Abstract: The gas turbine intake can have a swirl housing assembly with a tangential inlet fluidly connecting an exhaust conduit, an annular outlet defined around a central axis and fluidly connecting a turbine gas path, a swirl path extending around the central axis and between the tangential inlet and the annular outlet, the swirl housing assembly having a proximal portion defining a first portion of the swirl path, a distal portion defining a second portion of the swirl path, vanes located in the swirl housing assembly, the vanes circumferentially interspaced from one another relative the central axis and extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the proximal portion fastened to the distal portion via a plurality of fasteners, a gasket sandwiched between the proximal portion and the distal portion by the plurality of fasteners, the gasket extending in a radial plane relative the central axis.

Abstract: An auxiliary power unit for an aircraft includes a rotary intermittent internal combustion engine drivingly engaged to an engine shaft, a turbine section having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the engine(s), the turbine section including at least one turbine compounded with the engine shaft, and a compressor having an inlet in fluid communication with an environment of the aircraft and an outlet in fluid communication with a bleed duct for providing bleed air to the aircraft, the compressor having a compressor rotor connected to a compressor shaft, the compressor shaft drivingly engaged to the engine shaft. The driving engagement between the compressor shaft and the engine shaft is configurable to provide at least two alternate speed ratios between the compressor shaft and the engine shaft.

Abstract: A scramjet includes a converging inlet, a combustor configured to introduce a fuel stream into an air stream in a combustion chamber and to combust the fuel air mixture stream to create an exhaust stream, and a diverging exit nozzle configured to accelerate the exhaust stream. The combustor includes a fuel injection system including at least one arcjet. A method of creating thrust for an aircraft includes compressing a supersonic incoming air stream in a converging inlet, injecting a fuel stream into the air stream in a combustion chamber to create a fuel air mixture stream, igniting the fuel air mixture stream to create an exhaust stream, and exhausting the exhaust stream from a diverging exit nozzle. The injecting the fuel stream into the air stream includes injecting the fuel stream at a fuel speed sufficient to create shear between the fuel stream and the air stream.

Abstract: A dynamic pressure exchanger configured for a combustion process includes an inlet plate and a rotor assembly mounted for rotation relative to the inlet plate about a central axis of the dynamic pressure exchanger. The inlet plate is formed to include an inlet port configured to direct air into the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes an inner rotor and an outer rotor arranged around the inner rotor.

Abstract: An auxiliary power unit for an aircraft includes a rotary intermittent internal combustion engine drivingly engaged to an engine shaft, a turbine section having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the engine(s), the turbine section including at least one turbine compounded with the engine shaft, and a compressor having an inlet in fluid communication with an environment of the aircraft and an outlet in fluid communication with a bleed duct for providing bleed air to the aircraft, the compressor having a compressor rotor connected to a compressor shaft, the compressor shaft drivingly engaged to the engine shaft. The driving engagement between the compressor shaft and the engine shaft is configurable to provide at least two alternate speed ratios between the compressor shaft and the engine shaft.

Abstract: A compound cycle engine having an output shaft; at least two rotary units each defining an internal combustion engine, a first stage turbine, and a turbocharger is discussed. The first stage turbine includes a rotor in driving engagement with the output shaft between two of the rotary units. The exhaust port of each rotary unit is in fluid communication with the flowpath of the first stage turbine upstream of its rotor. The outlet of the compressor of the turbocharger is in fluid communication with the inlet port of each rotary unit. The inlet of the second stage turbine of the turbocharger is in fluid communication with the flowpath of the first stage turbine downstream of its rotor. The first stage turbine has a lower reaction ratio than that of the second stage turbine. A method of compounding at least two rotary engines is also discussed.

Abstract: The flow through the core of a hybrid pulse detonation combustion system is passed through a compressor and then separated into a primary flow, that passes directly to the combustor, and a bypass flow, which is routed to a portion of the system to be used to cool components of the system. The bypass flow is routed to a nozzle of the pulse detonation combustor. The flow is then passed back into the primary flow through the core downstream of where it was extracted.

Abstract: A valveless pulse combustor having a combustion chamber with a closed first end and an open second end, the combustor also having a tailpipe in fluid communication with the open second end of the combustion chamber, the combustor further having an inlet pipe in fluid communication with the open second end of the combustion chamber, the inlet pipe and the tailpipe being arranged such that one is located within the other.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes a fan bypass passage in a cooling passage having an inlet that receives a bleed flow from the fan bypass passage and an outlet that discharges the bleed flow into the fan bypass passage. A nozzle having a variable cross-sectional area controls an airflow within the fan bypass passage. The bleed flow outlet is placed such that moving the nozzle to change the variable cross-sectional area controls an amount of the bleed flow through the cooling passage.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a pulse detonation engine (PDE) includes a controller configured to receive signals indicative of at least one of a desired operating parameter of the PDE and a measured internal parameter of the PDE, and to adjust at least one of a first fluid flow through the PDE and a second fluid flow through at least one of multiple pulse detonation tubes disposed within the PDE based on the signals. The PDE does not include a turbine or a mechanical compressor.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an air conditioning system located upstream of the inlet system for a gas turbine. The air conditioning system may include at least one conditioning module for adjusting the temperature of the airstream. The at least one conditioning module may have a plurality of forms including at least one of the following systems: a chiller, an evaporative cooler; a spray cooler, or combinations thereof. The specific form of the at least one conditioning module may be determined in part the configuration of the gas turbine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating the thrust during a flight envelope of a multiple combustor chamber detonation engine using cross-combustor chamber detonation initiation are provided. The detonation combustor chambers are filled with a combustible mixture of fuel and oxidizer. The combustible mixture in one of the detonation combustor chambers is ignited by an ignition source, and the remaining detonation combustor chambers are ignited by detonation cross-firing via connectors. A controller controls the ignition source and the supply of oxidizer and fuel to the detonation combustor chambers to modulate the thrust of the engine during the flight envelope.

