Experimental Investigation of Ramjet Rotating Detonation Fueled by Kerosene under Different Outlet Area Ratios with S-Shaped Isolator

  • MA Ming ,
  • GUO Shanguang ,
  • WU Yun ,
  • KOU Yitao ,
  • ZHOU Jianping
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  • 1. National Key Lab of Aerospace Power System and Plasma Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
    2. National Key Lab of Aerospace Power System and Plasma Technology, Air Force Engineering University, Xi’an 710038, China
    3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China

Online published: 2025-09-01

Supported by

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52025064).

Copyright

Science Press, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, CAS and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025

Abstract

In this paper, the objective is to achieve a successful coupling match and stable operation between the rotating detonation combustor (RDC) and the ramjet engine isolator. The propagation characteristics of the rotating detonation wave (RDW) under different outlet areas, as well as the pressure feedback behavior of the isolator, are examined through the use of a gradually expanded S-shaped isolator. Liquid aviation kerosene and air are employed as propellants, and experiments are carried out at a constant air flow rate of 2.17 kg/s and varying equivalence ratios (ERs). The typical mode, pressure, and mode distribution of RDW are analyzed. A stable single-wave mode with a dominant frequency of 1138.63 Hz is obtained at the medium area ratio. Reducing the outlet area ratio is beneficial for enhancing the intensity of the detonation wave. Simultaneously, the intensity of the detonation wave increases with the rise of the equivalence ratio, and there exists an optimal equivalence ratio within the medium area ratio, which maximizes the intensity of the detonation wave. With the increase of the outlet area ratio, the boundary of detonable equivalence ratio can be widened, although the pop-out phenomenon becomes more pronounced. The pressure feedback degree of the S-shaped isolator is evaluated by defining the percentage decays of pulsating pressure and steady-state pressure. In the rotating detonation mode, the smaller the outlet area ratio, the larger the percentage decay of pulsation pressure, indicating a greater extent of pressure feedback. At the same time, as the equivalence ratio is increased, the percentage decay of pulsation pressure shows an upward trend. Under the selected operating conditions, the suppression effects of the S-shaped isolator on the pulsating pressure feedback of the detonation wave are 71.53% and 12.07%, and the suppression effects on the steady-state pressure feedback are 14.32% and 45.55%. The experimental verification of the feasibility of the S-shaped isolator presents a novel concept for suppressing the pressure feedback of the detonation wave.

Cite this article

MA Ming , GUO Shanguang , WU Yun , KOU Yitao , ZHOU Jianping . Experimental Investigation of Ramjet Rotating Detonation Fueled by Kerosene under Different Outlet Area Ratios with S-Shaped Isolator[J]. Journal of Thermal Science, 2025 , 34(5) : 1798 -1812 . DOI: 10.1007/s11630-025-2175-5

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