Physics:Rotating detonation engine

From HandWiki
Short description: Type of rocket engine

Conceptual animation of RDE flow field by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

A rotating detonation engine (RDE) uses a form of pressure gain combustion, where one or more detonations continuously travel around an annular channel.[1] Computational simulations and experimental results have shown that the RDE has potential in transport and other applications.[2][3]

In detonative combustion, the flame front expands at supersonic speed. It is theoretically up to 25% more efficient than conventional deflagrative combustion,[4] potentially enabling increased fuel efficiency.[5][6]

Disadvantages include instability and noise.[citation needed]

Concept

A prototype RDE under test at the Marshall Space Flight Center

The basic concept of an RDE is a detonation wave that travels around a circular channel (annulus). Fuel and oxidizer are injected into the channel, normally through small holes or slits. A detonation is initiated in the fuel/oxidizer mixture by some form of igniter. After the engine is started, the detonation is self-sustaining. One detonation ignites the fuel/oxidizer mixture, which releases the energy necessary to sustain the detonation. The combustion products expand out of the channel and are pushed out of the channel by the incoming fuel and oxidizer.[3]

Although the RDE's design is similar to the pulse detonation engine (PDE), the RDE can function continuously because the waves cycle around the chamber, while the PDE requires the chambers to be purged after each pulse.[7]

Development

The concept of rotating detonations emerged from theoretical studies on detonation waves and rocket engine combustion instability. Experimental observation and analysis first occurred in 1950s in both the Soviet Union and United States, followed by a prolonged period of limited research during the 1960s–1990s.[8] In the Soviet Union, B. V. Voitsekhovskii pioneered the development, while in the United States, J.A. Nicholls at the University of Michigan advanced the concept through his investigations of detonations and tangential combustion instabilities in liquid rocket engines.[9]

GE Aerospace

In 2023 GE Aerospace demonstrated a subscale laboratory turbine based combined cycle (TBCC) system that combined a Mach 2.5-class turbofan paired with a rotating detonation-dual-mode ramjet (RD-DMRJ). The test came 18 months after program launch. The company reported rotating detonations of a compressed fuel-air mixture in the presence of the supersonic airflow necessary for speeds above Mach 5.[10]

In 2026, the company and Lockheed Martin announced a joint effort to produce a hypersonic missile powered by an RDE. The RDE is to initially accelerate the missile to supersonic speeds, at which point it will reconfigure to act as a ramjet, then reconfiguring to a scramjet to reach hypersonic speeds.[11][12]

DARPA

DARPA is working with RTX on Gambit, researching the application of rotating detonation engines for supersonic air-launched standoff missiles.[13][14] DARPA is also working with Venus Aerospace which successfully tested its RDRE engine in March 2024.[15]

US Navy

The US Navy has been pushing development.[16] Researchers at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) have a particular interest in the capability of detonation engines such as the RDE to reduce the fuel consumption of their ships.[17][16] Several obstacles must still be overcome in order to use the RDE in the field. As of 2012, NRL researchers were focusing on better understanding how the RDE works.[18]

Aerojet Rocketdyne

Since 2010, Aerojet Rocketdyne has conducted over 520 tests of multiple configurations.[19]

NASA

Daniel Paxson[20] at the Glenn Research Center used simulations in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to assess the RDE's detonation frame of reference and compare performance with the PDE.[21] He found that an RDE can perform at least on the same level as a PDE. Furthermore, he found that RDE performance can be directly compared to the PDE as their performance was essentially the same.