Abstract: A dual mode combustor of a gas turbine engine contains at least one dual mode combustor device having a combustion chamber, a fuel air mixing element, a high frequency solenoid valve and a fuel injector. During a first mode of operation the dual mode combustor device operates in a steady, constant pressure deflagration mode, receiving its fuel from the fuel injector. In a second mode of operation the dual mode combustor device operates in a pulse detonation mode, receiving its fuel from the high frequency solenoid valve.

Abstract: An engine contains at least one pulse detonation combustor which is surrounded by a bypass flow air duct, through which bypass air flow is directed. The bypass air duct contains at least one converging-diverging structure to dampen or choke the upstream propagation of shock waves from the pulse detonation combustor through the bypass flow air duct. The bypass air also serves to cool the outer surfaces of the pulse detonation combustor. The bypass air flow is controlled in tandem with the heat release from the PDC to provide the appropriate amount of thermal energy to a downstream energy conversion device, such as a turbine. A mixing plenum is positioned downstream of the pulse detonation combustor and bypass flow air duct.

Abstract: A method for operating a pulse detonation engine, wherein the method includes channeling air flow from a pulse detonation combustor into a flow mixer having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a body portion extending therebetween. The method also includes channeling ambient air past the flow mixer and mixing the air flow discharged from the pulse detonation combustor with the ambient air flow such that a combined flow is generated from the flow mixer that has less flow variations than the air flow discharged from the pulse detonation combustor.

Abstract: An air bypass system for a gas turbine inlet filter house having a power augmentation system. The air bypass system may include a duct positioned on the inlet filter house about the power augmentation system and a damper positioned within the duct so as to open and close the duct.

Abstract: A liquid coinjector is disclosed which includes a main body having an upstream pipe defining an inlet flow channel in fluid communication with a chamber portion of the body, a downstream pipe defining an outlet flow channel in fluid communication with the chamber portion, and a merging pipe in fluid communication with the chamber portion. A flexible tube supported is in the inlet flow channel of the upstream pipe. The flexible tube facilitates fluid flow from the upstream pipe to the chamber portion. At least one pressing part is positioned adjacent to the flexible tube. The at least one pressing part is movable from a first position to a second position to compress the flexible tube and close the inlet flow channel.

Abstract: An engine contains at least one pulse detonation combustor which is surrounded by a bypass flow air duct, through which bypass air flow is directed. The bypass air duct contains at least one converging-diverging structure to dampen or choke the upstream propagation of shock waves from the pulse detonation combustor through the bypass flow air duct. The bypass air also serves to cool the outer surfaces of the pulse detonation combustor. The bypass air flow is controlled in tandem with the heat release from the PDC to provide the appropriate amount of thermal energy to a downstream energy conversion device, such as a turbine. A mixing plenum is positioned downstream of the pulse detonation combustor and bypass flow air duct.

Abstract: A pulsed combustion apparatus includes a conduit having an outer wall and an inner wall. The inner wall has a number of apertures. An interior space is separated from the outer wall by the inner wall. An induction system is positioned to cyclicly admit charges to the interior space. An ignition system is positioned to ignite the charges. Flow directing surfaces are positioned to at least cyclicly direct cooling air through the apertures.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating thrust from a gas turbine engine using a pulse detonation system is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a fan assembly, and a bypass duct channeling air to a core engine and the pulse detonation system. The method includes injecting a charge of fuel into a pulse detonation tube that is coupled radially outward from the core engine, and controlling a supply of air from the fan into the pulse detonation tube through an opening in the inlet end of the pulse detonation tube using a rotary valve that is positioned radially outward from the core engine.

Abstract: An engine includes at least one pulse detonation chamber configured to receive and detonate a fuel and an oxidizer. The pulse detonation chamber has an outlet end and includes a porous liner adapted to fit within an inner surface of the pulse detonation chamber within a vicinity of the outlet end. The engine also includes a casing housing the pulse detonation chamber.

Abstract: A turbine engine has a circumferential array of combustion chamber conduits downstream of the compressor and upstream of the turbine. Means are provided for directing oxygen-containing gas from the compressor to the conduits so as to cyclically feed a gas charge into each conduit through its first port and permit discharge of combustion products of the charge and fuel through both the first and second ports.

