A rotating detonation engine including an annular main chamber configured to sustain a main shockwave that moves along a perimeter of the main chamber and an annular pilot chamber configured to sustain a pilot shockwave that moves along a perimeter of the pilot chamber. The main shockwave may be generated in response to the pilot shockwave extending into the main chamber.

A rotating detonation engine including an annular main chamber configured to sustain a main shockwave that moves along a perimeter of the main chamber and an annular pilot chamber configured to sustain a pilot shockwave that moves along a perimeter of the pilot chamber. The main shockwave may be generated in response to the pilot shockwave extending into the main chamber.

A combustion system includes an annular tube disposed between an inner wall and an outer wall, the annular tube extending from an inlet end to an outlet end; at least one annulus inlet disposed in the annular tube proximate the inlet end, the annulus inlet providing a conduit through which fluid flows into the annular tube; at least one outlet disposed in the annular tube proximate the outlet end; at least one inlet fluid plenum disposed upstream of the annulus inlet; and at least one fluid inlet disposed upstream of the inlet fluid plenum. The fluid inlet is linearly offset from the annulus inlet.

A combustion system includes an annular tube disposed between an inner wall and an outer wall, the annular tube extending from an inlet end to an outlet end; at least one annulus inlet disposed in the annular tube proximate the inlet end, the annulus inlet providing a conduit through which fluid flows into the annular tube; at least one outlet disposed in the annular tube proximate the outlet end; at least one inlet fluid plenum disposed upstream of the annulus inlet; and at least one fluid inlet disposed upstream of the inlet fluid plenum. The fluid inlet is linearly offset from the annulus inlet.

A rotating detonation engine (RDE) is disclosed which includes a housing, an injector assembly disposed within the housing, the injector assembly includes a fuel manifold, an oxidizer manifold, and a combustion chamber, fuel from the fuel manifold and an oxidizer from the oxidizer manifold are combined and combusted in the combustion chamber, each of the fuel and oxidizer manifolds communicates with the combustion chamber via a plurality of Tesla valves each via a corresponding port, wherein the plurality of Tesla valves substantially eliminate reverse flow of exhaust gases from the combustion chamber back to the fuel manifold or the oxidizer manifold.

A pulse detonation combustion system includes: an inlet pipe; an intake cone disposed in the inlet pipe, having an end provided with a pneumatic valve, and including an atomizing air transfer tube, a fuel transfer tube, and a conical swirl nozzle connected to the atomizing air transfer tube and the fuel transfer tube; an atomizing air intake tube connected with the atomizing air transfer tube; a fuel supply tube connected with the fuel transfer tube; a pulse detonation combustion chamber located downstream of and communicated to the inlet pipe, and provided with a spark plug mounting seat for mounting a spark plug; a gas energy distribution adjustment device located downstream of and communicated to the pulse detonation combustion chamber; and a transition section located downstream of and communicated to the gas energy distribution adjustment device.

A pulse detonation combustion system includes: an inlet pipe; an intake cone disposed in the inlet pipe, having an end provided with a pneumatic valve, and including an atomizing air transfer tube, a fuel transfer tube, and a conical swirl nozzle connected to the atomizing air transfer tube and the fuel transfer tube; an atomizing air intake tube connected with the atomizing air transfer tube; a fuel supply tube connected with the fuel transfer tube; a pulse detonation combustion chamber located downstream of and communicated to the inlet pipe, and provided with a spark plug mounting seat for mounting a spark plug; a gas energy distribution adjustment device located downstream of and communicated to the pulse detonation combustion chamber; and a transition section located downstream of and communicated to the gas energy distribution adjustment device.

A combustor for a rotating detonation engine includes a radially outer wall extending along an axis (A); a radially inner wall extending along the axis (A), wherein the radially inner wall is positioned within the radially outer wall to define an annular detonation chamber having an inlet for fuel and oxidant and an outlet; a first passage for feeding at least one of the fuel and the oxidant along a first passage axis (a.sub.1) to the inlet; a second passage for feeding at least one of the fuel and the oxidant along a second passage axis (a.sub.2) to the inlet, wherein the second passage axis is arranged at an angle (α) relative to the first passage axis whereby mixing of flow from the first passage and the second passage is induced.

A combustor for a rotating detonation engine includes a radially outer wall extending along an axis (A); a radially inner wall extending along the axis (A), wherein the radially inner wall is positioned within the radially outer wall to define an annular detonation chamber having an inlet for fuel and oxidant and an outlet; a first passage for feeding at least one of the fuel and the oxidant along a first passage axis (a.sub.1) to the inlet; a second passage for feeding at least one of the fuel and the oxidant along a second passage axis (a.sub.2) to the inlet, wherein the second passage axis is arranged at an angle (α) relative to the first passage axis whereby mixing of flow from the first passage and the second passage is induced.

A Brayton cycle engine including an inner wall assembly defining a detonation combustion region upstream thereof extended from a longitudinal wall into a gas flowpath. An actuator adjusts a depth of the detonation combustion region into the gas flowpath. A method for operating the engine includes flowing an oxidizer through the gas flowpath; capturing a portion of the flow of oxidizer via the inner wall; flowing a first flow of fuel to the captured flow of oxidizer; producing a rotating detonation gases via a mixture of the first flow of fuel and the captured flow of oxidizer; flowing at least a portion of the detonation gases downstream to mix with the flow of oxidizer; flowing a second flow of fuel to the mixture of detonation gases and oxidizer; and burning the mixture of the second flow of fuel and the detonation gases/oxidizer mixture.