IGNITION METHODS AND INITIATION STRATEGIES IN ROTATING DETONATION ENGINES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Abstract

Rotating detonation rocket engines (RDREs) have attracted sustained research interest for their potentially high thrust-to-weight ratio, compact size, and pressure-gain combustion. Successful operation of an RDRE depends on a detonation wave initiated inside the annulus. This thesis compiles a record of the experiments carried out at the University of Washington RDRE Laboratory across five engine scales: 6-inch, 3-inch, 2-inch, 1-inch, and 10 mm spanning different ignition sources such as single-spark, multi-plug wave generator, and pre-detonator tube initiation. For each engine scale, the ignition hardware and resulting initiation behavior are documented to establish reliability of RDRE ignition.