Demonstrated Low Loss and Low Equivalence Ratio Operation of a Rotating Detonation Engine for Power Generation
Jeffrey Stout, Alexander Baratta
Abstract
A large scale rotating detonation engine (RDE) combustor was recently tested using natural gas and air with the objective of demonstrating feasibility of using pressure gain combustion (PGC) as a method to enhance the efficiency of power generation. 195 tests were conducted with 22 different hardware combinations of a 13.4” scale RDE. Flowrates up to 24 lbm/sec and combustor pressures up to 204 psia were achieved. An inlet/injector was tested which allowed sustained detonation combustion with less than 7% pressure loss from manifold to combustor. In addition, a tailored injection scheme allowed overall detonation combustor operation while maintaining a low fuel equivalence ratio. A plant system model was used to show that low inlet pressure loss and low equivalence ratio RDE operation can result in 66% net plant power generation efficiency.