Detonation re-initiation in a concentric tube arrangement for C$_2$H$_2$/O$_2$/Ar mixtures

Abstract

Re-initiation of detonation in a concentric tube arrangement where a detonation exiting from a small diameter inner tube to a large diameter outer tube has been investigated. The outer tube diameter D is 50.8 mm and inner tube diameters d are 38, 25.4, and 12.7 mm giving diameter ratios $D/d=1.34$, 2, and 4. Stoichiometric C$_2$H$_2$–O$_2$ mixtures with argon dilution of 0, 25, 50, and 70% are used in the present study. Velocity measurements are made using photodiodes, and smoked foils downstream of the exit of the inner tube are also used to record the re-initiation process. Upon exit from the inner tube, the detonation suffers an abrupt decrease in velocity and at critical conditions, the velocity downstream of the exit is of the order of 50% of the Chapman–Jouguet velocity. It is found that re-initiation generally occurs within 10 tube diameters downstream of the exit. If re-initiation is not successful, the detonation continues to propagate at a low velocity for distances of the order of 30 tube diameters without any indication of flame acceleration of deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT). Thus, the re-initiation process is clearly defined and distinct from the usual DDT in a smooth tube. The critical $d/\lambda$ value ratio in the concentric tube is significantly lower than the usual unconfined case of $d/\lambda =13$ where $\lambda$ is the detonation cell size. Thus, it is a result of re-initiation at the Mach stem of the reflected shock from the wall of the outer concentric tube. If re-initiation is not successful upon the first reflection, then subsequent multiple reflections at the tube axis and wall of the outer tube can also result in re-initiation. However, this is only observed for undiluted mixtures. For high-argon-diluted mixtures, re-initiation only occurs at the Mach stem of the first reflection.