Researchers harness the power of rotating detonation
The University of Central Florida (UCF) and USAF have produced a rocket engine which uses oxygen and hydrogen in continuous rotating detonation (RD).
The challenge was to tune it so that it runs continuously. The engine consists of concentric cylinders which form an annulus where the continuous explosion takes place. It propagates around the annulus at about Mach 5 and small holes allow in fresh detonation mix. Pulses of propellant are injected at just the right time to keep the detonation going.
A team at UCF, working with the Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine Program at the Air Force Research Laboratory
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