Thermodynamic Performance of Pulse Detonation Engine: A Technical Report

Abstract

The pulse detonation engine (PDE) is a new concept that utilizes supersonic detonation waves in the propulsion or producing specific impulse. The performance of PDE has been analysed by experimental and analytical from the last decades. The number of researcher develops different theories, which is continuously increasing the PDE propulsive performance. The thermodynamic efficiency of the cyclic operation is discussed and compare to each other. In the present paper, five different analytical approaches such as ideal Brayton cycle, ideal Humphery Cycle, and ideal PDE cycle along with C-J model and ZND model have been studied. The consideration of assumptions and neglecting loses, the theoretical performance of the pulse detonation engine become higher than the experimental and computational predicted performance. The thermodynamic parameters such as pressure, temperature density, Mach number and detonation wave velocity are theoretically calculated inside the combustion chamber and exit of the tube.