This invention performs the gas pressurization task of a centrifugal compressor gas turbine engine in a new way. In this invention gas compression takes place by using pinwheel-like thrusters to induce a very high velocity full forced vortex in the gas being compressed. Much higher tip velocities can be achieved because no strength-limited solid centrifugal impeller is required to spin up the gas. Due to the consequent very high vortex velocity a single stage pressure ratio of twenty five to one, or more, may be possible. Because there is no high pressure turbine, the gas pressure delivered to some downstream useful work device is much higher than is the case with conventional gas turbine engines. The invention's compressor requires no major moving parts except for the gas flow. The consequence is that the invention is predicted to have substantially better performance and general characteristics than conventional gas turbine engines.

A system for providing ignition and pressurization of hypersonic vehicles is disclosed. The system combines the pressurization, barbotage and ignition functions into a single system saving mass and volume and simplifying the hypersonic vehicle plumbing. A monopropellant fuel such as Tridyne is used to pressurize a fuel tank, warm the fuel as it enters fuel injectors, and provide barbotage of the fuel just prior to its injection into a combustion chamber.

A system for providing ignition and pressurization of hypersonic vehicles is disclosed. The system combines the pressurization, barbotage and ignition functions into a single system saving mass and volume and simplifying the hypersonic vehicle plumbing. A monopropellant fuel such as Tridyne is used to pressurize a fuel tank, warm the fuel as it enters fuel injectors, and provide barbotage of the fuel just prior to its injection into a combustion chamber.

A Brayton cycle engine including a longitudinal wall extended along a lengthwise direction. The longitudinal wall defines a gas flowpath of the engine. An inner wall assembly is extended from the longitudinal wall into the gas flowpath. The inner wall assembly defines a detonation combustion region in the gas flowpath upstream of the inner wall assembly.

A Brayton cycle engine including a longitudinal wall extended along a lengthwise direction. The longitudinal wall defines a gas flowpath of the engine. An inner wall assembly is extended from the longitudinal wall into the gas flowpath. The inner wall assembly defines a detonation combustion region in the gas flowpath upstream of the inner wall assembly.

A Brayton cycle engine and method for operation. The engine includes an inner wall assembly and an upstream wall assembly each extended from a longitudinal wall into a gas flowpath. An actuator adjusts a depth of the detonation combustion region into the gas flowpath between the inner wall assembly and the upstream wall assembly. The engine flows an oxidizer through the gas flowpath and the inner wall captures a portion of the oxidizer. The engine further adjusts the captured flow of oxidizer via the upstream wall and flows a first flow of fuel to the captured flow of oxidizer to produce rotating detonation gases. The engine flows the detonation gases downstream and to mix with the flow of oxidizer, and flows and burns a second flow of fuel to the detonation gases/oxidizer mixture to produce thrust.

A Brayton cycle engine and method for operation. The engine includes an inner wall assembly and an upstream wall assembly each extended from a longitudinal wall into a gas flowpath. An actuator adjusts a depth of the detonation combustion region into the gas flowpath between the inner wall assembly and the upstream wall assembly. The engine flows an oxidizer through the gas flowpath and the inner wall captures a portion of the oxidizer. The engine further adjusts the captured flow of oxidizer via the upstream wall and flows a first flow of fuel to the captured flow of oxidizer to produce rotating detonation gases. The engine flows the detonation gases downstream and to mix with the flow of oxidizer, and flows and burns a second flow of fuel to the detonation gases/oxidizer mixture to produce thrust.

A Brayton cycle engine including a longitudinal wall extended along a lengthwise direction. The longitudinal wall defines a gas flowpath of the engine. An inner wall assembly is extended from the longitudinal wall into the gas flowpath. The inner wall assembly defines a detonation combustion region in the gas flowpath upstream of the inner wall assembly.

A Brayton cycle engine including a longitudinal wall extended along a lengthwise direction. The longitudinal wall defines a gas flowpath of the engine. An inner wall assembly is extended from the longitudinal wall into the gas flowpath. The inner wall assembly defines a detonation combustion region in the gas flowpath upstream of the inner wall assembly.

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.