Planar Chemiluminescence Absorption Tomography

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Enrsquo;Urga Inc. will evaluate the feasibility of utilizing Planar Chemiluminescence Absorption Tomography (PCAT) to characterize the combustion process at the exit plane of rotating detonation enginesnbsp;(RDEs).nbsp; The two key issues that will be addressed during the Phase I work are: (1) the feasibility of non-intrusive determination of planar temperatures and pressures using a high-frequency PCAT system and (2) validation of the diagnostic system in the exhaust plume of an RDE at University of Michigan.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Three Phase I tasks are planned to address the feasibility of the proposed diagnostics.nbsp; The first task is to configure a PCAT system with high-speed linear arrays.nbsp; The second task is to develop an algorithm to obtain planar temperatures and pressures in the exhaust region of an RDE.nbsp; The final task is to evaluate the system in an RDE test bed at the University of Michigan.nbsp; It is anticipated that at the end of the Phase I work, the feasibility of utilizing planar chemiluminescence absorption tomography to evaluate the state of combustion in a RDE at very high frequencies will be fully demonstrated.nbsp; For Phase II work, a prototype PCAT system that can utilize the same technique inside the combustion chamber in the presence of a bluff body will be fabricated, evaluated, and delivered to the MSFC for use in their test facilities.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;