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Aerospace Engineering Commons

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Propulsion and Power

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

2022

Articles 1 - 4 of 4

Full-Text Articles in Aerospace Engineering

Characteristics Of Rotating Detonation Engines For Propulsion And Power Generation, Robert Burke Jan 2022

Characteristics Of Rotating Detonation Engines For Propulsion And Power Generation, Robert Burke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

Conventional engines are limited by the efficiency of their combustion mode. Compared to present constant pressure deflagration-based engines, detonation-based systems can realize a higher thermodynamic cycle efficiency, making them an attractive candidate for next generation propulsion systems that will take humanity to hypersonic speeds and even to Mars. For all its performance gains, detonation engines are still far off from implementation. One system, the rotating detonation engine (RDE) is promising as a detonation-based engine concept for its stability, simplicity, and versatility. For these reasons, RDEs have been the subject of studies internationally in efforts to understand their operation and integration …


Exploration Of Shock-Droplet Ignition And Combustion, John Patten Jan 2022

Exploration Of Shock-Droplet Ignition And Combustion, John Patten

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

Liquid fuels are desirable in aerospace applications due to their higher energy density when compared to gaseous fuels. With the advent of detonation-based engines, it is necessary to characterize and analyze how liquid fuel interacts with detonation waves as well as shocks to ignite. While liquid fuel sprays have been proven to successfully aid and sustain detonations, the physical mechanism by which the individual liquid droplets accomplish this is yet to be understood. Such knowledge allows for more predictable detonation properties, which in turn can let detonation-based engines be sustained more easily. This research seeks to quantify and characterize interactions …


Extreme-Pressure Ignition Studies Of Methane And Natural Gas With Co2 With Applications In Rockets And Gas Turbines, Cory Kinney Jan 2022

Extreme-Pressure Ignition Studies Of Methane And Natural Gas With Co2 With Applications In Rockets And Gas Turbines, Cory Kinney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

Although concerns about carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their impact on climate change has led to an increase in renewable energy electricity generation, natural gas power plants remain the dominant source of electricity generation in the United States. Until the capacity of renewable energy sources can meet growing electricity demand, natural gas power generation will likely remain an important source of electricity generation. Supercritical CO2 (sCO2) power generation cycles offer an alternative to traditional gas turbines by reusing and sequestering CO2 from the combustion process to prevent its release into the atmosphere. This study seeks to understand natural gas ignition …


On Liquid Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines Characterization And Performance, Vidhan Malik Jan 2022

On Liquid Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines Characterization And Performance, Vidhan Malik

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

The current research investigates a next-generation method of combustion called detonations for propulsive applications which has support from the Combustion Services Branch at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) of the Rocket Propulsion Division. The overall initiative seeks to explore the viability of detonation-based systems to augment or replace current rocket propulsion methods in the coming five years. The present work progresses this vision by providing proof of a liquid RP-2 based Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) as well as the fundamentals associated with the physics involved to further the understanding of the phenomenon and its potential uses. Phase one …