Exploration of Shock-Droplet Ignition and Combustion

Abstract

Liquid fuels are desirable in aerospace applications due to their higher energy density when compared to gaseous fuels. With the advent of detonation-based engines, it is necessary to characterize and analyze how liquid fuel interacts with detonation waves as well as shocks to ignite. While liquid fuel sprays have been proven to successfully aid and sustain detonations, the physical mechanism by which the individual liquid droplets accomplish this is yet to be understood. Such knowledge allows for more predictable detonation properties, which in turn can let detonation-based engines be sustained more easily. This research seeks to quantify and characterize interactions of liquid fuels with detonations and shocks, analyzing the breakup mechanism as well as the ignition of select fuels. Such effects will be characterized for several different mixture compositions as well as shock and detonation speeds. Primary analysis techniques include shadowgraph, Schlieren, and chemiluminescence imaging. Data on pressure will also be taken with pressure transducers to confirm shock and detonation properties. This research will further the progress of liquid fuel detonation-based engines by enabling more predictable and sustainable detonations.