Abstract: A multi-mode propulsion system for potential application to hypersonic and aerospace planes. The system can employ various propulsion modes at various points in time, with the propulsion system employed at a given point in time being selected according to the velocity of the inlet airflow. In one embodiment, the propulsion system of the present invention has an ejector-augmented pulsed detonation rocket propulsion mode, a pulsed normal detonation wave engine mode, a steady oblique detonation wave engine mode, and a pure pulsed detonation rocket mode.

Abstract: Device in a burner for gas turbines, comprising a cylindrical housing (10) and a fuel inlet tube (16) arranged centrally within said housing, said housing (10) and fuel inlet tube (16) mutually defining an annular chamber (28). The annular chamber (28) extending into an extended diameter combustion chamber (18), having means (25) for supplying combustion air to said annular chamber (28). Radial flow swirlers (14) are provided for creating a rotational movement of the combustion air in said annular chamber. The housing (10) has a downstream restriction (20) in front of the free end of the centrally located fuel inlet tube (16), at the entrance of the combustion chamber (18), for creating a rich combustion spinning tubular swirl dominated flow of a mixture of air and fuel, with a recirculation central core, said tubular spinning flow extending into the combustion chamber (18).

Abstract: A pulsed detonation engine having an initiator tube fueled with an enhanced fuel mixture is configured in fluid communication with a detonation chamber via a divergent inflow transition section. The divergent inflow transition section has a diverging contoured shape having a rate of divergence continuously dependent upon the diameter of the tube, the critical diameter of the enhanced fuel mixture within the tube and the cross-sectional area of the detonation chamber. The inflow transition section, which may have a stair-step configuration, includes a plurality of fuel and/or air ports to permit the fuel and air to be injected through the transition section and into the detonation chamber.

Abstract: A pulsed detonation engine having an initiator tube fueled with an enhanced fuel mixture is configured in fluid communication with a detonation chamber via a divergent inflow transition section. The divergent inflow transition section has a diverging contoured shape having a rate of divergence continuously dependent upon the diameter of the tube, the critical diameter of the enhanced fuel mixture within the tube and the cross-sectional area of the detonation chamber. The inflow transition section, which may have a stair-step configuration, includes a plurality of fuel and/or air ports to permit the fuel and air to be injected through the transition section and into the detonation chamber. The pulsed detonation engine includes a volume of ejector/bypass air surrounding the detonation chamber, which captures the detonation engine exhaust and mixes the exhaust with the ejector air, and a back pressure device for feeding dynamic pressure ejector air to the interior of the detonation chamber near its outlet end.

Abstract: The present invention reveals a method and apparatus for more efficiently injecting a primary fluid flow in a fluid ejector used to pump lower velocity fluid from a secondary source. In one embodiment, the primary fluid flow is a pulsed or unsteady fluid flow contained within an inner nozzle situated within a secondary flow field. This secondary fluid flow is bounded within the walls of an ejector or shroud. The secondary and primary fluid flows meet within the ejector shroud section wherein the secondary fluid flow is entrained by the primary fluid flow. The geometry of the ejector shroud section where the primary and secondary fluids mix is such as to allow the beginning of primary injector pulse to be synchronized with an acoustic wave moving upstream through the ejector initiated by the exiting of the previous pulse from the ejector shroud. The ejector's geometric properties are determined by the acoustic properties, frequency, duty cycle, and amplitude, of the pulsed primary fluid flow.

Abstract: In a process for determining the amount of time elapsed between stopping a motor vehicle engine and restarting the engine, when the engine is restarted, the time information representing the time when the engine was stopped is subtracted from the time information representing the time when the engine was restarted. The time information representing the respective times is obtained from an on-board clock that serves to display the time in the motor vehicle.

Abstract: Solid propellant combustion apparatus such as a rocket motor, incorporating a combustion termination valve for providing two combustion phases from a single propellant charge system, the valve comprising a valve body (50) surrounding an opening (52) in the pressure vessel of the combustion apparatus, a valve member (60), retaining means (65) for releasably retaining said valve member in sealing engagement with the valve body whereby to hold the valve closed during a first combustion phase, valve opening means (68) operable on command for releasing said retaining means whereby to cause the valve member (61) to disengage from the valve body thereby opening the valve to terminate said first combustion phase by rapid de-pressurisation of the combustion gases through said opening, and valve closure means (72) operable on command to move the valve member (61) into sealing engagement with the valve body whereby to close the valve prior to re-ignition of the propellant charge for a second combustion phase.

Abstract: The power unit of ram-jet type comprises an aerobic combustion chamber supplied by a fuel gas generator and by at least one air intake. The gas generator is essentially constituted by a solid propellent whose combustion generates a reducing gas and starting means are provided so that there occurs upstream or at the intake of the combustion chamber a primary combustion which raises the temperature of the air to a value such that stable combustion is produced between the oxidizing air and the reducing gases.(FIG.