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Experimental investigation of end-gas autoignition-to-detonation transition for an n-decane/O2/Ar mixture

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Abstract

The transition between different combustion regimes is investigated experimentally for a stoichiometric argon-diluted n-decane/O2 mixture. The focus is put on the influence of initial temperature (T = 420–470 K) and pressure (P = 1.5–3 bar) on the regime transitions. Fast schlieren visualization (≥ 120 kHz) and high-speed pressure and temperature measurements are used to monitor the evolution of the reactive processes inside a combustion chamber of square cross-section (40 mm × 40 mm × 172 mm). Results for P ≥ 2.5 bar and the entire temperature range and for P = 2 bar and T ≥ 440 K show three distinct stages following the adiabatic compression of fresh gases induced by the propagation of a flame into the chamber/test section, namely a cool flame, a main heat release stage, and detonation onset. For P = 1.5 bar, however, only the first two stages of the process are observed in the temperature range studied. A two-stage autoignition phenomenon, typical of large hydrocarbons, occurs systematically in the end gas and generates consecutive reactive fronts. The transition to detonation appears to result from the acceleration of the aforementioned fronts toward the speed of sound in fresh gases. Notably, the compression history plays a key role in setting conditions for detonation onset. Our results are in agreement with classical transition maps available in the literature.

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Abbreviations

a :

Speed of sound

P :

Chamber pressure

R :

Hot spot radius

T :

End-gas temperature

U :

Reactive front velocity

X :

Mass fraction of the fresh gas remaining in the chamber at the onset of cool flame

Y i :

Mass fraction of species i

\( \epsilon \) :

Ratio between acoustic time ta and chemical induction time \( \tau_{\text{e}} \)

\( \rho \) :

Density

\( \phi \) :

Equivalence ratio of the mixture

\( \xi \) :

Ratio between the speed of sound and the reactive front velocity

\( \xi_{\text{l}} \) :

Limit front velocity inducing a thermal explosion in the Bradley formalism

\( \xi_{\text{u}} \) :

Limit front velocity inducing an autoignition regime in the Bradley formalism

\( \tau_{\text{e}} \) :

Chemical induction time

\( \varPi_{\text{CF}} \) :

Compression ratio between the pressure at the onset of cool flame and the initial pressure

\( \varPi_{\text{MHR}} \) :

Compression ratio between the pressure at the onset of the main heat release of autoignition and the initial pressure

II:

Thermodynamic conditions at the onset of cool flame

II′:

Thermodynamic conditions after the passage of cool flame

III:

Thermodynamic conditions at the onset of the main heat release of autoignition

IV:

Thermodynamic condition at the onset of detonation

ad:

Adiabatic conditions

eq:

Equilibrium state assuming an adiabatic combustion at constant volume

SP:

Reactive front associated with the main heat release of autoignition

u:

Fresh gases

b:

Burnt gases

CVC:

Constant-volume combustion

DME:

Dimethyl ether

MHR:

Main heat release of autoignition

NTC:

Negative temperature coefficient

PDE:

Pulsed detonation engine

RDE:

Rotating detonation engine

SEC:

Shockless explosion combustor

SWACER:

Shock wave amplification by coherent energy release

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Acknowledgements

This work is part of the CAPA Chair program on alternative combustion modes for air-breathing propulsion supported by SAFRAN, MBDA France, and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche. The authors gratefully acknowledge Alain Claverie for his help with the optical diagnostics, Florent Virot, Aimad Er-Raiy, and Quentin Michalski for their help with the numerical simulations, and Josue Melguizo for his scientific contribution and his help to improve this paper readability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut P’, ISAE ENSMA, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France

    H. Quintens & M. Bellenoue

  2. Institut P’, Université de Poitiers, ISAE ENSMA, Chasseneuil du Poitou, France

    C. Strozzi & R. Zitoun

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  1. H. Quintens
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Quintens, H., Strozzi, C., Zitoun, R. et al. Experimental investigation of end-gas autoignition-to-detonation transition for an n-decane/O2/Ar mixture. Shock Waves 30, 287–303 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-020-00944-1

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