New type of Jet Engine

[46Driver]

Just saw this in Popular Science. Both Pratt and Whitney as well as GE are working on a completely new type of jet engine called "Pulsed Detonation". No more compressors, no more turbines - just numerous tubes where the fuel is exploded in quick sequence (about 80 times a second). Much better fuel economy, power, and ability to reach at least Mach 4 speeds. Scale models are up and running. Sounds interesting - but I'm not an engineering major (by far...). Anybody seen or heard anything about this engine?

 

[lowflier03]

Sounds like the same principle the Germans used on the Buzz Bombs in WWII. The Pulse-Jet. Not a bad idea since it has no moving parts...not sure how close the new designs are to that though since you need pretty good throttle response.

 

[lombs18]

yeah i saw something on the discovery channel about that, the picture of the little "trail" was a bunch of puffs of smoke instead of a line like you usually see in the sky.

 

[D_mac05]

I also heard something about it. Matter of fact, at the Dayton Airshow, I went to the NASA booth and picked up a fact sheet about it. (I thought that sounded familiar). They also had small scale models on display. Needless to say, it was very interesting.

It says that "pulse detonation rocket engine technology is being developed for upper stages that boost satellites to higher orbits."

It also mentions that a developmental flight-like engine could be ready for demonstration by 2005 and a full-scale rocket about 4 years later.

I'd say that this is the newer technology for the rocket ages. This is going to be interesting on how it plays out.