Back to results
US 6,516,605 B1Granted
Pulse detonation aerospike engine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorGregory Vincent Meholic
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aerospike engine has at least one nozzle surface and a plurality of pulse detonation devices mounted to the nozzle surface in place of the more common deflagration-based combustors. Each pulse detonation device is oriented such that its combustion products are directed along the nozzle surface Incorporating pulse detonation devices into the aerospike engine produces the advantage of a more efficient thermodynamic cycle. The pulse detonation aerospike engine is also capable of operating on either air or oxidizer.
Claims15
An aerospike engine comprising:
- at least one nozzle surface;
- and
- a plurality of pulse detonation devices mounted to said nozzle surface, each pulse detonation device is oriented such that its combustion products are directed along said nozzle surface.
An aerospike engine comprising:
- a base;
- first and second nozzle surfaces attached to respective sides of said base and extending therefrom to define a substantially V-shaped configuration;
- a first group of pulse detonation devices mounted along an upper edge of said first nozzle surface, each one of said first group of pulse detonation devices being oriented such that its combustion products are directed along said first nozzle surface;
- a second group of pulse detonation devices mounted along an upper edge of said second nozzle surface, each one of said second group of pulse detonation devices being oriented such that its combustion products are directed along said second nozzle surface;
- and
- means for delivering a flammable mixture to said first and second groups of pulse detonation devices.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.