Droplet size impact on $n$-heptane detonation

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the detonation in air containing an $n$-heptane droplet cloud and the effect of the droplet size. A finite volume solver is developed to simulate the two-phase reacting compressible flow using a single-step reaction mechanism. The focus is on the impact of the droplet size on the detonation wave pressure and velocity. For the physical situation considered, the upper limit of the droplet size is determined to ensure self-sustained detonation, and it is shown that medium-size droplets initiate a stronger detonation wave than the gas fuel detonation or than large-size droplets. The distribution of the flow properties behind the wave is analyzed to demonstrate the observed behavior of the droplet size.