Thermochemical study of the detonation properties of boron- and aluminum-containing compounds in air and water

Contrary to the conventional chemical propulsion systems based on the controlled relatively slow (subsonic) combustion of fuel in a combustor, the operation process in pulsed detonation engines (PDEs) and rotating detonation engines (RDEs) is based on the controlled fast (supersonic) combustion of fuel in pulsed and continuous detonation waves, respectively. One of the most important issues for such propulsion systems is the choice of fuel with proper reactivity and exothermicity required for a sustained and energy-efficient operation process. Presented in the paper are the results of thermodynamic calculations of the detonation parameters of boron- and aluminum-containing compounds (B, B2H6, B5H9, B10H14, Al, AlH3, Al(C2H5)(3), and Al(CH3)(3)) in air and water. The results demonstrate the potential feasibility of using the considered compounds as fuels for both air- and water-breathing transportation vehicles powered with PDEs and RDEs. As a verification of the reliability of the calculated results, the detonation parameters of diborane, aluminum, and isopropyl nitrate in air were compared with experimental data available in the literature.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the fuel selection issue for pulsed detonation engines and rotating detonation engines. Thermodynamic calculations are performed to determine the detonation parameters of boron- and aluminum-containing compounds in air and water. The results demonstrate the potential feasibility of using these compounds as fuels for air- and water-breathing transportation vehicles powered with PDEs and RDEs.