IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,618,565
Granted Patent B2
US 12,618,565 · App. 18/445,383 · Granted May 5, 2026

Rotating detonation engines and related devices and methods

Inventors: Ephraim J. Gutmark (Cincinnati, OH); Vijay G. Anand (Cincinnati, OH); Andrew St. George (Long Beach, CA); William Stoddard (Cincinnati, OH); Ethan Knight (Mendota Heights, MN)
Assignee: University of Cincinnati
F23R7/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,618,565
App. No.
18/445,383
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A rotating detonation combustor includes a nozzle coupled to the combustor body at or near the exhaust opening to choke the exhaust opening. A rotating detonation combustor may include a diverting plate positioned radially inward of the inlet annulus and inlet channels for diverting flow of a mixture in an axial direction. A rotating detonation combustor may include a combustor body including an outer shell at least partially defining a detonation combustion chamber and extending axially from a base toward an exhaust opening of the detonation combustion chamber. The base defines a passageway in fluid communication with the detonation combustion chamber and includes an inlet annulus for axially directing a second fluid into the passageway and a plurality of inlet channels for radially directing a third fluid into at least one of the passageway or the detonation combustion chamber, and the detonation combustion chamber is free of any inner body.

Claims (7)

1 . A rotating detonation combustor comprising:

a combustor body including an outer shell at least partially defining a combustion chamber and extending axially from a hollow base toward an exhaust opening of the combustion chamber;

a nozzle coupled to the combustor body at or near the exhaust opening to choke the exhaust opening, and

an inner body positioned within the outer shell, wherein the inner body at least partially defines the combustion chamber.

2 . The rotating detonation combustor of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is removably coupled to the combustor body.

3 . The rotating detonation combustor of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle includes a nozzle inlet, a nozzle outlet, and a converging surface between the nozzle inlet and the nozzle outlet.

4 . The rotating detonation combustor of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is configured to generate longitudinal pulsed detonations within the combustion chamber.

Continuity (5)
Division 16602433 · Oct 3, 2019
Continuation PCTUS2018026498 · Apr 6, 2018
Provisional Application 62650648 · Mar 30, 2018
Provisional Application 62482401 · Apr 6, 2017
Related Publication 20240288171A1 · Aug 29, 2024
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