinder configuration), while keeping the outer cylinder radius (r_o = 39 mm) and propellant injector position (r_inj = 35 mm) constant. In the experiments, we also performed high-speed imaging of self-luminescence in the combustion chamber and engine plume. In the case of relatively large inner cylinder radii (r_i = 23 and 31 mm), rotating detonation waves in the combustion chamber attached to the inner cylinder surface, whereas for relatively small inner cylinder radii (r_i = 0, 9, and 15 mm), rotating detonation waves were observed to detach from the inner cylinder surface. In these small inner radii cases, strong chemical luminescence was observed in the plume, probably due to the existence of soot. On the other hand, for cases where r_i = 15, 23, and 31 mm, the specific impulses were greater than 80% of the ideal value at correct expansion. Meanwhile, for cases r_i = 0 and 9 mm, the specific impulses were below 80% of the ideal expansion value. This was considered to be due to the imperfect detonation combustion (deflagration combustion) observed in small inner cylinder radius cases. Our results suggest that in our experimental conditions, r_i = 15 mm was close to the critical condition for sustaining rotating detonation in a suitable state for efficient thrust generation. This condition in the inner cylinder radius corresponds to a condition in the reduced unburned layer height of 4.5–6.5.     

Numerical studies on autoignition and detonation development from a hot spot in hydrogen/air mixtures

Detonation development inside spark ignition engines can result in the so called super-knock with extremely high pressure oscillation above 200?atm. In this study, numerical simulations of autoignitive reaction front propagation in hydrogen/air mixtures are conducted and the detonation development regime is investigated. A hot spot with linear temperature distribution is used to induce autoignitive reaction front propagation. With the change of temperature gradient or hot spot size, three typical autoignition reaction front modes are identified: supersonic reaction front; detonation development and subsonic reaction front. The effects of initial pressure, initial temperature, fuel type and equivalence ratio on detonation development regime are examined. It is found that the detonation development regime strongly depends on mixture composition (fuel and equivalence ratio) and thermal conditions (initial pressure and temperature). Therefore, to achieve the quantitative prediction of super-knock in engines, we need use the detonation development regime for specific fuel at specific initial temperature, initial pressure, and equivalence ratio.     

涡轮导向器对旋转爆轰波传播特性影响的实验研究

为了研究涡轮导向器对旋转爆轰波传播特性的影响,以氢气为燃料,空气为氧化剂,在不同当量比下开展了实验研究.基于高频压力传感器及静态压力传感器的信号,详细分析了带涡轮导向器的旋转爆轰燃烧室的工作模式以及涡轮导向器对非均匀不稳定爆轰产物的影响.实验结果表明:在当量比较低时,爆轰燃烧室以快速爆燃模式工作;逐渐增大当量比,爆轰燃烧室开始以不稳定旋转爆轰模式工作;继续增大当量比,爆轰燃烧室以稳定旋转爆轰模式工作,且旋转爆轰波的传播速度和稳定性均随当量比的增大逐渐提高.爆轰波下游的斜激波与涡轮导向器相互作用,涡轮导向器对压力振荡的幅值具有明显的抑制作用,但对压力振荡频率的影响较小.随着当量比的增大,涡轮导向器上下游的静压均同时增大,经过涡轮导向器的作用,涡轮下游静压明显降低.     

Onset of detonation in polydispersed fuel–air mixtures

Investigations of detonation onset in pulverized fuel–air mixtures were carried out. Combustion and detonation processes in sprays differ greatly from that in homogeneous mixtures, because not only chemical reactions, but physical processes of combustible mixture formation take place within the combustion zone (droplets atomization and evaporation). The polydispersed character of mixture and non-uniformity of droplet spatial distribution strongly affects spray combustion and detonation onset. The present paper contains the results of theoretical and experimental investigations of detonation onset peculiarities in polydispersed non-uniform hydrocarbon–air mixtures.     

