Experimental Investigation of a Reed Valve on the Performance of a Pulse Detonation Engine

Valve system is an important part of pulse detonation engine (PDE). The purpose of this research was to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing a reed valve to inject fuel/air mixture into the combustion chamber of a Pulsed Detonation Engine (PDE). Using air as oxidizer and liquid C8H18 as fuel, a series of multi-cycle detonation -experiments were investigated. The experimental results indicated that the reed valve was able to realize supply control of single-tube PDE effectively, and achieved stable operation about 3 minutes at 12.5 Hz for 0.15 mm valve sheet and 30 degrees limit baffle plate. The response time and total pressure recovery coefficient of the reed valve were influenced by valve sheet thickness and air mass flow rate. For 0.1 mm valve sheet and 45 degrees limit baffle plate, the service life of valve sheet strikingly shortened. Some factors such as the valve sheet thickness, air mass flow rate and the limit baffle plate's angle, should be comprehensively considered to design a reed valve.