Experimental study of mode control in rotating detonation combustor using Tesla valve mode control configuration fueled by kerosene

The detonation mode has a significant impact on the operational characteristics and propulsion performance of the rotating detonation combustor (RDC). Controlling the combustion mode effectively is advantageous for improving the propulsion performance of the pressure gain combustor. A Tesla valve mode control combustion chamber (TVMC) was used for experimental research in this study. An equal-width annular combustion chamber (EWA) was used as a control test, with room temperature kerosene as the fuel, and oxygen-enriched air as an oxidizer. The experiment successfully validated the feasibility of mode control in TVMC along with its operational characteristics. Monitoring the pressure pulsation of detonation and guide channels in TVMC led to the unfolding of possible mode control mechanism. The results indicated that the rotating detonation wave (RDW) propagates clockwise in TVMC. After RDW propagating counterclockwise enters the guide channel, the width limitation of guide channel causes RDW decoupling. It changes the propagation direction of the leading shock wave, resulting in mode control. Because of the presence of a guide channel, the RDW is unstable at low equivalence ratios, and the operation range is also narrower.