Experimental Investigations in 15 Centimeter Class Pulsejet Engines

Abstract

Testing is performed on the 15 centimeter class pulsejet engine in order to develop, study, and explore the operational characteristics. Valved and valveless operation, hydrogen and propane fuels, various fuel injection methods, and a range of geometric configurations are investigated for operational feasibility. The scaling capabilities of a valveless 15 centimeter class pulsejet of conventional design are studied by methodically varying inlet length, exit length, exit geometry, and inlet area to combustor area ratio (Ai/Ac). Engine performance is defined by measuring chamber pressure, internal gas temperatures, time-resolved thrust, operational frequency, and fuel flow rate. The scaling capability is characterized by the success of self-sustained combustion for each corresponding geometric configuration. Tail pipe length is found to be a function of valveless inlet length and may be further minimized by the addition of a diverging exit nozzle. Chemical kinetic times and Ai/Ac prove to be the two prominent controlling parameters in determining scaling behavior.