Measu rements of the Combusting Flow in a Pulse Combustor

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Abstract
-Although pulse combustion devices exhibit a high thermal efficiency and low pollutant emission when used in heating applications, broad application of these heating devices has been limited because of a lack of understanding of the fundamental controlling physical and chemical processes. Thi s paper reports the results of an experimental investigation of the effects of changing mean equivalence ratio and mass loading on the fluid dynamics in the combustion chamber of a pulse combu stor. The experimental investigation used schlieren photography for flow visualization, a two-color laser Doppler velocimeter (LOY) for velocity measurements, OH* chemiluminescence for burning rate information, thermocouples for temperature measurements, and pressure transducers for time-resolved pres sure measurements as diagnostic tools. A reasonably complete mapping of the combu stion-fluid dynamics in the combustion chamber has been performed. Results from these investigations indicate the following: (a) residual combustion process serves as the ignition source of the next combustion cycle; (b) the combustor is controlled by a two-fold mixing process (one of mixing between reactants, and one between cold reactants and hot products); and (c) the combu stor operates in a stratified charge mode.

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