US 5,901,550 A · Liquid fueled pulse detonation engine with controller and inlet and exit valves

Abstract

The invention provides a liquid fueled pulsed detonation air breathing engine. The engine has at least one, and preferably a multiplicity of, detonation chambers, each of which has an inlet end for opening and receiving a charge of fuel and air, and an outlet end for discharging combustion product gases. A fast-acting valve is located above the inlet ends of the detonation chambers and cyclically opens the fuel and air receiving openings in the inlet ends of the detonation chambers to allow a fuel/air charge to enter the chambers. In a preferred embodiment, the valve is of a rotary type with a body that has at least one opening through which fuel and air can flow into the inlet end of the detonation chamber. Once the valve has closed, detonation is initiated by an ignitor and impulse force is provided by the resultant shock wave. Thereafter, the valve opens again so that the detonation chamber can be charged with fuel and air to recommence the cycle. The invention also provides an embodiment of an engine that has both inlet and outlet valves. These valves operate out of phase so that when the inlet valve is open to receive fuel and air into the detonation chamber, the outlet valve is closed. When detonation commences, the outlet valve is open and the inlet valve is closed. Optionally, a source of oxygen allows a stratified charge in the engine to enhance detonation. Also provided is a control system (48) for sensing the position of the valves, (58, 80) and using this sensed position to inject fuel, inject oxygen and ignite the fuel and air mixture.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A liquid fueled pulse detonation engine comprising:

(a) at least two detonation chambers, each detonation chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end having an opening for receiving a detonable charge comprising a mixture of fuel and an oxidant, the chamber comprising a deflagration to detonation transition device along sidewalls of the inlet end of the chamber;
(b) an exit valve at the outlet end of each detonation chamber, the opening and closing of the exit valve out of phase with an inlet valve of said chamber;
(c) a reservoir of liquid fuel;
(d) a fuel injector in fluid communication with the fuel reservoir, the fuel injector supplying a controlled amount of fuel to each detonation chamber;
(e) a manifold for supplying air to each detonation chamber, the manifold in fluid communication with the inlet end of the chamber;
(f) an ignitor in each detonation chamber for initiating successive detonations of charges in the detonation chamber;
(g) an inlet valve for each detonation chamber enabling intermittent fluid communication between the manifold and the detonation chamber, the valve comprising a valve opening sized to cooperate with the opening for receiving a charge of the inlet end of the detonation chamber, so that when the engine operates, the valve opening allows fluid flow into said opening of the detonation chamber in the inlet end of said detonation chamber;
and
(h) a controller receiving signals indicating positions of the inlet and exit valves and activating the fuel injector and the ignitor of each detonation chamber in response to the signals.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Liquid fueled pulse detonation engine with controller and inlet and exit valves

Life of this patent

Liquid fueled pulse detonation engine with controller and inlet and exit valves

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25