Liquid-fueled oblique detonation waves induced by reactive and non-reactive transverse liquid jets

Abstract

This computational study demonstrates the formation of liquid-fueled oblique detonation waves (ODWs) induced by a liquid transverse jet, which is either reactive or non-reactive. The study employs an in-house two-phase supersonic reactive flow solver based on the rhocentralfoam framework of OpenFOAM. The findings emphasize the essential role of transverse jets in enabling successful ODW formation under conditions where detonation would otherwise fail. Specifically, the jet-inflow momentum ratio significantly influences the mechanisms of ODW formation. At lower momentum ratios, the oblique shock wave (OSW) induced by the jet is insufficient to directly initiate detonation. Instead, the atomized n-heptane jet increases the local fuel mass fraction, promoting low- and intermediate-temperature chemical reactions, which eventually lead to detonation. At higher momentum ratios, the OSW generated by the transverse jet is sufficiently strong to directly trigger detonation through intermediate-temperature chemistry, with the jet acting primarily as a combustion stabilizer rather than directly enhancing combustion. Comparative studies with non-reactive jets and wedge-strip configurations demonstrate that at higher momentum ratios, the dominant mechanism is the physical blocking effect of the jet, which generates a strong OSW capable of initiating detonation.