Pressure gain combustion (PGC) has been conceived to convert fuel's chemical energy into thermal energy and mechanical energy, thereby reducing the entropy production in the process. Recent research has shown that the rotating detonation combustor (RDC) can provide excellent specific thrust, specific impulse, and pressure gain within a small volume through rapid energy release by continuous detonation in the circumferential direction. The RDC as a PGC system for power generating gas turbines in combined cycle power plants could provide significant efficiency gains. However, few past studies have employed fuels that are relevant to power generation turbines, since RDC research has focused mainly on propulsion applications. In this study, we present experimental results from RDC operated on methane and oxygen-enriched air to represent reactants used in land-based power generation. The RDC is operated at a high pressure by placing a back-pressure plate downstream of the annular combustor. Past studies have focused mainly on probe measurements inside the combustor, and thus, little information is known about the nature of the products exiting the RDC. In particular, it is unknown if chemical reactions persist outside the RDC annulus, especially if methane is used as the fuel. In this study, we apply two time-resolved optical techniques to simultaneously image the RDC products at framing rate of 30 kHz: (1) direct visual-imaging to identify the overall size and extent of the plume, and (2) OH* chemiluminescence imaging to detect the reaction zones if any. Results show dynamic features of the combustion products that are consistent with the probe measurements inside the rotating detonation engine (RDE). Moreover, presence of OH* in the products suggests that the oblique shock wave and reactions persist downstream of the detonation zone in the RDC.
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February 2019
Research-Article
OH* Chemiluminescence Imaging of the Combustion Products From a Methane-Fueled Rotating Detonation Engine
Jonathan Tobias,
Jonathan Tobias
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
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Daniel Depperschmidt,
Daniel Depperschmidt
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
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Cooper Welch,
Cooper Welch
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
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Robert Miller,
Robert Miller
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
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Mruthunjaya Uddi,
Mruthunjaya Uddi
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
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Ajay K. Agrawal,
Ajay K. Agrawal
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
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Ron Daniel, Jr.
Ron Daniel, Jr.
Aerojet- Rocketdyne,
Huntsville, AL 35806
Huntsville, AL 35806
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Jonathan Tobias
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Daniel Depperschmidt
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Cooper Welch
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Robert Miller
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Mruthunjaya Uddi
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Ajay K. Agrawal
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Ron Daniel, Jr.
Aerojet- Rocketdyne,
Huntsville, AL 35806
Huntsville, AL 35806
Manuscript received July 3, 2018; final manuscript received July 19, 2018; published online October 4, 2018. Editor: Jerzy T. Sawicki.
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Feb 2019, 141(2): 021021 (11 pages)
Published Online: October 4, 2018
Article history
Received:
July 3, 2018
Revised:
July 19, 2018
Citation
Tobias, J., Depperschmidt, D., Welch, C., Miller, R., Uddi, M., Agrawal, A. K., and Daniel, R., Jr. (October 4, 2018). "OH* Chemiluminescence Imaging of the Combustion Products From a Methane-Fueled Rotating Detonation Engine." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. February 2019; 141(2): 021021. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4041143
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