Characteristics and Performance of a Novel Radial Rotating Detonation Engine With an Axial Exhaust Throat

In this study, a novel radial rotating detonation engine (RRDE) is introduced, and its operating characteristics, performance, and exhaust flow field are investigated. The RRDE geometry consists of an axial exhaust throat made possible by a complete turning of the flow, from radial to axial, within the combustor. The placement of the throat also allows optical measurements directly above the exit. Data available for analysis include a) capillary tube attenuated pressure ports in the reactant plenums, combustor channel, and on the center bluff body, b) high-speed fluctuating pressure measurements obtained by PCB piezo-electric probes, c) thrust data acquired using a six-axes load cell, d) high-speed downstream imaging, and e) 100 kHz particle image velocimetry measurements on a radial and a chordal plane of the RRDE exit. Experiments were conducted with methane fuel and an oxygen-enriched air mixture as the oxidizer at varying chamber pressures and testing conditions to characterize performance and exhaust flow field.