Process and device for collecting air, and engine associated therewith

A method of collecting oxygen-enriched air for use in combustion in a rocket engine, comprising:

• separating a derived flow of air from a main flow of air through an engine during aerobic flight;
• separating oxygen-enriched air in said derived flow from oxygen-depleted air in said derived flow;
• storing said oxygen-enriched air for combustion by said rocket engine;
• mixing the oxygen-depleted air with said main flow;
• and
• ejecting said mixture of oxygen-depleted air and said main flow from said engine,
• wherein said engine comprises a turbofan engine and wherein said separation occurs upstream of the turbofan and in the turbofan of said turbofan engine.

A method of collecting oxygen-enriched air for use in combustion in a rocket engine, comprising:

• separating a derived flow of air from a main flow of air through an engine during aerobic flight;
• separating oxygen-enriched air in said derived flow from oxygen-depleted air in said derived flow;
• storing said oxygen-enriched air for combustion by said rocket engine;
• mixing the oxygen-depleted air with said main flow;
• and
• ejecting said mixture of oxygen-depleted air and said main flow from said engine,
• wherein said engine comprises a turbofan engine, and wherein said turbofan engine comprises:
• a high pressure spool comprising a high-pressure compressor, turbines and a combustion chamber, between said compressor and said turbines;
• and
• a low pressure spool surrounding said high pressure spool, said low pressure spool comprising a blower for collecting said main flow and said derived flow, and a low pressure turbine.