Title: Airbreathing Hypersonic Propulsion at Pratt & Whitney - Overview
Abstract: Pratt & Whitney (P&W) is developing the technology for airbreathing hypersonic components and engines. A supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) database was developed during the National Aero Space Plane (NASP) program using hydrogen fueled propulsion systems for space access vehicles. Two successful flight tests in 2004, one approaching Mach 7 and the other near Mach 10, of the P&W-designed, NASP-derived, Hyper-X hydrogen -fueled scramjet have provided flight data for code validation. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Hypersonic Technology (HyTech) Office has put programs in place to continue the NASP vision, incrementally, by developing the technologies necessary to demonstrate the operability, performance, and structural durability of a liquid hydrocarbon fueled scramjet system that operates from Mach 4 to 8. Flight tests of a flight-weight, fuel-cooled hydrocarbon scramjet under the Scramjet Engine Demonstrator-WaveRider (SED-WR) program are planned for 2008–2010 under AFRL and Defense Advanced Research Program Agency (DARPA) sponsorship. The application of scramjet engine technology as part of combined cycle propulsion systems is also being pursued. The combination of scramjet power and solid rocket booster acceleration is applicable to hypersonic cruise missiles. Scramjets that use gas turbines for low-speed acceleration and scramjets using rocket power are being studied for application to hypersonic cruise vehicles and reusable launch systems. P&W’s recent activities and future plans for hypersonic propulsion will be described.
Publication Year: 2005
Publication Date: 2005-05-16
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 25
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