Numerical Simulation to Investigate the Effect of Obstacle on Detonation Wave Propagation in a Pulse Detonation Engine Combustor

Pulse detonation technology can be a revolutionary approach for propulsion system since it offers significant fuel efficiency, higher thrust to weight ratio and low cost. Although the design concept of a pulse detonation engine is comparatively simple, but the development and stabilization of sustainable detonation wave front is difficult. Consequently pulse detonation engine technology is still in active research stage. To accelerate the development of pulse detonation engine, there is a need to carefully pursue the experimental analysis of pulse detonation engine. At the same time, numerical simulation is equally important to understand the detonation phenomena in the PDE combustor. This paper deals with the numerical modeling and simulation of PDE tube with Hydrogen-Air mixture by using a commercially available CFD code. Pulse detonation engine combustor with and without obstacle has been numerically simulated. Simulation results of PDE combustor with and without obstacles have been analyzed and compared. The simulation results revealed the formation of reflection waves when the detonation wave interacted with the obstacles. The simulation results provided valuable insight into the interaction between detonation wave and obstacles which will be ultimately useful for design and development of pulse detonation engine combustor.