Magnetohydrodynamic flow control for pulse detonation engines
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGregory Vincent Meholic, William Randolph Stowell
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Abstract
Flow control in pulse detonation engines is accomplished using magnetohydrodynamic principles. The pulse detonation engine includes a tube having an open forward end and an open aft end and a fuel-air inlet formed in the tube at the forward end. An igniter is disposed in the tube at a location intermediate the forward end and the aft end. A magnetohydrodynamic flow control system is located between the igniter and the fuel-air inlet for controlling detonation in the tube forward of the igniter. The magnetohydrodynamic flow control system utilizes magnetic and electric fields forward of the igniter to dissipate or at least reduce the ignition potential of the forward traveling detonation flame front.
Claims28
A pulse detonation engine comprising:
- a tube having an open forward end and an open aft end;
- an igniter disposed in said tube at a location intermediate said forward end and said aft end;
- a fuel-air inlet formed in said tube at said forward end;
- and
- a magnetohydrodynamic flow control system located between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet for controlling detonation in said tube forward of said igniter.
A pulse detonation engine comprising:
- a tube having an open forward end and an open aft end;
- a fuel-air inlet formed in said tube at said forward end for introducing a fuel-air mixture into said tube;
- an igniter disposed in said tube at a location intermediate said forward end and said aft end for detonating said fuel-air mixture in said tube so as to generate a forward detonation wave group comprising a forward pressure wave and a forward flame front and an aft detonation wave group comprising an aft pressure wave and an aft flame front;
- and a magnetohydrodynamic flow control system located between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet for dissipating said forward flame front.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.