The Physics of Multiphase Detonations and their Application to Detonation Engines

Rotating detonation engines (RDEs) are emerging as a new class of propulsion and energy converstion systems, due to their higher thermodynamic efficiency compared to other combustion systems, and the potential for new form factors that are not feasible with deflagration-based systems. To be viable for aerospace applications, the use of liquid fuels is necessary. RDEs utilize moving shock waves supported by exothermic chemical reactions. For such detonations to be stable and operable, the interaction between liquid fuel, shocks and chemical reactions needs to be explored. The focus of this talk is to explore the physics of droplet behavior in such compressible and high-speed environments. We show recent results from high-fidelity simulations that droplets processed by shocks and detonations undergo rapid disintegration process that can lead to high rates of conversion to gas phase, and the ability to sustain detonations by releasing chemical energy before the sonic plane of detonation is reached. Methods, tools and models required to capture such challenging multiscale multiphysics processes, and their use on emerging class of supercomputers will be discussed.