• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.34-37
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• 2012

In this paper, configurations and performance of a pulse tube engine (PTE) are investigated. The configuration of PTE is basically designed by using a concept of energy flow. The configurations of PTE are classified as a PTE with two pistons and a PTE with one piston. First, the PTE with two pistons is simulated and the Carnot efficiency is about 41 %. The phase difference of between motion of two pistons located at expander and compressor mainly effects the performance of the PTE. Second, the PTE with one piston is designed. From a concept of analogy, the piston of compressor is replaced by a compliance tube and a resonator. The PTE with one piston is identical with a thermoacousic engine and has the large volume because the compliance tube and resonator are consisted of large volume tubes. Therefore, we will consider each usefulness of the compact PTE with two pistons and the huge PTE with one piston for PTE applications and the judgement of feasibility.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.624-628
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• 2011

To develop a pulse detonation engine, it needs to understand the mechanism of a detonation initiation, and establish the methods for measuring and analyzing the detonation phenomenon. In this study, DDT tube, which use oxygen-acetylene propellant mixture, were designed and manufactured, and the effect of equivalent ratio and Schelkin spiral on the characteristics of the detonation initiation were discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.205-210
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• 2004

The pulse detonation engine (PDE) has recently expected as a new aerospace propulsion system. The PDE system has high thermal efficiency because of its constant-volume combustion and its simple tube structure. We measured thrust of single-tube pulse detonation rocket (PDR) by two methods using the PDR-Engineering Model (full scale model) for ground testing. The first involved measuring the displacement of the PDR-EM by laser displacement meter, and the second involved measuring the time-averaged thrust by combining a load cell and a spring-damper system. From these two measurements, we obtained 130.1 N of time-averaged thrust, which corresponds to 321.2 sec of effective specific impulse (ISP). As well, we measured the heat flux in the wall of PDE tubes. The heat flux was approximately 400 ㎾/$m^2$. We constructed the PDR-Flight Mode] (PDR-FM). In the vertical flight test in a laboratory, the PDR-FM was flying and keeping its altitude almost constant during 0.3 sec.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.419-426
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• 2008

As pulse detonation engine(PDE) does not need compression mechanisms such as compressors because self-sustained detonation waves are able to compress propellant gases by their incident shock waves, the PDE can have a simple straight-tube structure. In this study, we propose an autonomous driving valve system of the PDE, which fill premixed gases into the PDE tubes at high frequency with high mass flow rate. The proposed valve is composed of only three parts: a piston, a cylinder, and a spring. This valve system can produce intermittent flow at high mass flow rate, and also can keep stable reciprocal motion by using the propellant-gas enthalpy. When the cylinder content product is assumed to be constant, experimental results of the mass flow rate were approximately equal to the calculation model. We confirmed the autonomous driving valve performance by experiments, and concluded that this extremely simple valve with no electrical power and controller can be used as the PDE propellant supply system.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.552-560
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• 2014

Pulse Detonation Engine(PDE) has been investigated as a next generation propulsion system with the advantages of the higher thermal efficiency by the compression effect and the wide operation ranges from zero speed at ground. In the present study, an efficient theoretical PDE performance prediction program was developed for realistic propellants based on the Endo's theory combining the Chapman-Jouguet detonation theory and expansion process of burnt gas in a constant area tube. The program was validated through the comparison with the experimental data obtained by a ballistic pendulum measurement. PDE performance analyses were carried out for various hydrocarbon fuels and oxidizer compositions by changing the mixture equivalence ratio and initial conditions. Theoretical PDE performance database could be established as a result of the analyses.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.278-281
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• 2012

Numerical studies were performed to investigate the three-dimensional front structure and dynamics features of detonation wave propagating in a circular tube such as Pulse Detonation Engine (PDE). By carrying out a series of parametric study using one step irreversible Arrhenius kinetics model, mechanisms of the three-dimensional front structure were investigated for two-, three-, four and six-cell mode detonations. A comparison with two-dimensional results, the effects of slapping transverse waves in radial direction were confirmed. In the all muti-cell modes, the detonation front structures and smoked-records on the wall are formed by the propagation of transverse waves along the wall in clockwise and counter-clockwise while the slapping move in radial direction. And the strength of reflected waves on the curved wall is changed by the multi-dimensional confinement effect.