Article Title: Internal flow dynamics and performance of pulse detonation engine with alternative fuels

Article Abstract: In this study, analytical and computational analysis is performed to determine the effect of thermodynamic detonation parameters on the performance of the pulse detonation engine. For analytical study along with pure fuels blend of hydrogen (50 %) & kerosene (50 %), hydrogen (50 %) & methane (50 %) and methane (50 %) & kerosene (50 %) are considered. The ANSYS FLUENT program is utilized twodimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation using a stoichiometric mixture of three pure fuels: hydrogen-air, methane-air, and kerosene-air. Time-dependent numerical simulations are used to explore the flow condition inside the detonation tube. Excellent performance is observed for hydrogen-air fuel. Hydrogen shows the highest velocity of 2524.36 m/s and a specific impulse of 6842.16 s. The lowest velocity and specific impulse are produced by kerosene of 1520 m/s and 1473.6 s, respectively. It is shown that measured parameters could vary significantly depending on the choice of fuels used. The results infer that hydrogen blends of methane and kerosene fuels are also suitable for pulse detonation engine (PDE) application. Finally, these analytical and simulated results are validated with the previously published literature and NASA CEA (national aeronautics and space administration -chemical equilibrium with applications).

Article Review Author: Kyle Ford

Link to Article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.121719

Article Title: Design and Fabrication of Valve Pulse Jet and Simulation using FEA Technique

Article Abstract: Pulse jet works on the principle of Kadenacy effect and produces thrust due to combustion, occurring in pulses. This paper focuses of the construction of small scale valve pulse jet. Air fuel mixture enters through reed valve into the combustion chamber and gets ignited by the sparkplug produces tremendous energy which results in expansion of gases to produce thrust. The above model is generated in Solid works software, and the structural and thermal analysis is carried out using ANSYS Workbench platform, a finite element technique. The results which are obtained are validated with the existing work.

Article Review Author: Kyle Ford

Link to Article: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335713727_Design_and_Fabrication_of_Valve_Pulse_Jet_and_Simulation_using_FEA_Technique_Advances_in_Nanoscience_and_Nanotechnology_Corresponding_author

Article Title: The Evolution and Testing of an Aerovalve Pulsejet Engine

Article Abstract: The goal of this project was to develop and test a self-aspirating aerovalve pulsejet and measure its operating characteristics. An investigation of pulsejets developed by previous experimenters revealed design trends associated with the engine geometry. These trends were followed in the development of an aerovalve pulsejet engine entitled the Astra. The engine employed variable fuel injection methods, ignition location and exhaust pipe length to show that certain combinations of geometry relations and fuel injection methods were more conducive to pulse combustion. Even though the engine pulsed with forced inlet air, the Astra did not self-aspirate as did the engines on which its design was based due to insufficient mixing of fuel and air. Data regarding combustion chamber pressures and temperatures were collected to verify pulsating behavior. The project also included extensive documentation of engine design changes and experimentation to serve as a guideline for future aerovalve pulsejet developers.

Article Review Author: Walt Morris

Link to Article: https://commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1195&context=db-theses

Article Title: Modeling 7 Numerical Exploration of Pulsejet Engine Using Eddy Dissipation Combustion Model

Article Abstract: Pulsejet engines are typically considered some of the easiest engines to understand and work with, but modeling these engines can sometimes be tricky. In this article, the eddy dissipation combustion model is used to analyze the combustion and thrust creation of pulsejet engines. Also, the impact of fuel inlets to the combustion chamber on thrust generation is explored. Ansys is used to create computational models of the pulsejet variations so that they may be compared to experimental results to further validate collected experimental data. As fuel inlets are added to the combustion chamber of a pulsejet engine, the thrust produced by that engine becomes greater with each addition when mixed with an appropriate amount of air.

