Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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.'"

15 of 354 comments (clear)

  1. FROSTY PISS! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    7ds fo life

  2. hi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    can someone tell me where to find the GNAA?

    1. Re:hi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      efnet channel #GNAA. I think they died though. The SJP busted too many caps in the GNAA's domes I guess.

  3. Argh by Faust7 · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    You actually expect me to read a six-page article? This is madness, Michael!

    --
    The coolest voice ever.
  4. anti-matter... by DannyiMac · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Still no anti-matter engine...

    but until then this seems promising...

    --
    - Danny
  5. Fart Detonation Engines by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    ..."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. 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.'"

    I hereby propose a new technology to replace the jet turbine with the fart-detonation engine. It works by inducing sporadic farts hundreds to thousands of times a second. It works by digesting food substances high in cholestrol such that high gaseous byproducts result. It is thermodynamically more efficient. But there are big engineering issues--nasal fatigue, noise. It's very challenging research.

  6. this is old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    this is old news

  7. Cannonball? by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    If I'm not mistaken, there was a mutant in the marvel universe named Cannonball who flew by continuosly causing his lower half to explode, thus forming a continual form of propulsion. Cool stuff.

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  8. Re:Pulse detonation engines? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    above comment illustrated

  9. *BSD dying!!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    fuck this im jumping OUT OF TEH SPACE SHIP!!! Wildcat is teh spoke!

  10. I am reminded of the Richard Gere + gerbil story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Maybe that's how the gerbil came out at supersonic speeds? I mean, an intestine is almost similar to the tubes they use for pulse detonation.

    And if you don't understand the above post (therefore are not familiar with the said Gere + gerbil story), you really should be thankful.

  11. Damn... by useosx · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I hate when my little brother posts stuff from my account. How am I supposed to keep up my Karma Whoring ways when he posts dumb shit and I get slapped -1, Troll?

    KWA=Karma Whores Anonymous

  12. Fax me up Scotty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    The future of travel is the fax machine. It's based on a simple principle. (Read Arthur C. Clarke's Hammer of God.) Scan the object or person's entire molecular structure, beam up that data via ultra-broadband and recreate that data at the other end. Just be sure to destroy the original at the other end. Or you might end up with two Terminators running for governor of California.

  13. *BSD dying!!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Elegy For *BSD

    I am a *BSD user
    and I try hard to be brave
    That is a tall order
    *BSD's foot is in the grave.

    I tap at my toy keyboard
    and whistle a happy tune
    but keeping happy's so hard,
    *BSD died so soon.

    Each day I wake and softly sob
    Nightfall finds me crying
    Not only am I a zit faced slob
    but *BSD is dying.
  14. Re:Manned V1 by 17028 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Hehe, awesome sig.