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Pulse Detonation Engines: The Future of Aviation

Posted by michael on from the knock-and-ping dept.

noah_fense writes "Popular Science is running an interesting article about the race to replace the jet turbine with a more efficient source of Mach-breaking airpower: the pulse-detonation engine. It works by detonating (instead of slow burning) fuel hundreds to thousands of times a second. PDE technology is poised to make supersonic passenger flights and space travel affordable. 'Pulse detonation is a hot topic in combustion research,' says Gabriel Roy of the Office of Naval Research. 'Compared with gas turbines, the PDE has a much simpler configuration. It has the capability of going from subsonic to supersonic using less fuel, and it's thermodynamically more efficient. But there are big engineering issues--thermal fatigue, noise. It's very challenging research.'"

10 of 354 comments (clear)

  1. Knee-slapper by Faust7 · · Score: 3, Funny

    'Pulse detonation is a hot topic in combustion research,' says Gabriel Roy of the Office of Naval Research.

    Sounds like they're strained for humor over there.

    --
    The coolest voice ever.
    1. Re:Knee-slapper by I+don't+want+to+spen · · Score: 5, Funny

      Don't start a 'flame' war ...

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      Don't go to a brothel if you want to buy broth
  2. untill the valves wear out by temojen · · Score: 5, Funny

    most of them probably won't make it across the english channel.

  3. Pulse *detonation*? by neostorm · · Score: 4, Funny

    "...But there are big engineering issues--thermal fatigue, noise..." ...Potential explosions...

  4. If it pans out... by ReyTFox · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...we might finally get affordable supersonic jet transportation?

    I can't stand flights of over an hour or two myself, and it would probably encourage even greater mobility then we have today if it's cheap enough. For example, transcontinental dating.

  5. PDE propulsion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is this what they are talking about? Dr. Fun

  6. Re:I wonder by JeanBaptiste · · Score: 3, Funny
    Considering his inventions (AC power)


    well if you can get power from an Anonymous Coward, slashdot should have the energy market cornered...
  7. Big engineering issues by SnappingTurtle · · Score: 5, Funny
    But there are big engineering issues--thermal fatigue, noise.

    I suspect that "blowing shit up" is another one of those big issues.

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    I've found that my posts don't format quite right w/o a sig.
  8. Safety Issues by Air-conditioned+cowh · · Score: 5, Funny

    I notice in the pictures that the lady standing next to the engine on the second page has no head.

    An engine that decapitates people is certainly very injurous to health.

  9. Re:I saw a prototype of a pulse detonation engine. by Dirtside · · Score: 5, Funny
    It sure looked loud.
    Ah, but the real question is, did it sound big?
    --
    "Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased