Winston
Lorenzo von Matterhorn
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Simple, fuel-efficient rocket engine could enable cheaper, lighter spacecraft
18 Feb 2020
https://techxplore.com/news/2020-02-simple-fuel-efficient-rocket-enable-cheaper.html
...a new type of engine—called a rotating detonation engine—promises to make rockets not only more fuel-efficient but also more lightweight and less complicated to construct. There's just one problem: Right now this engine is too unpredictable to be used in an actual rocket.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a mathematical model that describes how these engines work. With this information, engineers can, for the first time, develop tests to improve these engines and make them more stable.
"The rotating detonation engine field is still in its infancy. We have tons of data about these engines, but we don't understand what is going on," said lead author James Koch, a UW doctoral student in aeronautics and astronautics. "I tried to recast our results by looking at pattern formations instead of asking an engineering question—such as how to get the highest performing engine—and then boom, it turned out that it works."
18 Feb 2020
https://techxplore.com/news/2020-02-simple-fuel-efficient-rocket-enable-cheaper.html
...a new type of engine—called a rotating detonation engine—promises to make rockets not only more fuel-efficient but also more lightweight and less complicated to construct. There's just one problem: Right now this engine is too unpredictable to be used in an actual rocket.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a mathematical model that describes how these engines work. With this information, engineers can, for the first time, develop tests to improve these engines and make them more stable.
"The rotating detonation engine field is still in its infancy. We have tons of data about these engines, but we don't understand what is going on," said lead author James Koch, a UW doctoral student in aeronautics and astronautics. "I tried to recast our results by looking at pattern formations instead of asking an engineering question—such as how to get the highest performing engine—and then boom, it turned out that it works."
