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cjameshuff t1_j6jof4l wrote

The idea of using detonation to improve efficiency is quite old. The V1 "buzz bomb" used a pulsejet engine in 1944-1945, and experimental versions of pulsejets using detonations are about as old. The vibrations inherent in pulsejets of any sort have prevented them from being used much.

The basic concept of using continuous detonation waves in some form has probably been around for just as long, but has been more difficult to implement.

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BackflipFromOrbit t1_j6l01s2 wrote

Standing oblique detonation ram jets are also a thing. Instead of the detonation wave revolving around an annulus it occurs in a static position downstream of a really interesting series of C-D nozzles and fuel injectors. It uses the ram effect for oxygen intake and compression but undergoes a pre-burn through an upstream CD nozzle to accelerate the gas further to higher mach numbers. The gas then flows into another CD nozzle where more fuel is injected at the throat. This mixture then accelerates again and just downstream of the throat there's a ramp that causes a standing oblique shock wave. The rapid increase in heat and pressure crossing the boundary of the oblique shock causes the fuel rich hypersonic gas to detonate constantly.

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cjameshuff t1_j6l0p7t wrote

Oh, the shcramjet (not a typo). Yeah, I'd forgotten about those.

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