Pulse detonation engine bypass and cooling flow with downstream mixing volume

An engine comprising:

• at least one pulse detonation combustor;
• a bypass duct which surrounds at least a portion of said pulse detonation combustor such that an outer surface of said pulse detonation combustor forms an inner surface of said bypass duct and through which a bypass air flow is directed, wherein an exit portion of said bypass duct and an exit portion of said at least one pulse detonation combustor are proximate each other;
• a bypass control valve in fluid communication with the bypass duct, the bypass control valve allowing air flow to enter into the bypass duct when the bypass control valve is in an open position, and preventing air flow from entering into the bypass duct when the bypass control valve is in a closed position;
• and
• an airflow mixing plenum positioned downstream of the exit portions of both said bypass duct and said pulse detonation combustor, wherein said mixing plenum contains at least one mixing structure to mix exit flow from said bypass duct with an exit flow from said at least one pulse detonation combustor.

An engine comprising:

• at least one pulse detonation combustor;
• a bypass duct which surrounds at least a portion of said pulse detonation combustor, such that an outer surface of said pulse detonation combustor forms an inner surface of said bypass duct and through which a bypass air flow is directed;
• and
• a bypass control valve in fluid communication with the bypass duct, the bypass control valve allowing air flow to enter into the bypass duct when the bypass control valve is in an open position, and preventing air flow from entering into the bypass duct when the bypass control valve is in a closed position,
• wherein an exit portion of said bypass duct and an exit portion of said at least one pulse detonation combustor are adjacent to each other, wherein said engine contains a plurality of pulse detonation combustors, and wherein one of said pulse detonation combustors is positioned within said bypass duct and another of said pulse detonation combustors is positioned within a second bypass duct.

An engine comprising:

• at least one pulse detonation combustor;
• a bypass duct which surrounds at least a portion of said pulse detonation combustor such that an outer surface of said pulse detonation combustor forms an inner surface of said bypass duct and through which a bypass air flow is directed;
• a bypass control valve in fluid communication with the bypass duct, the bypass control valve allowing air flow to enter into the bypass duct when the bypass control valve is in an open position, and preventing air flow from entering into the bypass duct when the bypass control valve is in a closed position;
• and
• a mixing plenum,
• wherein said mixing plenum is positioned downstream of an exit portion of said bypass duct and an exit portion of said at least one pulse detonation combustor, and wherein a cross-sectional area of said mixing plenum increases in a downstream direction from said exit portions.

An engine comprising:

• at least one pulse detonation combustor;
• a bypass duct which surrounds at least a portion of said pulse detonation combustor such that an outer surface of said pulse detonation combustor forms an inner surface of said bypass duct and through which a bypass air flow is directed;
• a bypass control valve in fluid communication with the bypass duct, the bypass control valve allowing air flow to enter into the bypass duct when the bypass control valve is in an open position, and preventing air flow from entering into the bypass duct when the bypass control valve is in a closed position;
• and
• a mixing plenum,
• wherein said mixing plenum is positioned downstream of an exit portion of said bypass duct and an exit portion of said at least one pulse detonation combustor and, wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of said at least one pulse detonation combustor comprises a plurality of turbulators, surface concavities or protrusions, or a combination thereof.