Experiment on multi-tube air-breathing two phase pulse detonation engine

A six-tube air-breathing two phase pulse detonation engine (PDE) model has been developed with diameter of 200 mm and a total length of 1500 mm. Under nearly atmospheric pressure, a proof-of-principle experiment on the engine model was successfully performed by using liquid gasoline/air mixture. Each tube in the PDE model can operate at a repetition frequency up to 35 Hz with all the tubes running at the same time experimentally. Therefore a frequency up to 210 Hz was reached in the PDE model. Several ignition control strategies were developed for the multi-tube air-breathing PDE model. Some rules of how different ignition control strategies affect the engine operation have been explored. The results in the investigation supplied a technology preparation to bring PDE to production.