Multi-mode pulsed detonation propulsion system
View Patent ↗A multi-mode propulsion system for potential application to hypersonic and aerospace planes. The system can employ various propulsion modes at various points in time, with the propulsion system employed at a given point in time being selected according to the velocity of the inlet airflow. In one embodiment, the propulsion system of the present invention has an ejector-augmented pulsed detonation rocket propulsion mode, a pulsed normal detonation wave engine mode, a steady oblique detonation wave engine mode, and a pure pulsed detonation rocket mode.
1. A method of propelling an object, the method comprising:
generating a thrust on the object using an ejector-augmented pulsed detonation rocker first propulsion mode; and
generating a thrust on the object using a scramjet second propulsion mode.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first propulsion mode and second propulsion mode operate in a common flow path.
3. A method of propelling an object, the method comprising:
generating a thrust on the object using a pulsed detonation rocket first propulsion mode;
generating a thrust on the object using a second propulsion mode; and
generating a thrust on the object using a third propulsion mode.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first propulsion mode is ejector-augmented.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the second propulsion mode is a scramjet mode.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein the first propulsion mode and second propulsion mode operate in a common flow path.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein the third propulsion mode is a steady oblique detonation wave mode.
8. The method of claim 3 wherein the second propulsion mode and third propulsion mode operate in a common flow path.
9. The method of claim 3 wherein the first, second, and third propulsion modes operate in a common flow path.
10. A method of propelling an object, the method comprising:
generating a thrust on the object using a pulsed detonation rocket first propulsion mode;
generating a thrust on the object using a second propulsion mode;
generating a thrust on the object using a third propulsion mode; and
generating a thrust on the object using a fourth propulsion mode.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first propulsion mode is ejector-augmented.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the second propulsion mode is a scramjet mode.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the first propulsion mode and second propulsion mode operate in a common flow path.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the third propulsion mode is a steady oblique detonation wave mode.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein the second propulsion mode and third propulsion mode operate in a common flow path.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein the first, second, and third propulsion modes operate in a common flow path.
17. The method of claim 10 wherein the fourth propulsion mode is a pulsed detonation rocket mode.
18. The method of claim 10 wherein the first, second, and fourth propulsion modes operate in a common flow path.
19. The method of claim 10 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth propulsion modes operate in a common flow path.
20. A method of propelling an object the method comprising:
generating a thrust on the object using a pulsed detonation rocket first propulsion mode;
generating a thrust on the object using a second propulsion mode; and
generating a thrust on the object using a third propulsion mode;
wherein the first, second, and third propulsion modes operate in a common flow path.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the first propulsion mode is ejector-augmented.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein the second propulsion mode is a scramjet mode.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein the first propulsion mode and second propulsion node operate on a common flow path.
24. The method of claim 20 wherein the third propulsion mode is a steady oblique detonation wave mode.
25. The method of claim 20 wherein the second propulsion mode and third propulsion mode operate in a common flow path.
26. A method of propelling an object, the method comprising:
generating a thrust on the object using a first propulsion mode;
generating a thrust on the object using a second propulsion mode;
generating a thrust on the object using a third propulsion mode; and
generating a thrust on the object using a fourth propulsion mode;
wherein the first propulsion mode and second propulsion mode operate in a common flow path.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the second propulsion mode and third propulsion mode operate in a common flow path.
28. The method of claim 26 wherein the first, second, and third propulsion modes operate in a common flow path.
29. The method of claim 26 wherein the first propulsion mode is a pulsed-detonation rocket mode.
30. The method of claim 26 wherein the first propulsion mode is ejector-augmented.
31. The method of claim 26 wherein the second propulsion mode is a scramjet mode.
32. The method of claim 26 wherein the third propulsion mode is a steady oblique detonation wave mode.
33. The method of claim 26 wherein the fourth propulsion mode is a pulsed detonation rocket mode.
34. The method of claim 26 wherein the first, second, and fourth propulsion modes operate in a common flow path.
35. The method of claim 26 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth propulsion modes operate on a common flow path.