Novel gas-fired pulse combustors-design evaluation via simulation

Abstract

Pulse combustion is known to offer better energy efficiency and low pollutant emission relative to steady combustion. Conventional cylindrical geometries are not the only ones that can be used for gas-fired pulse combustors although conventionally this is the practice. Some novel concepts such as use of a "heart" shape combustion chamber, fractional and spiral tailpipes, etc. can be potential design innovations. The pulse combustion performances of these new combustors are valued using a developed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model that was validated earlier with published experimental data. It was found that some potential geometries can achieve steady pulse combustion. Operational characteristics such as the specific impulse, thrust output-to-power input ratio, etc. are computed and compared. Whether a new PC geometry design can sustain pulse combustion is mainly dependent on the geometric parameters and a given pulse combustors can switch fuel as needed with minor change in performance. Such studies are expected to yield better designs of the pulse combustor leading to more industrial applications in future. © 2013 Pushpa Publishing House.