Numerical Investigation of Combustion Wave Propagation in Obstructed Channel of Pulse Detonation Engine using Kerosene and Butane Fuels

The present computational analysis reports the results of combustion phenomenon in 1200 mm long and 60 mm internal circular diameter (D) of three dimensional obstructed combustion chamber (combustor) of the pulse detonation engine (PDE). The simulation is carried out for stoichiometric mixture of two fuels Kerosene-air and Butane-air mixture at atmospheric pressure and temperature of 1 atm and 300 K respectively along with preheated air. The chemical species of Kerosene and Butane (C12H26 and C4H10) fuel are solved by species transport equation and irreversible one-step chemical kinetics model. The propagation speed of flame, detonation wave pressure and deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) run-up length are analyzed by three dimensional reactive Navier–Stokes algorithm along with realizable k-ɛ turbulence equation model. The obstacles are placed inside the combustor tube at spacing (s) of 60 mm (1D) and obstacles having blockage ratio (BR) 0.5 for creating perturbation in propagating combustion flame. This resulted in increase of the surface area of propagating flame and reduces deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) run-up length.