A combustion system, comprising: a wave rotor having a plurality of combustion channels, each combustion channel having a first open end and a second open end; a first end plate positioned adjacent to the first open ends of the combustion channels, wherein the first end plate includes an inlet port for receiving a fuel and an oxidant into the combustion channels; a second end plate positioned adjacent to the second open ends of the combustion channels and having a cavity formed therein; and wherein the second end plate includes an exhaust port operative to discharge combustion products; a conduit extending between a first opening and a second opening thereof, wherein the first opening is in fluid communication with at least one second open end via the cavity in the second end plate; wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with at least one first open end via the first end plate; and wherein the conduit is configured to transmit a fluid from the at least one second open end to the at least one first open end; and an ignition source disposed in the second end plate and configured to ignite the fuel and oxidant in an adjacent open end of a combustion channel; characterized in that the cavity is disposed between the exhaust port and the ignition source, downstream of the exhaust port in a direction of rotation of the wave rotor, and wherein the first opening of the conduit is disposed between the exhaust port and the ignition source, downstream of the exhaust port in a direction of rotation of the wave rotor, and wherein the cavity is configured to induce turbulence in the combustion channels adjacent second open ends, and whereby the second open end is configured to move past the exhaust port, then past the cavity, and then past the ignition source during relative motion of the combustion channels and the first and second end structures (50, 60). a wave rotor having a plurality of combustion channels, each combustion channel having a first open end and a second open end; a first end plate positioned adjacent to the first open ends of the combustion channels, wherein the first end plate includes an inlet port for receiving a fuel and an oxidant into the combustion channels; a second end plate positioned adjacent to the second open ends of the combustion channels and having a cavity formed therein; and wherein the second end plate includes an exhaust port operative to discharge combustion products; a conduit extending between a first opening and a second opening thereof, wherein the first opening is in fluid communication with at least one second open end via the cavity in the second end plate; wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with at least one first open end via the first end plate; and wherein the conduit is configured to transmit a fluid from the at least one second open end to the at least one first open end; and an ignition source disposed in the second end plate and configured to ignite the fuel and oxidant in an adjacent open end of a combustion channel; characterized in that the cavity is disposed between the exhaust port and the ignition source, downstream of the exhaust port in a direction of rotation of the wave rotor, and wherein the first opening of the conduit is disposed between the exhaust port and the ignition source, downstream of the exhaust port in a direction of rotation of the wave rotor, and wherein the cavity is configured to induce turbulence in the combustion channels adjacent second open ends, and whereby the second open end is configured to move past the exhaust port, then past the cavity, and then past the ignition source during relative motion of the combustion channels and the first and second end structures (50, 60).