Oscillating Detonation of Liquid Ammonia

Abstract

Liquid ammonia is a promising carbon-free energy carrier, but its high volatility and low reactivity lead to detonation dynamics that differ significantly from those of liquid hydrocarbons. Using Eulerian-Lagrangian simulations, we revealed an oscillating detonation phenomenon driven by the flash boiling of ammonia. Specifically, intense endothermic evaporation and exothermic combustion periodically weaken and then restore the coupling between the shock front and the reaction zone. A delay differential equation (DDE) model is developed to describe this oscillatory behaviour. In this model, the shock response constraint is derived from the positive characteristic compatibility relation behind the shock front, and it is closed using delay-augmented relaxation models for evaporation and reaction progress variables. Normal-mode stability analysis of the DDE system shows that an oscillatory solution emerges when the evaporation and reaction timescales are comparable. Simulation data across different evaporation models, droplet diameters, and ambient temperatures collapse onto the theoretical frequency band predicted by the model.