Dissociation and Recombination Effects on the Performance of Pulse Detonation Engines

Povinelli, Louis A.

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NASA NTRS · 20030102270

Dissociation and Recombination Effects on the Performance of Pulse Detonation Engines

Povinelli, Louis A.

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Abstract

This paper summarizes major theoretical results for pulse detonation engine performance taking into account real gas chemistry, as well as significant performance differences resulting from the presence of ram and compression heating. An unsteady CFD analysis, as well as a thermodynamic cycle analysis, was conducted in order to determine the actual and the ideal performance for an air-breathing pulse detonation engine (PDE) using either a hydrogen-air or ethylene-air mixture over a flight Mach number range from 0 to 4. The results clearly elucidate the competitive regime of PDE application relative to ramjets and gas turbines.

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Povinelli, Louis A.. 2003-08-01. Dissociation and Recombination Effects on the Performance of Pulse Detonation Engines. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20030102270

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