Abstract: A method comprises providing a combustion apparatus having an outer vessel and an inner conduit. The outer vessel has a first wall that defines an internal volume. The inner conduit is at least partially positioned within the internal volume and provides a fluid passageway that is in communication therewith. The method further comprises introducing oxygen into the internal volume in a manner such that the oxygen swirls within the internal volume and around the inner conduit. Furthermore, the method comprises introducing fuel into the internal volume, and combusting the fuel and oxygen at least partially therewithin. The combustion of the fuel and oxygen produces reaction products and the method further comprises discharging at least some of the reaction products from the internal volume via the fluid passageway of the inner conduit.

Abstract: A method comprising providing a combustion apparatus, introducing a fuel into the combustion apparatus, and introducing feed air into the combustion apparatus. The method further comprises using the combustion apparatus to cause at least some of the fuel and at least some of the feed air to swirl within the combustion region and about a longitudinal axis of the combustion apparatus, and causing an initial combustion reaction of some of the swirling fuel and feed air in the combustion region to form combustion reaction products. Some of the swirling fuel at least temporarily remains unburned. The swirling is sufficient to cause the unburned fuel to move radially away from the longitudinal axis and to cause the combustion reaction products to move radially toward the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A jet-propelled rotary engine comprises a stator and a rotor operatively coupled to the stator for rotation of the rotor relative to the stator about a rotor axis. The rotor comprises at least first and second jet assemblies wherein the first jet assembly defines a first converging flow region, a first diverging flow region downstream of the first converging flow region, and a first discharge port and wherein the second jet assembly defines a second converging flow region, a second diverging flow region downstream of the second converging flow region, and a second discharge port. The rotary engine further comprises a combustion region having an upstream portion and is adapted to cause a combustion reaction of an oxygen-fuel mixture in the combustion region in a manner to form combustion reaction products which comprise at least a part of thrust matter to be discharged through the discharge ports of the first and second jet assemblies.

Abstract: A jet-propelled rotary engine comprises a stator and a rotor operatively coupled to the stator for rotation of the rotor relative to the stator about a rotor axis. The rotor comprises at least first and second jet assemblies wherein the first jet assembly defines a first converging flow region, a first diverging flow region downstream of the first converging flow region, and a first discharge port and wherein the second jet assembly defines a second converging flow region, a second diverging flow region downstream of the second converging flow region, and a second discharge port. The rotary engine further comprises a combustion region having an upstream portion and is adapted to cause a combustion reaction of an oxygen-fuel mixture in the combustion region in a manner to form combustion reaction products which comprise at least a part of thrust matter to be discharged through the discharge ports of the first and second jet assemblies.