Pulse detonation/deflagration apparatus and related methods for enhancing DDT wave production

A pulse detonation apparatus, comprising:

• a main pulse detonation chamber comprising an at least substantially closed proximal end portion, a distal end portion having and exhaust aperture, and a main body extending therebetween, the main body having a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the exhaust aperture, the main body including a plurality of spaced apart oxidizer inlet ports and a plurality of spaced apart fuel inlet ports extending therethrough;
• a plurality of separate internal pulse detonation chambers positioned within the main body of the main pulse detonation chamber so that exhaust fluid from each of the plurality of internal pulse detonation chambers is released into the common main pulse detonation chamber at a location substantially upstream of the exhaust aperture of the distal end portion of the main pulse detonation chamber, each internal pulse detonation chamber comprising a substantially closed proximal end portion, a distal end portion having an exhaust aperture, and a main body extending therebetween, the main body including an oxidizer inlet port and a fuel inlet port;
• a plurality of fuel conduits, each extending between and connected to a separate one of the plurality of fuel inlet ports in the main body of the main pulse detonation chamber and the fuel inlet port of a separate one of the plurality of internal pulse detonation chambers;
• and
• a plurality of oxidizer conduits, each extending between and connected to a separate one of the plurality of oxidizer inlet ports in the main body of the main pulse detonation chamber and the oxidizer inlet port of a separate one of the plurality of internal pulse detonation chambers.

A pulse detonation apparatus, comprising:

• a main pulse detonation chamber comprising a proximal end portion, a distal end portion having and exhaust aperture, and a main body extending therebetween, the main body including a plurality of oxidizer inlet ports and a plurality of fuel inlet ports extending therethrough;
• a plurality of separate internal pulse detonation chambers positioned within the main body of the main pulse detonation chamber, each internal pulse detonation chamber comprising a substantially closed proximal end portion, a distal end portion having an exhaust aperture, and a main body extending therebetween, the main body including an oxidizer inlet port and a fuel inlet port, wherein each of the plurality of separate internal pulse detonation chambers are separately longitudinally positioned within the main body of the main pulse detonation chamber;
• a plurality of fuel conduits, each extending between a separate one of the plurality of fuel inlet ports in the main body of the main pulse detonation chamber and the fuel inlet port of a separate one of the plurality of internal pulse detonation chambers;
• and
• a plurality of oxidizer conduits, each extending between a separate one of the plurality of oxidizer inlet ports in the main body of the main pulse detonation chamber and the oxidizer inlet port of a separate one of the plurality of internal pulse detonation chambers.

A method of increasing a frequency or a magnitude of deflagration to detonation waves, the method comprising:

• supplying a fuel to each of a plurality of internal pulse detonation chambers, each internal pulse detonation chamber positioned within a main body of a common main pulse detonation chamber at a location substantially upstream of an exhaust aperture of a distal end portion of the main pulse detonation chamber;
• oxidizing the fuel within each of the plurality of internal pulse detonation chambers;
• and
• expelling exhaust gas from each of the plurality of internal pulse detonation chambers into the common main pulse detonation chamber at a location substantially upstream of the exhaust aperture of the distal end portion of the main pulse detonation chamber to thereby create a plurality of deflagration to detonation waves within the common main pulse detonation chamber, each of the plurality of deflagration to detonation waves exiting through a same one or more exhaust apertures in the common main pulse detonation chamber.