Study on the flow field of a kerosene-fueled integrated inlet-combustor-nozzle oblique detonation engine

Abstract

In this study, a large-scale kerosene-fueled oblique detonation engine with a design point of Mach 10 is proposed. The flow combustion characteristics and the propulsive performance considering the wall viscous drag of the detonation engine are investigated using numerical simulation methods with a detailed combustion mechanism. The accuracy of the numerical results is verified by comparing it with the detonation wave pole curve of kerosene fuel. The result demonstrates that the combined injection method consisting of wall and center-strut injectors can meet the requirements of fuel mixing in the oblique detonation engine and a stabilized oblique detonation wave is successfully formed in the combustor. The decrease in the fuel equivalent ratio leads to an increase in the non-uniformity of the temperature distribution behind the detonation wave and the decrease in the wave angle. The advantage of the oblique detonation wave in hypersonic propulsion is its easy adjustment and can achieve flight over a wide-speed range. The combustion heat release behind the wave is closer to the upper part of the wave surface as the incoming Mach number decreases. The oblique detonation engine proposed in this study can still generate stable net specific impulse at non-design point flow Mach numbers. The net specific impulse can reach 715 s at a non-design point speed of Mach 8. It proves the feasibility of wide-speed range flight applications of oblique detonation engines.