炸药爆轰制备纳米石墨粉储放氢性能实验研究

介绍了一种新的制备纳米石墨粉的方法——炸药爆轰法.通过对爆轰合成的黑色粉末进行x射线衍射分析，确认其为六方结构的纳米石墨，平均晶粒度为1.86—2.61nm.用BET气体吸附仪测试纳米石墨粉的比表面积约为500—650m2/g，由比表面积计算得到的纳米石墨粒度为4.41—6.85nm.在室温（≈290K）和12MPa压力条件下对纳米石墨粉进行储放氢气性能测试，结果表明纳米石墨粉样品的储放氢量为0.33wt%—0.37wt％.在相同实验条件下，纳米石墨粉原始样品的储放氢能力较原始纳米炭纤维（0.15wt%—0.35wt％）和多壁碳纳米管（0.15wt%—0.20wt％）的储放氢能力略强,但低于超级活性炭（0.92wt%—0.98wt％）.纳米碳材料的比表面积在其储放氢实验中起关键作用. 关键词： 爆轰 纳米石墨粉 比表面积 储放氢量     

Computational study of NOx formation in hydrogen-fuelled pulse detonation engines

The formation of NOx in hydrogen-fuelled pulse detonation engines (PDE) is investigated numerically. The computations are based on the axisymmetric Euler equations and a detailed combustion model consisting of 12 species and 27 reactions. A multi-level, dynamically adaptive grid is utilized, in order to resolve the structure of the detonation front. Computed NO concentrations are in good agreement with experimental measurements obtained at two operating frequencies and two equivalence ratios. Additional computations examine the effects of equivalence ratio and residence time on NOx formation at ambient conditions. The results indicate that NOx formation in PDEs is very high for near stoichiometric mixtures. NOx reduction requires use of lean or rich mixtures and the shortest possible detonation tube. NOx emissions for very lean or very rich mixtures are, however, fairly insensitive to residence time.     

Single-ended mid-infrared laser-absorption sensor for time-resolved measurements of water concentration and temperature within the annulus of a rotating detonation engine

A novel single-ended mid-infrared laser-absorption sensor for time-resolved measurements of water mole fraction and temperature was developed and deployed within the annulus of a hydrogen/air-fed rotating detonation engine (RDE). The sensor transmitted two laser beams targeting mid-infrared water transitions through a single optical port on the outer wall of the cylindrical RDE annulus and measured the backscattered radiation from the RDE inner surface using a photodetector for a round-trip path of 1.52?cm. Optimizing the sensor's optical arrangement using numerical ray tracing to minimize interference from optical emission, beam steering, and scattered laser light from window surfaces was essential to sensor performance. Scanned-wavelength-modulation spectroscopy with second-harmonic detection and first-harmonic normalization was implemented to allow for frequency-domain multiplexing of the two lasers and to suppress non-absorbing interference sources such as beam-steering and emission. Tunable diode lasers near 2551 and 2482?nm were modulated at 100 and 122?kHz, respectively, and sinusoidally scanned across the peaks of their respective water transitions at 10?kHz to provide a measurement rate of 20?kHz and detection limit of 0.5% water by mole. Experimentally derived spectroscopic parameters enabled water and temperature sensing with respective uncertainties of 7.3% and 5.3% relative to the measured values. Time-resolved and time-averaged sensor measurements of gas temperature and water vapor mole fraction allow quantitative evaluation of the combustion progress at the measurement location and thus provide a design tool for RDE optimization. Broadly, this single-ended laser sensor should find applications in other combustion systems where optical access is limited.     

Chemical control of combustion and detonation in carbon oxide and hydrogen mixtures with air

The paper presents data on the control of combustion and detonation in CO and H₂ mixtures with air by small additives. The dependence of the kinetics of combustion and detonation characteristics on the initial mixture composition observed experimentally is in agreement with the predictions of theory taking into account the special features of reaction chains of the combustion of carbon monoxide in the presence of hydrogen-containing impurities. Works ignoring the chain character of the combustion of H₂ and CO are critically reviewed.     

