Study of the Influence of the Environment Characteristics of the Pulse Detonation Engine

In a pulse detonation engine (PDE), the flow parameters change over a wide range. In this case, the ambient pressure may exceed the fuel mixture supply pressure. The goal of the work is to determine the features of the influence of the environment on the pulse characteristics of the detonation engine. The subject of the study is the influence of environmental factors on the processes occurring in the combustion chamber of the pulse detonation engine. The main research method used in the work is the method of numerical simulation using CFD technologies. The main influencing factors are the pressure and density of the atmosphere with which the detonation products interact during their outflow from the detonation chamber. An analysis of the influence of the determining factors on the value of the specific impulse was carried out. The following results were obtained. In the event that the ambient pressure exceeds the fuel supply pressure in the detonation chamber, the shock wave at the detonation front interacts with the atmospheric flow entering the detonation chamber. The interaction is accompanied by a pressure jump in the flow part of the chamber reaching the thrust wall. The increase in pressure leads to an increase in the specific impulse due to an increase in the time of action of detonation products on the thrust wall of the engine chamber. When the detonation wave front collides with a denser substance, a partial reflection of the shock wave is observed, which causes an additional increase in pressure on the thrust wall. Conclusions. In the pulse detonation engine chamber, in the presence of backpressure from the environment, there is a partial compensation of the loss of the specific impulse associated with the formation of a pressure jump behind the detonation wave front. In the PDE operating mode with partial reflection of the detonation wave from a denser environment, the increase in the specific impulse reaches 30% compared to operating conditions without front reflection.