Combined cycle pulse detonation turbine engine operating method
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJames E. Johnson, Lawrence W. Dunbar, Lawrence Butler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A turbofan engine includes a pulse detonation system to create a temperature rise and a pressure rise within the engine to generate thrust from the engine. The system includes a pulse detonation augmentor including a shock tube sub-system. The shock tube sub-system includes a plurality of shock tubes which mix air and fuel introduced to the pulse detonation augmentor and detonate the mixture. The detonation creates hot combustion gases which are directed from the engine to produce thrust for the engine. Alternatively, the system includes a pulse detonation augmentation system that replaces a core engine of a turbo-fan engine.
Claims5
A method for generating turbofan engine thrust with a pulse detonation system, the pulse detonation system creates a temperature rise and a pressure rise within the turbofan engine without the use of turbomachinery, the pulse detonation system including a first pulse detonation augmentor including an inlet side, an outlet side, and a shock tube sub-system extending therebetween, the shock tube sub-system including a plurality of shock tubes, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing fuel and air to the turbofan engine;
- mixing fuel and air in the first pulse detonation augmentor shock tubes;
- and
- detonating the fuel and air mixture within the first pulse detonation augmentor shock tubes to increase the temperature and pressure within the turbofan engine and to generate turbofan engine thrust, wherein the first pulse detonation augmentor shock tubes are selectively in flow communication with at least one turbofan turbine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.