Experimental investigation of powdered metals fuel ramjet

Powdered fuel ramjet, which employs high energetic powder as fuel, ram air as oxidizer and working gas, is a new concept propulsion system. The theoretical specific impulse of engine is high, however, no detailed reports have been made. To investigate the ignition and combustion performance of the powdered fuel ramjet, the basic experiments of designed engine were carried out on direct-connect test bed. The magnesium powder was pneumatically injected with ram-air. The flux of two-phase mixture of solid powder suspended in the carrier air was measured with Coriolis Mass Flow Meter. Hot-firing tests of powdered fuel ramjet were performed. Ignition was realized successfully with high temperature combustion gas and high energy spark plug. The feasibility of self-sustaining combustion of powdered fuel was demonstrated by introducing different flame holding techniques into combustor. The multiple start-ups of the engine was also successfully performed using the spark plug as ignition source.