Theoretical studies on the structure,sensitivity, density,thermodynamic properties and detonation performance of dinitrobitriazoles

Azodinitro- and dinitroethylene-bridged bitriazoles are of interest in the contest of high explosives, and were found to have true local energy minima at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. The optimised structures, vibrational frequencies and thermodynamic quantities for bitriazoles were obtained in the ground state. Kamlet–Jacobs equations were used to evaluate the performance of bitriazoles based on the predicted density and the calculated heat of explosion. Detonation properties (D = 8.12 to 9.23 km s^?1 and P = 28.0 to 39.83 GPa) of bitriazoles were found to be promising compared with those of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX, D = 8.75 km s^?1 and P = 34.7 GPa) and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX, D = 8.96 km s^?1 and P = 35.96 GPa). The fusion of azoles particularly appears to be a promising area for investigation, since it may lead to the desirable consequences of higher heat of explosion, higher density and thus improved detonation performance.     

基于晶体旋光效应的近场光学空间滤波

在激光传输与放大系统中,激光束的空间滤波是光束质量控制的重要环节。利用各向同性晶体的旋光性,采用偏振光检偏法选择不同空间频率光束的通过与阻挡,实现激光光束的近场空间滤波。用多个滤波器串接构成滤波器组,可提高光束空间窄带滤波性能。该方法有利于克服激光工程中采用4f滤波带来的空间滤波器体积庞大与抽空耗能的缺点。     

Flame acceleration and the transition to detonation of stoichiometric ethylene/oxygen in microscale tubes

Flame propagation in capillary tubes with smooth circular cross-sections and diameters of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mm are investigated using high-speed photography. Flames were found to propagate and accelerate to detonation speed in stoichiometric ethylene and oxygen mixtures initially at room temperature in all three tube diameters. Ignition occurs at the midpoint along the length of the tube. We observe for the first time transition to detonation in micro-tubes. Detonation was observed with both spark and hot-wire ignition. Tubes with larger diameters take longer to transition to detonation. In fact, transition distance scales with the diameter in our 1.0 and 2.0 mm cases with spark ignition. Flame structures are observed for various stages of the process. Three types of flame propagation modes were observed in the 0.5 mm tube with spark ignition: (a) acceleration to Chapman–Jouguet (CJ) detonation speed followed by constant CJ wave propagation, (b) acceleration to CJ speed, followed by the detonation wave failure, and (c) flame acceleration to a constant speed below the CJ speed of approximately 1600 m/s. The current detonation mechanism observed in capillary tubes is applicable to predetonators for pulsed detonation, micro propulsion devices, safety issues, and addresses fundamental issues raised by recent theoretical and numerical analyses.     

Flame acceleration and transition to detonation: Effects of a composition gradient in a mixture of methane and air

The effects of a composition gradient on flame acceleration and transition to detonation in a mixture of methane and air were studied by numerically solving the unsteady, fully compressible, reactive Navier–Stokes equations. The specific problem addressed here is for ignition in a two-dimensional, obstructed channel where there is a spatial gradient of equivalence ratios perpendicular to the propagation direction of the reaction wave. The solution method uses a calibrated, optimized chemical-diffusive model that reproduces correct flame and detonation properties for methane–air mixtures over a range of equivalence ratios. Comparisons were made to a stoichiometric, homogeneous mixture in order to focus on the worst-case scenario for safety concerns. The results showed that the flame speed is smaller and the average total heat release are lower, but the maximum flame surface area is larger in the inhomogeneous mixture. This is because there is more unburned material between obstacles but less energy released from this increased flame surface area in the fuel-lean region, leading to the reduction of the total heat release. The transition to detonation is delayed in the inhomogeneous mixture, because the hot spot forms in the fuel-lean region and the strength of the Mach stem that hits the obstacle is weaker. The detonation front tends to decouple into a shock and a flame earlier in the inhomogeneous mixture, due to the incomplete mixing throughout the entire domain during the detonation propagation process.     

