WAVE IMPLOSION AS AN INITIATION MECHANISM FOR PULSE DETONATION ENGINES

A device has been developed which uses shock focusing to enhance the transmission e‐ciency of an initiator tube when used with pulse detonation engines. The initiator is capable of initiating detonations in ethylene-air and propane-air mixtures using less initiator fuel than is used in a conventional initiator tube. This toroidal initiator uses a single spark and an array of small-diameter channels to generate and merge many detonation waves to create a single detonation wave with a toroidal front. The collapsing front generates a high-temperature and pressure focal region. This region of high energy density is used to facilitate more e‐cient transmission of the detonation wave from the initiator into the fuel-air mixture.

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