Pressure gain combustion concepts, including Rotating Detonation Engines (RDE) are a potentially revolutionary technology which utilize pressure rise from the combustion process to produce momentum and/or pressure. Recent research at the Detonation Engine Research Facility (DERF) at Wright-Patterson AFB has advanced the state-of-the-art through computational and experimental studies utilizing several in-house developed codes and research engines. Areas of work include combustion/detonation initiation, fuel injection, controls, materials, power extraction, heat transfer, inlets, nozzles, ejectors, hybrid detonation/turbine engines, acoustics, emissions, operability and diagnostics. A wide variety of research opportunities are available utilizing the unique detonation research facilities capable of simulating numerous air breathing engine applications and equipped with state of the art instrumentation, diagnostics, computational tools and research engines. Recent research projects have included hydrocarbon RDEs, radial RDEs, injector response and full engine large eddy simulations.  

 

Reference

Fotia ML, et al: Journal of Propulsion and Power 32: 2016

Keywords:

Pressure gain combustion; Detonation combustion; Rotating Detonation Engine; Laser diagnostics; Sprays; Turbines; Ramjets

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants