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Wave combustors for trans-atmospheric vehiclesThe Wave Combustor is an airbreathing hypersonic propulsion system which utilizes shock and detonation waves to enhance fuel-air mixing and combustion in supersonic flow. In this concept, an oblique shock wave in the combustor can act as a flameholder by increasing the pressure and temperature of the air-fuel mixture and thereby decreasing the ignition delay. If the oblique shock is sufficiently strong, then the combustion front and the shock wave can couple into a detonation wave. In this case, combustion occurs almost instantaneously in a thin zone behind the wave front. The result is a shorter, lighter engine compared to the scramjet. This engine, which is called the Oblique Detonation Wave Engine (ODWE), can then be utilized to provide a smaller, lighter vehicle or to provide a higher payload capability for a given vehicle weight. An analysis of the performance of a conceptual trans-atmospheric vehicle powered by an ODWE is given here.
Document ID
19900002426
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Menees, Gene P.
(Eloret Corp. Palo Alto, CA., United States)
Adelman, Henry G.
(Eloret Corp. Palo Alto, CA., United States)
Cambier, Jean-Luc
(Eloret Corp. Palo Alto, CA., United States)
Bowles, Jeffrey V.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1989
Subject Category
Aircraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.15:102238
A-89251
NASA-TM-102238
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Symposium on Airbreathing Engines
Location: Athens
Country: Greece
Start Date: September 4, 1989
End Date: September 8, 1989
Accession Number
90N11742
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 506-40-11
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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