Modelling detonation of heterogeneous explosives with embedded inert particles using detonation shock dynamics: Normal and divergent propagation in regular and simplified microstructure

This paper discusses the mathematical formulation of Detonation Shock Dynamics (DSD) regarding a detonation shock wave passing over a series of inert spherical particles embedded in a high-explosive material. DSD provides an efficient method for studying detonation front propagation in such materials without the necessity of simulating the combustion equations for the entire system. We derive a series of partial differential equations in a cylindrical coordinate system and a moving shock-attached coordinate system which describes the propagation of detonation about a single particle, where the detonation obeys a linear shock normal velocity-curvature (D_n–κ) DSD relation. We solve these equations numerically and observe the short-term and long-term behaviour of the detonation shock wave as it passes over the particles. We discuss the shape of the perturbed shock wave and demonstrate the periodic and convergent behaviour obtained when detonation passes over a regular, periodic array of inert spherical particles.     

Combustion wave propagation and detonation initiation in the vicinity of closed-tube end walls

There are not many studies on DDT with no obstacles and the initiation of DDT near the end of a closed tube. Therefore in the present study we experimentally investigate the mechanism of the combustion wave transition to a detonation wave when there are no obstacles. In particular, we show that a local explosion near the tube wall is necessary for the initiation of a detonation. Parameters that we varied are the wall configuration, distance between the ignition point and the wall, and initial filling pressure. The combustion waves and the compression waves are visualized using the Schlieren optical system. From the results, we found it is necessary for the combustion wave to reach four walls so that the detonation could be initiated by the local explosion. In the conditions of the present experiment, we exhibited that the local explosion did not occur in the vicinity of a single wall and four orthogonal walls; instead, the local explosion occurred in a situation with five orthogonal walls. The time of the local explosion and the detonation initiation is 2.6 ± 1.1 and 2.0 ± 0.1 times the characteristic time for the combustion wave to propagate hemispherically from an ignitor and reach the four walls.     

冲击波物理与爆轰物理研究进展

在中国工程物理研究院(以下简称中物院)建院50周年之际,文章作者对近年来在中物院开展的冲击波物理与爆轰物理研究工作进展情况作了介绍.首先,对该项研究工作的意义作了说明.其次,简单回顾了过去完成的几个代表性研究工作.然后,对近期主要的研究方向,其中包括冲击波温度测量和高压熔化规律研究、高密度气体物态方程研究、固体物质的宽区物态方程实验和理论研究、高压本构关系研究、材料的损伤演化及动态破坏研究、爆轰波传播规律与驱动飞层研究,以及高能炸药起爆性能与热点形成机理研究在实验技术、规律性探索到理论建模方面取得的近期主要进展作了重点介绍.文章最后对未来研究作了展望.     

Influence of chemical kinetics on spontaneous waves and detonation initiation in highly reactive and low reactive mixtures

Understanding the mechanisms of explosions is important for minimising devastating hazards. Due to the complexity of real chemistry, a single-step reaction mechanism is usually used for theoretical and numerical studies. The purpose of this study is to look more deeply into the influence of chemistry on detonation initiated by a spontaneous wave. The results of high-resolution simulations performed for one-step models are compared with simulations for detailed chemical models for highly reactive and low reactive mixtures. The calculated induction times for H₂/air and for CH₄/air are validated against experimental measurements for a wide range of temperatures and pressures. It is found that the requirements in terms of temperature and size of the hot spots, which can produce a spontaneous wave capable to initiate detonation, are quantitatively and qualitatively different for one-step models compared to detailed chemical models. The time and locations when the exothermic reaction affects the coupling between the pressure wave and spontaneous wave are considerably different for a one-step and detailed models. The temperature gradients capable to produce detonation and the corresponding size of hot spots are much shallower and, correspondingly, larger than those predicted using one-step models. The impact of the detailed chemical model is particularly pronounced for the methane-air mixture. In this case, not only the hot spot size is much greater than that predicted by a one-step model, but even at the elevated pressure, the initiation of detonation by a temperature gradient is possible only if the temperature outside the gradient is rather high, so that can ignite a thermal explosion. The obtained results suggest that the one-step models do not reproduce correctly the transient and ignition processes, so that interpretation of the simulations performed using a one-step model for understanding mechanisms of flame acceleration, DDT and the origin of explosions must be considered with great caution.