Keywords

Laser Spectroscopy, Rotating Detonation Engines, Combustion diagnostics, Sensor development

Abstract

Characterizing novel detonation-based combustion systems is critical to assessing new designs and improving the understanding of their unique operations. Due to the harsh nature of a detonation environment, industry-standard sensing and diagnostic tools can fail to provide adequate methods for in-situ quantitative measurements of key thermodynamic properties. Diagnostic equipment must adapt to meet the needs of new combustion systems. Laser absorption spectroscopy (LAS) is a technique commonly utilized in combustion research to provide such measurements in laboratory settings due to its precision, minimally invasive properties, and high data acquisition rates. To prepare such a sensor for use in a challenging environment like a detonation reaction, considerations must be made to adequately address potential sources of error or sensor damage such as harsh operating conditions, intense vibrations, absorption non-idealities, and interfacing concerns that are often not experienced in a laboratory setting. A LAS sensor can easily be incorporated into facilities where state-of-the-art detonation combustors are tested. A LAS sensor was developed, utilizing fixed wavelength tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy to perform measurements of three target species within a state-of-the-art rotating detonation combustor (RDC). A second iteration of the sensor was also developed with numerous improvements to both measurement capabilities and sensor hardware, which was developed utilizing the Scanned LAS technique to perform a second set of measurements. This document covers the development of the sensor, its application within a state-of-the-art RDC, and the results of the diagnostics performed.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Vasu, Subith

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Identifier

DP0029287

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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