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Liquid fuel jet in crossflow (LJIC) is a vital atomization technique significant to the aviation industry. The hydrodynamic instability mechanisms that drive a primary breakup of a transverse jet are investigated using modal and traveling wavelength analysis. This study highlights the primary breakup mechanisms for aviation fuel Jet-A, utilizing a method that could be applied to any liquid fuel. Mathematical decomposition techniques known as POD (proper orthogonal decomposition) and Robust MrDMD (multiresolution dynamic mode decomposition) are used together to identify dominant instability flow dynamics associated with the primary breakup mechanism. Implementation of the Robust MrDMD method deconstructs the nonlinear dynamical systems into multiresolution time-scaled components to capture the intermittent coherent structures. The Robust MrDMD, in conjunction with the POD method, is applied to data points taken across the entire spray breakup regimes: enhanced capillary breakup, bag breakup, multimode breakup, and shear breakup. The dominant frequencies of breakup mechanisms are extracted and identified. These coherent structures are classified with an associated time scale and Strouhal number. Three primary breakup mechanisms, namely, ligament shedding, bag breakup, and shear breakup, were identified and associated with the four breakup regimes outlined above. Further investigation portrays these breakup mechanisms to occur in conjunction with each other in each breakup regime, excluding the low Weber number enhanced capillary breakup regime. Spectral analysis of the Robust MrDMD modes’ entire temporal window reveals that while multiple breakup mechanisms are convolved, there is a dominant breakup route for each breakup regime. An associated particular traveling wavelength analysis further investigates each breakup mechanism. Lastly, this study explores the effects of an increased momentum flux ratio on each breakup mechanism associated with a breakup regime.

This article focuses on extending an H2/air rotating detonation engine's detonability limits by introducing solid carbon particles into the combustor. Carbon black particles consisting of 1% volatility and a carbon concentration of 99% were used as a solid-phase mixing agent for enhanced reaction wave dynamics. Carbon black was found to sustain detonations over multiple operational regimes formerly unattainable without carbon particles. The experiments confirm that detonations were attainable over a wide range of operational parameters, including the total mass flux flowing through the annulus (≅120–270 kg/s m2), the hydrogen/air equivalence ratios (0.65–1.0), and carbon additions (0–20 g). Chemiluminescence imaging was used to visualize the detonation wave within the annulus, quantify detonation wave velocities, and define a detonability map. The detonability map demonstrates the advantage of carbon addition, shows that detonation-based combustion can be sustained at leaner equivalence ratios, reduces hydrogen consumption dependency. The detonation wave velocities decreased as the H2/air equivalence ratio was reduced, where, in general, the detonation wave velocities decreased with respect to the Chapman–Jouguet velocity, suggesting a decrease in the detonation waves efficiency with reduced H2 concentrations. However, an extraordinary phenomenon was witnessed at very lean H2/air equivalence ratios and low mass flux conditions, where the detonation wave velocity increased upward of 100 m/s. This variation is a direct effect of the carbon particles, which drive the detonation wave. Thus, the results demonstrate that carbon particles’ addition provides an economically feasible solution to sustain high-efficiency energy production.