On January 25, 2023, NASA reported successfully testing its first full-scale rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE). This engine produced 18 kN (4,000 lbf) of thrust. NASA has stated their intention to create a 44 kN (10,000 lbf) thrust unit as the next research step.[22] On December 20, 2023, a full-scale Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine combustor was reportedly fired for 251 seconds, achieving more than 26 kN (5,800 lbf) of thrust. Test stand video captured at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, US, demonstrated ignition.[23]

Energomash

According to Russian Vice Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, in mid-January 2018 NPO Energomash company completed the initial test phase of a 2-ton class liquid propellant RDE and plans to develop larger models for use in space launch vehicles.[24]

Purdue University

In May 2016, a team of researchers affiliated with the US Air Force developed a rotating detonation rocket engine operating with liquid oxygen and natural gas as propellants.[25] Additional RDE testing was conducted at Purdue University, including a test article called "Detonation Rig for Optical, Non-intrusive Experimental measurements (DRONE)", an "unwrapped" semi-bounded, linear detonation channel experiment.[26] IN Space LLC, in a contract with the US Air Force, tested a 4,900 lbf (22 kN) thrust rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) while testing with liquid oxygen and gaseous methane at Purdue University in 2021.[27]

University of Central Florida

In May 2020, a team of engineering researchers affiliated with the US Air Force claimed to have developed a highly experimental working model rotating detonation engine capable of producing 890 N (200 lbf) of thrust operating on a hydrogen/oxygen fuel mix.[28]

In 2021 the group demonstrated an oblique detonation wave engine with a ramp angle of 30 degrees.[29][30]

JAXA

On July 26, 2021 (UTC), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) succeeded in testing the RDE in space for the first time in the world by launching the S-520-31 sounding rocket equipped with a 500 N (110 lbf) class RDE in the second stage.[31] The engine used gaseous methane and oxygen as propellants, generating an average thrust of 518 N (116 lbf) and delivering 290 seconds of specific impulse. Rotating combustion also created a torque of 0.26 N·m, so a S-shaped pulse detonation engine was used to reduce the spin of the stage.[32][33]

S-520-34 launched on November 14, 2024, experimented successfully with a liquid ethanol / N2O propellant.[34]

Łukasiewicz Research Network - Institute of Aviation

On September 15, 2021, the Warsaw Institute of Aviation performed the first successful flight test of an experimental rocket powered by a rotating detonation rocket engine, powered by liquid propellants. The test took place on September 15, 2021, at the testing ground of the Military Institute of Armament Technology in Zielonka near Warsaw in Poland. The rocket engine, according to the plan, worked for 3.2 s, accelerating the rocket to a speed of about 90 m/s, which allowed the rocket to reach an altitude of 450 m.[35]

Beijing Power Machinery Institute

In 2023 researchers announced a demonstration unit of a hybrid air-breathing engine. It combines a continuous RDE for propulsion at below Mach 7 with an oblique detonation engine for use at speeds up to Mach 16. The oblique detonation waves are stationary and stabilized. BPMI is China's leading ramjet manufacturer.[36]

Chongqing University Industrial Technology Research Institute/Sky Flight Science and Technology Center

On March 21, 2023, Chongqing University Industrial Technology Research Institute along with Sky Flight Science and Technology Center has reported they achieved the successful ignition test of China's first 1,000 N (220 lbf) kerosene-fueled continuous rotating detonation engine[37] and conducted skid tests of the H1-M continuous rotating detonation engine in 2022.[38]

Pratt & Whitney

On March 4, 2025, Pratt & Whitney reported they successfully completed tests on their RDE. It was tested in extreme conditions they are looking to operate in, with their eventual goal: to propel “Vehicles critical to future defence applications”. They believe the engine with no moving parts can increase efficiency and cost due to the lower complexity, allowing for more mass to be budgeted in other subsystems, like fuel and payloads.[39]

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

On July 16, 2025, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology's Institute for Thermal Energy Technology and Safety (ITES) successfully tested a rotating detonation combustor with turbine integration and electricity production, with a combustor runtime of 90 seconds and turbine runtime of 60 seconds.[40][41]

PEGASUS (ARIS)

PEGASUS, a focus project within the Academic Space Initiative Switzerland (ARIS, by ETH Zurich), has designed the first student-built RDE. An engine with 1 kN of thrust for 10 seconds is currently in development.[42][43]

