The interaction mechanism between detonation wave and liquid kerosene

Rotating detonation engine has garnered increasing attention due to their remarkable advantages, including pressure gain during the transition from reactants to products, accelerated heat release, reduced entropy generation, and enhanced thrust. Nonetheless, the interaction between the two-phase jets and the detonation wave has not been explored. This study aims to investigate the effects of the interaction process on the detonation wave and two-phase fuel jets. A novel experimental apparatus based on optical diagnostics was developed and rigorous two-dimensional numerical simulations were validated to facilitate the visualization of rotating detonation flow fields, which can be used to obtain the microscopic behavior of liquid kerosene in detail. The results of this study indicated that the interaction process of the detonation wave and liquid kerosene is divided into three stages: the leading shock heating stage, the evaporation, and the combustion stage, followed by the complete combustion stage. Moreover, parametric studies demonstrate that elevated kerosene inlet temperatures enhance droplet evaporation but accelerate detonation wave decay. Similarly, increased inlet pressure improves combustion efficiency within optimal ranges, whereas excessive pressure result in negligible detonation intensity improvement. Finally, a comparison between experimental observations and numerical simulations revealed strong consistency in droplet evaporation dynamics and interactions with detonation waves, which provide critical insights into the combustion and flow characteristics of the two-phase rotating detonation engine.