Experimental Research of a Pulse Detonation Rocket System

Pulse detonation engines (PDE's) may represent a revolutionary approach to propulsion. The engine of simple construction can be easily manufactured. A pulse detonation rocket system consisted of a detonation tube, supply cylinders and control system mounted on a tricycle was fabricated to confirm that pulse detonation rocket engines (PDRE's) can be used as propulsion devices. The inner diameter and the length of the detonation tube are 30mm and 880mm, using kerosene/oxygen as the propellant. The system can steadily and periodically operate at the frequency of 40Hz. With a built-in battery and CPU. the pulse detonation engine generated sufficient thrust to power the tricycle to slide on a straight road. The mass flow rate of kerosene and oxygen were measured accurately in order to analyze the actual performance of the engine. Thrust and mixture specific impulse were calculated through the experimental data. The effect of partial fill was also considered and discussed. The long-playing features of the pulse detonation rocket engine were also investigated here.