Astrobotics

Astrobotic Technology demonstrated 18 kN (4,000 lbf) RDE in April 2026. It fired continually for 300 seconds at full thrust.[44][45]

Other research

Other experiments have used numerical procedures to better understand the flow-field of the RDE.[46] In 2020, a study from the University of Washington explored an experimental device that allowed control of parameters such as the width of the annulus. Using a high-speed camera, researchers were able to view it operating in extreme slow motion. Based on that they developed a mathematical model to describe the process.[47]

In 2021, the Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, successfully tested the world's first hypersonic detonation wave engine powered by kerosene, which could propel a plane at Mach 9.[48]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "More power, no moving parts: The quest to fly a rotating detonation engine". https://www.rtx.com/news/2025/03/04/more-power-no-moving-parts-rotating-detonation-engine. 
  2. ↑ Lu, Frank; Braun, Eric (7 July 2014). "Rotating Detonation Wave Propulsion: Experimental Challenges, Modelling, and Engine Concepts". Journal of Propulsion and Power (The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) 30 (5): 1125–1142. doi:10.2514/1.B34802. Bibcode: 2014JPP....30.1125L. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wolanski, Piotr (2013). "Detonative Propulsion". Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 34 (1): 125–158. doi:10.1016/j.proci.2012.10.005. Bibcode: 2013PComI..34..125W. 
  4. ↑ Птичкин, Сергей (2018-01-18). "В России испытали модель детонационного двигателя для ракет будущего" (in ru). Российская газета. https://rg.ru/2018/01/18/levochkin-vozmozhnost-sozdaniia-detonacionnogo-dvigatelia-podtverdilas.html. 
  5. ↑ Cao, Huan; Wilson, Donald (2013). "Parametric Cycle Analysis of Continuous Rotating Detonation Ejector-Augmented Rocket Engine". 49th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference. doi:10.2514/6.2013-3971. ISBN 978-1-62410-222-6. 
  6. ↑ Schwer, Douglas; Kailasanath, Kailas (25 September 2010). "Numerical Investigation of the Physics of Rotating Detonation Engines". Proceedings of the Combustion Institute (Elsevier, Inc.) 33 (2): 2195–2202. doi:10.1016/j.proci.2010.07.050. Bibcode: 2011PComI..33.2195S. 
  7. ↑ Fernelius, Mark; Elia, Shareil; Musielak, Dora E.. "Pressure Gain Combustion Program Committee - Resources". https://info.aiaa.org/tac/pc/PGCPC/Resources/Resources.aspx. Retrieved 2016-12-30. 
  8. ↑ Hishida, Manabu; Fujiwara, Toshi; Wolanski, Piotr (February 2009). "Fundamentals of rotating detonations". Shock Waves (Springer Nature) 19 (1): 1–10. doi:10.1007/s00193-008-0178-2. Bibcode: 2009ShWav..19....1H. 
  9. ↑ Anand, Vijay; Gutmark, Ephraim (July 2019). "Rotating Detonation Combustors and Their Similarities to Rocket Instabilities". Progress in Energy and Combustion Science (Elsevier, Inc.) 73: 182–234. doi:10.1016/j.pecs.2019.04.001. Bibcode: 2019PECS...73..182A. 
  10. ↑ Trimble, Steve (December 19, 2023). "Rotating Detonation Sparks GE Path To Hypersonic Future | Aviation Week Network". https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/aircraft-propulsion/rotating-detonation-sparks-ge-path-hypersonic-future. 
  11. ↑ Szondy, David (2026-01-15). "New rotating-detonation engine boosts hypersonic missile efficiency" (in en-US). https://newatlas.com/military/rotating-detonation-hypersonic-missile/. 
  12. ↑ "GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin Demonstrate Rotating Detonation Ramjet for Hypersonic Missiles" (Press release). Lockheed Martin. January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  13. ↑ Salvatore, Buccellato. "Gambit". https://www.darpa.mil/program/gambit. Retrieved 2023-12-03. 