Article Review Author: Walt Morris

Link to Article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214785320313754

Article Title: Numerical Simulation and Experimental Investigation of Thrust Produced by a Hobby-Scale Pulsejet Engine

Article Abstract: The pulsejet is a type of jet engine in which combustion occurs in pulses. It was introduced to the world in the 1860s and the most famous previous application was the “V-1 buzz bomb” during World War II. Because of its high thrust to weight ratio, low cost and simple design, the pulsejet has recently received more research interest, like micro-scale propulsion devices for UAVs, or even large-scale propulsion devices for single stage to orbit Launchers. The objectives of this research include investigating the thrust a hobby scale pulsejet can deliver and its operating frequency, and develop a numerical simulation model for future study. This project investigated pulsejet operation in a combined numerical and experimental approach. The working mechanism of pulsejet engine was studied and a numerical simulation code based on a shock tube model with a quasi-one-dimensional assumption was built using second-order accurate Lax–Wendroff scheme. The code was capable of predicting flow parameters at various locations of the pulsejet engine with different lengths and diameters. A test bed with mounting clamps was manufactured; 10 tests were run on gaseous propane with assistance from an air compressor. The simulation model estimated the 40 cm pulsejet can deliver an average 4.18 N thrust with a 232 Hz operating frequency and the maximum instantaneous thrust was 32N. When the pulsejet was running on different fuel–air equivalence ratios, the working frequency was different. The load-cell was proved to be capable of detecting and recording each combustion events; and the operating frequency could be derived from the thrust data with high accuracy.

Article Review Author: Isaiah Dupree

Link to Article: https://etda.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/26358

Article Title: The Pulsejet Engine A Review of its development potential

Article Abstract: The pulsejet was the object of much concentrated study immediately after World War II, but in spite of this intense study, the pulsejet has never lived up to its promised performance. Recently, there has been a renewal of interest in the pulsejet and a considerable amount of research and experimentation has been conducted. Some recent developments are pulsejets which are capable of supersonic operation, use of pulsejets for auxiliary power generation, and attempts to use a pulsejet as a combustor for a gas turbine engine. This paper reviews this recent work and includes thermodynamic analysis, a description of wave processes, and a description of the ignition mechanism. The problems of noise and vibration are also addressed. From this study of recent work, several potential applications are proposed, and recommendations about areas requiring further study are made.

Article Review Author: Isaiah Dupree

Link to Article: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD0787439

Article Title: Computational Approach in Sizing of Pulsejet Engine

Article Abstract: The pulsejet has recently received more research interests due to its simple design, which can be developed into low-cost micro-scale propulsion devices for use in many new applications such as UAVs and UCAVs. Because of the relatively low thermal efficiency of pulsejets has always been the major obstacle in their development. Pulsejet engine generally consist of an air/ fuel inlet valve, a combustion chamber and a resonance tube (tailpipe) for exhausting the combustion products. The combustiondriven oscillation of the pulsejet often causes boring noise, non-designed working conditions and even structural failure of the combustion system. However, such instabilities have some merits such as enhancing heat transfer, increasing combustion intensity and reducing NOX pollutants.[2] The pulse jet combustion is a positive use of the combustion-driven oscillations. The pulse combustion is intermittent (periodic) combustion of gaseous, liquid and fine powdered solid fuel.

Article Review Author: Jake Manuele

Link to Article: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284511823_Computational_Approach_in_Sizing_of_Pulsejet_Engine

Article Title: Design and Analysis of Improved Pulse Jet Engine

Article Abstract: The project entitled design and analysis of improved pulsejet engine is based on advance propulsion technique. The main objective of this project is to design a pulsejet engine which is able to produce high thrust and improved specific fuel consumption for the same amount of fuel used. This can be done by providing continuous combustion in the combustion chamber with the help of flame holders and also reducing the velocity of the inlet air by providing a divergent type diffuser. Initially pulsejet engines were designed as a target drone and recently pulse jet engines find their application in passenger and military aircrafts but the main drawback preventing the pulse jet engine from using in passenger aircraft is its low fuel efficiency. The flame holder provided inside the combustion chamber stabilizes the flame thus initiating continuous combustion inside the combustion chamber. The flame holder used is a baffle type flame holder because it is simple and efficient. The pulse jet body will be designed using the CATIA V5 R20 software and the meshing will be done using GAMBIT and the analysis will be done using ANSYS Fluent 12 CFD package.

Article Review Author: Jake Manuele

Link to Article: 18.design andanalysis of pulse jet engine.pdf (kresttechnology.com)