Engine with rotating detonation combustion system

• Main Authors: Pal, Sibtosh, Cooper, Clayton Stuart, Vise, Steven Clayton, Johnson, Arthur Wesley, Zelina, Joseph
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.10.2023
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION ENGINES; COMBUSTION PROCESSES; GENERATING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGHVELOCITY, e.g. GAS-TURBINE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; WEAPONS

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.