Rotating detonation engines are provided with various improvements pertaining to performance and reliability. Improvements pertain to, for example, a fluidic valve/premixing chamber, injection/swirl, flow control and turning, ignition, and cooling.

Rotating detonation engines are provided with various improvements pertaining to performance and reliability. Improvements pertain to, for example, a fluidic valve/premixing chamber, injection/swirl, flow control and turning, ignition, and cooling.

An aerial vehicle engine is proposed which may be powered an adjustable, vortex-based virtual aerospike engine. The vehicle may also include a combustion chamber which may be coupled to the exit nozzle. The combustion chamber may include one or more gas inlets, one or more blanket inlets and one or more main inlets. The gas inlet may be configured to let in a column of gases into the combustion chamber in a direction parallel to the direction of the rocket with minimal angular velocity to prevent the column of gases from mixing with a vortex of propellants or gases. The one or more main inlets may be configured to spray fuel or oxidizer at a specific angle, where the angle may be adjustable for forming the vortex of propellants or gases. The one or more blanket inlets may be configured to spray fuel/oxidizer/(inert) coolant at a specific angle, where the angle may be adjustable and may or may form a vortex, a stagnant pocket of gases (acting as a blanket) or a stream of gases that exits through the exit nozzle. Further, the column of gases inside the combustion chamber leading up to the exit nozzle may form a virtual aerospike nozzle, the virtual aerospike nozzle may exit the gases to propel the vehicle, wherein the virtual aerospike nozzle may not require cooling.

An aerial vehicle engine is proposed which may be powered an adjustable, vortex-based virtual aerospike engine. The vehicle may also include a combustion chamber which may be coupled to the exit nozzle. The combustion chamber may include one or more gas inlets, one or more blanket inlets and one or more main inlets. The gas inlet may be configured to let in a column of gases into the combustion chamber in a direction parallel to the direction of the rocket with minimal angular velocity to prevent the column of gases from mixing with a vortex of propellants or gases. The one or more main inlets may be configured to spray fuel or oxidizer at a specific angle, where the angle may be adjustable for forming the vortex of propellants or gases. The one or more blanket inlets may be configured to spray fuel/oxidizer/(inert) coolant at a specific angle, where the angle may be adjustable and may or may form a vortex, a stagnant pocket of gases (acting as a blanket) or a stream of gases that exits through the exit nozzle. Further, the column of gases inside the combustion chamber leading up to the exit nozzle may form a virtual aerospike nozzle, the virtual aerospike nozzle may exit the gases to propel the vehicle, wherein the virtual aerospike nozzle may not require cooling.

A turbojet is combined with a co-axially integrated rotary rocket to form a propulsion system called a Rotary Turbo Rocket that can function as a turbojet, as an afterburning turbojet, as an Air Turbo Rocket, or as a rotary rocket. The Rotary Turbo Rocket can operate in any of these propulsion modes singularly, or in any combination of these propulsion modes, and can transition continuously or abruptly between operating modes. The Rotary Turbo Rocket can span the zero to orbital flight velocity speed range and/or operate continuously as it transitions from atmospheric to space flight by transitioning between operating modes.

Combustor systems are provided that include rotating detonation combustors (RDCs) arranged in series. In some embodiments, a combustor system includes a volume that receives a core oxidizer-fuel mixture. The combustor system includes a first RDC having a first detonation chamber. The first detonation chamber receives a first pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture and is bounded by a first channel formed in a peripheral wall. The combustor system further includes at least one additional RDC having a second detonation chamber. The second detonation chamber receives a second pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture and is bounded by a second channel formed in the peripheral wall. The first pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture reacts in the first detonation chamber and the second pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture reacts in the second detonation chamber to generate rotating detonation combustion waves that are guided by the first channel and the second channel to support a reaction that consumes the core oxidizer-fuel mixture.

Combustor systems are provided that include rotating detonation combustors (RDCs) arranged in series. In some embodiments, a combustor system includes a volume that receives a core oxidizer-fuel mixture. The combustor system includes a first RDC having a first detonation chamber. The first detonation chamber receives a first pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture and is bounded by a first channel formed in a peripheral wall. The combustor system further includes at least one additional RDC having a second detonation chamber. The second detonation chamber receives a second pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture and is bounded by a second channel formed in the peripheral wall. The first pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture reacts in the first detonation chamber and the second pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture reacts in the second detonation chamber to generate rotating detonation combustion waves that are guided by the first channel and the second channel to support a reaction that consumes the core oxidizer-fuel mixture.

A rotating detonation engine comprising: an outer cylinder that extends in an axial direction; a base that is connected to the outer cylinder, and comprises a plurality of fuel injection ports positioned in a circular ring shape and injecting a fuel, and a plurality of oxidizing agent injection ports positioned in a circular ring shape and injecting an oxidizing agent; an inner cylinder that is positioned in the outer cylinder, and is positioned in the axial direction relative to the base; and a mechanism that switches a combustion space, wherein the combustion space is switched in accordance with a combustion mode.

Combustor systems are provided that include rotating detonation combustors (RDCs) arranged in series. In some embodiments, a combustor system includes a volume that receives a core oxidizer-fuel mixture. The combustor system includes a first RDC having a first detonation chamber. The first detonation chamber receives a first pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture and is bounded by a first channel formed in a peripheral wall. The combustor system further includes at least one additional RDC having a second detonation chamber. The second detonation chamber receives a second pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture and is bounded by a second channel formed in the peripheral wall. The first pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture reacts in the first detonation chamber and the second pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture reacts in the second detonation chamber to generate rotating detonation combustion waves that are guided by the first channel and the second channel to support a reaction that consumes the core oxidizer-fuel mixture.

Combustor systems are provided that include rotating detonation combustors (RDCs) arranged in series. In some embodiments, a combustor system includes a volume that receives a core oxidizer-fuel mixture. The combustor system includes a first RDC having a first detonation chamber. The first detonation chamber receives a first pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture and is bounded by a first channel formed in a peripheral wall. The combustor system further includes at least one additional RDC having a second detonation chamber. The second detonation chamber receives a second pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture and is bounded by a second channel formed in the peripheral wall. The first pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture reacts in the first detonation chamber and the second pilot oxidizer-fuel mixture reacts in the second detonation chamber to generate rotating detonation combustion waves that are guided by the first channel and the second channel to support a reaction that consumes the core oxidizer-fuel mixture.