US 12,228,287 B1
Rotating detonation combustor
Michael Mcclearn, Dayton, OH (US); Riley Huff, Beavercreek, OH (US); John Hoke, Xenia, OH (US); and Matthew Fotia, Kettering, OH (US)
Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed by Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed on Nov. 18, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/686,495.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/781,674, filed on Dec. 19, 2018.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F23R 7/00 (2006.01); F02C 7/32 (2006.01); F23R 3/10 (2006.01)
CPC F23R 7/00 (2013.01) [F02C 7/32 (2013.01); F23R 3/10 (2013.01); F05D 2220/50 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotating detonation combustor (RDC) assembly, comprising:
a fuel supply ring having a first face defining a first side of the RDC and a second face spaced apart from the first face;
a plurality of first fuel supply passageways formed through the fuel supply ring;
a baseplate connected to the second face of the fuel supply ring;
a central aperture formed through the baseplate;
a nozzle insert positioned in the central aperture of the baseplate;
a circular pocket formed in the baseplate around the central aperture;
a plurality of second fuel passageways formed through the baseplate fluidly connected to the circular pocket;
a fuel ring positioned in the circular pocket of the baseplate;
a plurality of third fuel passageways formed through the fuel ring;
an air inlet spacer ring connected to the baseplate on the opposite side from the fuel supply ring, the air inlet spacer ring positioned around an outer perimeter of the RDC, the air inlet spacer ring having a plurality of air inlet ports positioned circumferentially around a radial combustion chamber projecting radially inward from the outer perimeter;
an air distribution ring positioned radially inward of the air inlet spacer ring, the air distribution ring having a plurality of air distribution apertures that are greater in number and smaller in size to that of the plurality of air inlet ports,
a channel plate positioned radially inward of the air distribution ring, the channel plate having an arcuate aft face and a flat front face;
wherein the radial combustion chamber formed between the arcuate aft face of the channel plate and a combination of a front face wall of the baseplate and an outer wall of the nozzle insert; and
a top plate connected to each of the air spacer ring, the air distribution ring and the channel plate at the aft end of the RDC, the top plate defining an opposing second side of the RDC;
wherein the channel plate is further positioned between the base plate and the top plate, the channel plate having a channel plate central aperture formed therethrough and wherein the aft face of the channel plate diverges away from the base plate from the outer perimeter to the channel plate central aperture;
a combustor inlet defined proximate an outer perimeter of the base plate and a combustor outlet defined radially inward of the combustor inlet proximate the channel plate central aperture;
and
wherein a cross sectional area of the combustion chamber is substantially constant in a radial direction from the combustor inlet to the combustor outlet.