Research in advanced propulsion systems...

is striving to study the main physicochemical reactions in high-pressure and/or high velocity propulsion systems of the future using highly sensitive laser and optical diagnostics. The scope of study includes aerospace rocket propulsion, hypersonic air-breathing engines, as well as advanced land based internal combustion engine concepts.

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High-Pressure Reactive Flow Imaging

Using multi-spectral LIF imaging, efforts are being made to make quantitative imaging of chemical species with high sensitivity at pressures exceeding 50 bar. The intent is to enable excitation and detection strategies which are valid for modern propulsion systems. The left image shows quantitative nitric oxide (NO) imaging up to 60 bars.

Supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research

Scramjet Research (Wright Patterson Air Force Base)

High speed PLIF (>10 kHz) imaging which is under development will be carried out in the supersonic wind tunnels at Wright Patterson Air Force Base to determine flame holding and propagation dynamics under scramjet conditions. The right image shows the hypersonic wind tunnel in Research Cell 19 at the Propulsion Directorate of Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton Ohio. 

Supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research

Next Generation: Wave Disk Engine

A new project is underway to develop a novel and highly efficient engine which extracts power from combustion using shock wave propagation along a rotating disk. The 'wave disk' under normal operating conditions can be up to 80% more efficient than the regular piston based internal combustion engine by not relying on power extraction during gas expansion. This project was one of 37 selected from a pool of more than 3700 proposals.

Supported by the Department of Energy, ARPA-E