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Pulse Detonation Engine Research Principal
Investigator: Professor Ron Hanson |
Naval
Postgraduate School PDE Facility
Pratt and Whitney Seattle Aerospace Center PDE Facility
Stanford University has initiated a research program to develop new laser
diagnostic techniques to study Pulse Detonation Engines (PDEs). Recently,
there has been a renewed interest in the PDEs owing to its potential for
higher performance, higher thrust to weight ratio and low-cost. Furthermore,
these engines are applicable to all sizes of propulsion systems from boost
phase to orbit maneuvering applications. PDE research at Stanford University
is part of a collaborative effort between a number of research institutions,
including Stanford, the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey CA, Cal Tech,
Penn State, The Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, and Pratt and
Whitney. Diagnostic methods developed at Stanford are tested in detonation-tube
experiments at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey and at Stanford.
These experiments are producing promising measurements of species concentrations,
temperature, pressure, and burned gas velocity in a highly transient flowfield
that heretofore has proven inaccessible.
Research Activities:
Advanced Laser Diagnostics
Cesium-based temperature and pressure sensor
Cesium-based velocimeter
UV-based temperature and OH concentration sensor
Performance and Nozzle Studies