Initiation of gaseous detonation in tubes with sharp U-bends (original) (raw)

Experimental and computational studies have demonstrated that shock wave propagation in tubes with two sharp U-bends significantly facilitates the initiation of gaseous detonation. The minimal shock wave velocity required to initiate detonation in a stoichiometric propane-air mixture under normal conditions was found to be approximately 800 m/s. These findings have critical implications for the design of air-breathing pulse detonation engines (PDE) by suggesting that compact detonation tube configurations can enhance the deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT), although considerations regarding hydraulic resistance and filling cycles remain important.