  14. ↑ "RTX to develop rotating detonation engine for DARPA". https://www.rtx.com/news/news-center/2023/10/04/rtx-to-develop-rotating-detonation-engine-for-darpa. Retrieved 2023-12-03. 
  15. ↑ Szondy, David (March 11, 2024). "Video: Hypersonic rotating detonation engine in sustained test burn". https://newatlas.com/military/rotating-detonation-engine/. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Threewitt, Cherise (2013-03-08). "How the Rotating Detonation Engine Works". http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/trends-innovations/rotating-detonation-engine3.htm. 
  17. ↑ Niemeyer, Kyle (2012-11-06). "US Navy developing rotating detonation engine". Physics Today (11). doi:10.1063/PT.5.026505. ISSN 0031-9228. Bibcode: 2012PhT..2012k7137.. http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/magazine/physicstoday/news/news-picks/usnvydevelopingrottingdetontionengine-a-news-pick-post. 
  18. ↑ McKinney, Donna. "Navy Researchers Look to Rotating Detonation Engines to Power the Future". https://www.nrl.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/2565333/navy-researchers-look-to-rotating-detonation-engines-to-power-the-future/. Retrieved 2022-03-14. 
  19. ↑ Claflin, Scott. "Recent Advances in Power Cycles Using Rotating Detonation Engines with Subcritical and Supercritical CO2". http://www.swri.org/4org/d18/sCO2/papers2014/systemConcepts/09PPT-Claflin.pdf. Retrieved 20 March 2017. 
  20. ↑ "Daniel E. Paxson - Controls and Dynamics Branch Personnel". https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/cdtb/personnel/dan.html. 
  21. ↑ "UCSB Full Bib - External Link". http://pegasus.library.ucsb.edu/F/MBE5776HMPFJMQ45D8TAUSM6V9237AU4DVN1D521M49XLCE8CG-35036?func=service&doc_library=SBA01&doc_number=004533761&line_number=0001&func_code=WEB-FULL&service_type=MEDIA. Retrieved 2015-11-09. 
  22. ↑ Osorio, Ray (25 January 2023). "NASA Validates Revolutionary Propulsion Design for Deep Space Missions". https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/feature/nasa-validates-revolutionary-propulsion-design-for-deep-space-missions. 
  23. ↑ Osorio, Raymond J (20 December 2023). "NASA's 3D-printed Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine Test". https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/marshall/nasas-3d-printed-rotating-detonation-rocket-engine-test-a-success/. 
  24. ↑ "Facebook". https://www.facebook.com/dmitry.rogozin/posts/1651863201503679?pnref=story. 
  25. ↑ Purdue LOX/NG RDE - HotFire on YouTube
  26. ↑ Slabaugh, Carson (2018). "Advancing Pressure Gain Combustion in Terrestrial Turbine Systems". Department of Energy. https://netl.doe.gov/sites/default/files/netl-file/Carson-Slabaugh-Track-A.pdf. 
  27. ↑ "ROTATING DETONATION ROCKET ENGINES (RDRE)". Air Force Research Laboratory. 2022. https://afresearchlab.com/technology/rotating-detonation-rocket-engines-rdre. 
  28. ↑ Blain, Loz (5 May 2020). "World-first "impossible" rotating detonation engine fires up". https://newatlas.com/space/rotating-detonation-engine-ucf-hydrogen-oxygen/. Retrieved 6 May 2020. 
  29. ↑ "UCF Oblique Wave Detonation Engine". https://www.infinitymasculine.com/posts/ucf-oblique-wave. 
  30. ↑ Thornton, Mason R.; Rosato, Daniel A.; Ahmed, Kareem A. (2022-01-03). "Experimental Study of Oblique Detonation Waves with Varied Ramp Geometries". AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum 3–7 January 2022. San Diego, CA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi:10.2514/6.2022-1753. ISBN 978-1-62410-631-6. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2022-1753. Retrieved 13 November 2024. 
