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Rotary wave-ejector enhanced pulse detonation engine

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Abstract

The use of a non-steady ejector based on wave rotor technology is modeled for pulse detonation engine performance improvement and for compatibility with turbomachinery components in hybrid propulsion systems. The rotary wave ejector device integrates a pulse detonation process with an efficient momentum transfer process in specially shaped channels of a single wave-rotor component. In this paper, a quasi-one-dimensional numerical model is developed to help design the basic geometry and operating parameters of the device. The unsteady combustion and flow processes are simulated and compared with a baseline PDE without ejector enhancement. A preliminary performance assessment is presented for the wave ejector configuration, considering the effect of key geometric parameters, which are selected for high specific impulse. It is shown that the rotary wave ejector concept has significant potential for thrust augmentation relative to a basic pulse detonation engine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5132, USA

    M. R. Nalim & Z. A. Izzy

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA

    P. Akbari

Authors
  1. M. R. Nalim
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  2. Z. A. Izzy
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  3. P. Akbari
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Correspondence to P. Akbari.

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Communicated by F. Lu.

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Nalim, M.R., Izzy, Z.A. & Akbari, P. Rotary wave-ejector enhanced pulse detonation engine. Shock Waves 22, 23–38 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-011-0348-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-011-0348-5

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