Pulsed Detonator Ignition System Optimization

Project number: 
23041
Sponsor: 
Nobel
Academic year: 
2022-2023
Pulsed detonators (PD) are small shock tubes that combust a combination of oxidizer and fuel and accelerate the products supersonically. Nobel utilizes these custom devices to initiate their Rotating Detonation Engines (RDE). Akin to Pulsed Detonation Engines (PDEs), a single PD can be operated as a single shot device, or at a specific frequency. Nobel desires to increase the reliability of their PDs, and include Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) constraints. The design project will characterize the existing system and perform a design of experiments for different geometry and conditions that result in a reliable PD ignition system. The students will build a custom test stand complete with custom ionization probes to measure the shock wave velocity. (Note: Noble will verify that no ITAR information will not be part of this project)

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