  31. ↑ Spînu, Florina (19 August 2021). "Japan Tests Explosion-Powered Rocket for the First Time in Space, Is a Success". https://www.autoevolution.com/news/japan-tests-explosion-powered-rocket-for-the-first-time-in-space-is-a-success-167696.html. 
  32. ↑ Goto, Keisuke et al. (2023). "Space Flight Demonstration of Rotating Detonation Engine Using Sounding Rocket S-520-31". Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets 60 (1): 273–285. doi:10.2514/1.A35401. ISSN 0022-4650. Bibcode: 2023JSpRo..60..273G. 
  33. ↑ Kawasaki, Akira; Matsuyama, Koichi; Matsuoka, Ken; Watanabe, Hiroaki; Itouyama, Noboru; Goto, Keisuke; Ishihara, Kazuki; Buyakofu, Valentin et al. (January 3–7, 2022). "Flight Demonstration of Detonation Engine System Using Sounding Rocket S-520-31: System Design". AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi:10.2514/6.2022-0229. ISBN 978-1-62410-631-6. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2022-0229. 
  34. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ja). JAXA. 14 November 2024. https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2024/11/20241114-1_j.html. 
  35. ↑ Poland launched a rocket powered by a detonation engine, 30 September 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc9JmPlgBy8, retrieved 2021-10-07 
  36. ↑ Wang, Brian (2023-12-29). "China Makes Most Powerful Detonation Engine for Hypersonic Flight | NextBigFuture.com". https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2023/12/china-makes-most-powerful-detonation-engine-for-hypersonic-flight.html. 
  37. ↑ "国内首台！产研院参研的1000N连续旋转爆震发动机点火试车成功-重庆大学产业技术研究院". https://cyjs.cqu.edu.cn/info/1013/2104.htm. 
  38. ↑ "国内首次连续旋转爆震发动机百米滑跑试验成功！-重庆大学产业技术研究院". https://cyjs.cqu.edu.cn/info/1013/2012.htm. 
  39. ↑ "RTX's Pratt & Whitney completes series of rotating detonation engine testing" (in en). https://www.rtx.com/news/news-center/2025/03/04/rtxs-pratt-whitney-completes-series-of-rotating-detonation-engine-testing. 
  40. ↑ 90s compressorless hydrogen gas turbine run at KIT-ITES. July 16, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025 – via YouTube.
  41. ↑ Grune, Joachim (2025-09-23). "Reaching 90 sec runtime, throttling, and turbine operation with a hydrogen-based rotating detonation combustor". HISST Proceedings 2025. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/396335971. 
  42. ↑ Schatzmann, Hannes. "PEGASUS" (in en-US). https://aris-space.ch/pegasus/. 
  43. ↑ "Instagram". https://www.instagram.com/p/DXbIlGqDTw-. 
  44. ↑ "Astrobotic's Detonation Engine Fires 4,000 Pounds of Thrust in Wild Test". Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/astrobotics-detonation-engine-fires-4000-pounds-of-thrust-in-wild-new-demonstration-2000750533. 
  45. ↑ "Astrobotic Breaks Records for Hot Firing Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE)". April 23, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjnC8KvakKk. 
  46. ↑ Schwer, Douglas; Kailasanath, Kailas (2011-01-01). "Numerical investigation of the physics of rotating-detonation-engines". Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 33 (2): 2195–2202. doi:10.1016/j.proci.2010.07.050. Bibcode: 2011PComI..33.2195S. 
  47. ↑ Strickler, Jordan (February 19, 2020). "New detonating engine could make space travel faster and cheaper". https://www.zmescience.com/space/space-flight-space/new-detonating-engine-could-make-space-travel-faster-and-cheaper/. 
  48. ↑ Tamim, Baba (November 20, 2022). "China claims 'world's first' kerosene-powered engine could propel jets nine times the speed of sound". https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-worlds-first-kerosene-powered-engine. 



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Physics:Rotating_detonation_engine&oldid=4369688"