Investigation of flow field characteristics and performance of carbon–hydrogen/oxygen-rich air rotating detonation engine

Abstract

Numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the flow field characteristics and performance of a carbon–hydrogen/oxygen-rich air rotating detonation engine (RDE). Three distinct flow field structures were observed in the gas–solid two-phase RDE. The results show that reducing the hydrogen equivalence ratio and particle diameter contribute to the transition from gas-phase single-front detonation to gas–solid two-phase double-front detonation and further to gas–solid two-phase single-front detonation. The effects of the solid fuel particle diameter and hydrogen equivalence ratio on the flow field characteristics and performance are revealed. The results show that reducing the particle diameter enhances the speed of the two-phase detonation wave, improves the pressure gain in the combustion chamber, and increases the specific impulse. Decreasing the hydrogen equivalence ratio reduces the detonation wave speed, enhances the stability of the detonation flow field, increases the pressure gain in the detonation wave and combustion chamber, and boosts the thrust. Furthermore, the selection of operational conditions to ensure stable operation and optimal performance of the RDE is discussed. In order to take into account the requirements of stability, pressure gain performance, and propulsion performance, two-phase single-front detonation should be realized in gas–solid two-phase RDE, and smaller hydrogen equivalent ratio and appropriate particle diameter should be selected. According to the conclusion of this study, the particle diameter should be 0.5–1 μm. Under such conditions, the detonation flow field demonstrates good stability, allowing the RDE to achieve higher pressure gain and specific impulse while maintaining stable operation.