College of Engineering and the Dekaban Program present
Experimental Research and Numerical Calculations of Rotating Detonation
by Piotr Wolański, Warsaw University of Technology
Advantages of application of detonation combustion to jet propulsion are based on the significant pressure increase which occurs during detonative combustion and thus increasing engine efficiency. Unlike PDE engine, continuously rotating detonation offer more compact engine with less noise and vibration. Research carried out at the Institute of Aviation and the Warsaw University of Technology is focused on evaluation of the conditions at which rotating detonation is propagating in cylindrical channels for different fuel-air mixtures. Hydrogen-air as well as acetylene-air mixtures were successfully tested.
Additionally, numerical 3-D simulations of mixture formation as well as simulations of detonation propagation in such channels will be presented. The simulations are based on the classical Euler equations describing the motion of a reacting inviscid gas. The model is capable of simulating detailed chemistry; however, simple single or two-step mechanisms will be presented. The model is implemented in an in-house code CFD-ZSL. The code works on structural grids. The Euler equations and the grids can be defined in the Cartesian co-ordinate system or in a cylindrical system. Several structural grids may be combined together in order to simulate relatively complex geometries, similar to those used in the experiments.
Possible applications of continuous rotating detonation in turbojet, ramjet and rocket engines will be presented.
Recruiting outstanding students who have completed their sophomore year and are interested in pursuing graduate studies.
Program Dates: May 29 - August 6, 2012
Application Deadline: February 28, 2012, by 5:00 p.m. CST
Supported by the National Science Foundation
To apply and for more info: http://aero.tamu.edu/research/undergraduate/reu