Enhancement of continuously rotating detonation in hydrogen and oxygen-enriched air

Abstract The enhancement of continuously rotating detonation in oxygen-enriched air was demonstrated in an annular rotating detonation combustor (RDC) under a diffusive supply of hydrogen and an oxidizer. Experimental tests were performed to reveal the effects of oxygen volume fraction, mass flow rate, and equivalent ratio on the propagation of continuously rotating detonation wave (CRDW). It is observed that an increase in the air mass flow rate from 25 g/s to 225 g/s causes an increase in the propagation velocity of the stable CRDW in the RDC. For an oxygen volume fraction up to 35%, the difference between the propagation velocity of detonation and the theoretical Chapman–Jouguet value is less than 5%. Under the chemical stoichiometric ratio condition for air, the CRDW is stabilized when the air mass flow rate reaches 185 g/s. However, stabilized CRDW is observed even when the air flow rate is only 45 g/s under the presence of 30% or 35% oxygen. Increase in the oxygen volume fraction leads to an extension of the rich/lean limit for generating a stable CRDW. This study aims to provide guidance for the modulation of continuously rotating detonation.