Study of Rotating Detonation Engine Combustor

Summary

The focus of this research effort is to perform computational modeling and analysis of reacting flow physics within a rotating detonation engine (RDE) combustor. We consider the AFRL RDE combustor configuration at the global equivalence ratio, ϕ = 1, which exhibits the presence of a single detonation front propagating in a cyclic manner in the annular combustion chamber. After establishing the single wave mode, when the mass flow rates of fuel and oxidizer are altered ensuring the same value of ϕ, the wave mode transition occurs from a sustained single detonation wave structure to a double co-rotating detonation wave structure. We focus on computational investigation of the transition phenomenon.

Support

N/A

Test Case

AFRL RDE Combustor

Computational Approaches

The simulations are being performed by Dr. Hasti’s group using the commercial CONVERGE CFD Software. The comprehensive analysis is performed using statistical, spectral, and modal analysis tools developed within the FCM research group. These analysis tools are developed using Python-based scripting. A particular focus is on the understanding of the wave mode transition phenomenon that is observed in experiments when the inflow conditions are modified while keeping the same equivalence ratio (ϕ = 1).

Publications

1. S. Thompson, R. Kumar, R. Ranjan, and V. R. Hasti, ” Nonlinear Coupled Dynamics of Pressure and Heat Release Rate During Wave Mode Transition in a Hydrogen-Fueled Rotating Detonation Engine”, In Press, Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2026.
2. S. Thompson, R. Kumar, R. Ranjan, and V. R. Hasti, “Study of Enstrophy Dynamics During the Mode Transition in a Hydrogen Fueled Rotating Detonation Engine Combustor“, Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 148 (8), 081016, 2026.
3. S. Thompson, R. Kumar, R. Ranjan, and V. R. Hasti, “Spectral Analysis of Wave Mode Transition in a Hydrogen-Fueled Rotating Detonation Engine“, AIAA 2026-1236, 2026.
4. S. Thompson, R. Ranjan, and V. R. Hasti, “Nonlinear Dynamics of Wave Mode Transition in a Hydrogen-Fueled Rotating Detonation Engine“, 78th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics, November 23–25, 2025, Houston, Texas.
5. S. Thompson, V. R. Hasti, and R. Ranjan, “Pressure-Based Correlation of Wave Mode Transition in a Hydrogen-Fueled Rotating Detonation Engine Combustor“, ASME IMECE2025-166335, V009T17A003, 2025.
6. V. R. Hasti and R. Ranjan, “Numerical Investigation of Wave Dynamics During Mode Transition in a Hydrogen-Fueled Rotating Detonation Engine Combustor“, Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering Applications 17 (12), 121009, 2025.
7. V. R. Hasti, J. Pratt, and R. Ranjan, “Dynamically Dominant Flow Features During Wave Mode Transition in a Rotating Detonation Engine Combustor”, AIAA-2025-0402, 2025.
8. V. R. Hasti, S. Thompson, and R. Ranjan, “Analysis of Mixing Efficiency and Detonation Wave Structure during Wave Splitting in a Hydrogen-Fueled Rotating Detonation Engine Combustor“, 77th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics, November 24–26, 2024, Salt Lake City, Utah.
9. V. R. Hasti and R. Ranjan, “Numerical Investigation of Wave Dynamics During Mode Transition in a Hydrogen-Fueled Rotating Detonation Engine Combustor”, ASME IMECE2024-145858, V009T11A034, 2024.