Influence of nozzle type, divergence angle and area ratio on impulse of pulse detonation engine

Abstract

The influence of nozzle geometry on the impulse produced by the single cycle Pulse detonation engine (PDE) was experimentally investigated. For each experiment the nozzles were attached at the end of the engine. The impulse produced by the pulse detonation engine was calculated from the measured thrust. The thrust measurement was done by sliding the engine on the central bar of the thrust stand. The main structure of the basic PDE has a detonation tube with one terminal closed, a Schelkin spiral used as deflagration to detonation device, and a thrust stand to support the structure. Stoichiometric acetylene and oxygen mixture were used as detonation mixture. Various nozzles with a range of divergent angle and area ratios were tested. The calculations of the impulse were made from the thrust pulse for the duration it lasted. The effect of the type of nozzle, divergent angle and area ratio were observed. The bell shaped nozzle with large angle of divergence produced maximum specific impulse of 80 Sec with 20° divergence angle and area ratio of 6.942; maximum impulse was produced by the bell shaped nozzle with a small area ratio of 2.969 and 10° divergence angle. The maximum total impulse obtained was 1200 N-sec.