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US6484492B2
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Magnetohydrodynamic flow control for pulse detonation engines
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 2001-01-09
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Granted: 2002-11-26
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Expires: 2021-01-09
Abstract
Abstract Flow control in pulse detonation engines is accomplished using magnetohydrodynamic principles. The pulse detonation engine includes a tube having an open forward end and an open aft end and a fuel-air inlet formed in the tube at the forward end. An igniter is disposed in the tube at a location intermediate the forward end and the aft end. A magnetohydrodynamic flow control system is located between the igniter and the fuel-air inlet for controlling detonation in the tube forward of the igniter. The magnetohydrodynamic flow control system utilizes magnetic and electric fields forward of the igniter to dissipate or at least reduce the ignition potential of the forward traveling detonation flame front.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory Vincent Meholic
- 👤 William Randolph Stowell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:36
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03H; F03H1/00; F02; F02K; F02K7/00; F02K7/02; F02K7/06; F05; F05D; F05D2260/00; F05D2260/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A pulse detonation engine comprising: a tube having an open forward end and an open aft end; an igniter disposed in said tube at a location intermediate said forward end and said aft end; a fuel-air inlet formed in said tube at said forward end; and a magnetohydrodynamic flow control system located between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet for controlling detonation in said tube forward of said igniter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A pulse detonation engine comprising: a tube having an open forward end and an open aft end; an igniter disposed in said tube at a location intermediate said forward end and said aft end; a fuel-air inlet formed in said tube at said forward end; and a magnetohydrodynamic flow control system located between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet for controlling detonation in said tube forward of said igniter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 1 wherein said igniter is located closer to said forward end than said aft end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 1 wherein said magnetohydrodynamic flow control system includes an electric field coil wrapped around said tube at a location between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet and a means for creating a magnetic field in said tube, whereby detonation of a fuel-air mixture in said tube will cause ionized combustion products to flow through said magnetic field and generate an electric current in said electric field coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 3 wherein said means for creating a magnetic field is a pair of permanent magnets located on opposite sides of said tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 3 further comprising means for directing said electric current to said igniter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 3 further comprising means for supplementing ionization of combustion products forward of said igniter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 1 wherein said magnetohydrodynamic flow control system includes a pair of electrodes disposed on opposite sides of said tube at a location between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet and a means for creating a magnetic field in said tube, whereby detonation of a fuel-air mixture in said tube will cause ionized combustion products to flow through said magnetic field and generate an electric current between said electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 7 wherein said means for creating a magnetic field is a pair of permanent magnets located on opposite sides of said tube and perpendicular to said electrodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 7 further comprising means for directing said electric current to said igniter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 7 further comprising means for supplementing ionization of combustion products forward of said igniter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 1 further comprising means for ionizing fuel-air mixture entering said tube via said fuel-air inlet and wherein said magnetohydrodynamic flow control system includes a magnetic field coil wrapped around said tube at a location between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 11 further comprising a controller for causing an electric current to flow though said magnetic field coil so that a magnetic field is created in said tube that causes a separation of said fuel-air mixture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 12 wherein said magnetohydrodynamic flow control system further includes an electric field coil wrapped around said tube at a location between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet and a means for creating another magnetic field in said tube in proximity to said electric field coil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 12 wherein said magnetohydrodynamic flow control system further includes a pair of electrodes disposed on opposite sides of said tube at a location between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet and a means for creating another magnetic field in said tube in proximity to said electrodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
A pulse detonation engine comprising: a tube having an open forward end and an open aft end; a fuel-air inlet formed in said tube at said forward end for introducing a fuel-air mixture into said tube; an igniter disposed in said tube at a location intermediate said forward end and said aft end for detonating said fuel-air mixture in said tube so as to generate a forward detonation wave group comprising a forward pressure wave and a forward flame front and an aft detonation wave group comprising an aft pressure wave and an aft flame front; and a magnetohydrodynamic flow control system located between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet for dissipating said forward flame front.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
A pulse detonation engine comprising: a tube having an open forward end and an open aft end; a fuel-air inlet formed in said tube at said forward end for introducing a fuel-air mixture into said tube; an igniter disposed in said tube at a location intermediate said forward end and said aft end for detonating said fuel-air mixture in said tube so as to generate a forward detonation wave group comprising a forward pressure wave and a forward flame front and an aft detonation wave group comprising an aft pressure wave and an aft flame front; and a magnetohydrodynamic flow control system located between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet for dissipating said forward flame front.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 15 wherein said igniter is located closer to said forward end than said aft end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
81 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 15 wherein said magnetohydrodynamic flow control system includes an electric field coil wrapped around said tube at a location between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet and a means for creating a magnetic field in said tube, whereby detonation of said fuel-air mixture in said tube will cause ionized combustion products to flow through said magnetic field and generate an electric current in said electric field coil so that said forward flame front is dissipated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 17 wherein said means for creating a magnetic field is a pair of permanent magnets located on opposite sides of said tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 17 further comprising means for directing said electric current to said igniter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 17 further comprising means for supplementing ionization of combustion products forward of said igniter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
82 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 15 wherein said magnetohydrodynamic flow control system includes a pair of electrodes disposed on opposite sides of said tube at a location between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet and a means for creating a magnetic field in said tube, whereby detonation of said fuel-air mixture in said tube will cause ionized combustion products to flow through said magnetic field and generate an electric current between said electrodes so that said forward flame front is dissipated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 21 wherein said means for creating a magnetic field is a pair of permanent magnets located on opposite sides of said tube and perpendicular to said electrodes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 21 further comprising means for directing said electric current to said igniter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 21 further comprising means for supplementing ionization of combustion products forward of said igniter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 15 further comprising means for ionizing fuel-air mixture entering said tube via said fuel-air inlet and wherein said magnetohydrodynamic flow control system includes a magnetic field coil wrapped around said tube at a location between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 25 further comprising a controller for causing an electric current to flow though said magnetic field coil so that a magnetic field is created in said tube that causes a separation of said fuel-air mixture that dissipates said forward flame front.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 26 wherein said magnetohydrodynamic flow control system further includes an electric field coil wrapped around said tube at a location between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet and a means for creating another magnetic field in said tube in proximity to said electric field coil.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
52 words
The pulse detonation engine of claim 26 wherein said magnetohydrodynamic flow control system further includes a pair of electrodes disposed on opposite sides of said tube at a location between said igniter and said fuel-air inlet and a means for creating another magnetic field in said tube in proximity to said electrodes.
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