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US 11,578,681 B2Granted
Systems and methods for anti-phase operation of pulse combustors
AssigneeUniversity of Maryland
InventorDaanish Maqbool
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pulse combustor system for operating pulse combustors in anti-phase. The pulse combustor system includes two pulse combustors connected at their combustion chambers by a connecting tube. Each of the pulse combustors has a fundamental oscillation mode and one or more additional oscillation modes when operated in isolation. The connecting tube has a length corresponding to ¼ of the fundamental oscillation mode wavelength.
Claims10
A deflagration pulse combustor system, comprising:
- a first deflagration pulse combustor, comprising a first combustion chamber, a first inlet pipe, a first exhaust pipe, and a first fuel injector for injecting fuel into the first combustion chamber;
- a second deflagration pulse combustor, comprising a second combustion chamber, a second inlet pipe, a second exhaust pipe, and a second fuel injector for injecting fuel into the second combustion chamber, the first deflagration pulse combustor and the second deflagration pulse combustor having a fundamental oscillation mode and one or more additional oscillation modes when operated in isolation;
- a tube having a first end connected to the first deflagration pulse combustor combustion chamber and a second end connected to the second deflagration pulse combustor combustion chamber, the tube having a length corresponding to substantially ½ of the fundamental oscillation mode wavelength with the tube being configured to substantially prevent a loss of thrust generation in each of the first and second deflagration pulse combustors in anti-phase operation of the first and second pulse combustors, and
- wherein the tube is substantially prevented from an ingress or egress of combustion generated gases from the first combustor chamber or second combustor chamber during anti-phase operation of the system by a maximum positive pressure pulse timed to arrive at the first or second end of the tube to prevent such ingress or egress of combustion generated gases,
- with the tube having a diameter that is substantially ½ of a diameter of the first inlet pipe of the first deflagration pulse combustor or a diameter of the second inlet pipe of the second deflagration pulse combustor, and
- with the tube having a standing wave therein for generating the maximum positive pressure pulse and causing pressure anti-nodes to be formed at the first and second ends for providing high impedance at the first and second ends thereof.
3 more elements
A method for reducing noise and/or vibration in a deflagration pulse combustor system having at least a first deflagration pulse combustor, a second deflagration pulse combustor, and a tube connected between the first and second deflagration pulse combustors, comprising:
- providing the first deflagration pulse combustor that further comprises a first combustion chamber, a first inlet pipe, a first exhaust pipe, and a first fuel injector for injecting fuel into the first combustion chamber;
- providing the second deflagration pulse combustor that further comprises a second combustion chamber, a second inlet pipe, a second exhaust pipe, and a second fuel injector for injecting fuel into the second combustion chamber, with the first deflagration pulse combustor and the deflagration second pulse combustor having a fundamental oscillation mode and one or more additional oscillation modes when operated in isolation;
- the tube for connecting the first combustion chamber of the first deflagration pulse combustor to the second combustion chamber of the second deflagration pulse combustor that includes attaching a first end of tube to the first combustion chamber and a second end of the tube to the second combustion chamber, with the tube having a length corresponding to substantially ½ of the fundamental oscillation mode wavelength with the tube being configured to substantially prevent a loss of thrust generation in each of the first and second deflagration pulse combustors in anti-phase operation of the first and second pulse combustors, and
- wherein the tube is substantially prevented from an ingress or egress of combustion generated gases from the first combustor chamber or second combustor chamber during anti-phase operation of the system by a maximum positive pressure pulse timed to arrive at the first or second end of the tube to prevent such ingress or egress of combustion generated gases,
- with the tube having a diameter that is substantially a predetermined ½ of a diameter of the first inlet pipe of the first deflagration pulse combustor or a diameter of the second inlet pipe of the second deflagration pulse combustor, and
- with the tube having a standing wave therein for generating the maximum positive pressure pulse and causing pressure anti-nodes to be formed at the first and second ends for providing high impedance at the first and second ends thereof.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.