THE THERMODYNAMIC BASIS OF PULSED DETONATION ENGINE THRUST PRODUCTION

In recent years, several papers have been published comparing the detonative engine thermodynamic cycle with the classical Brayton cycle. While these papers appear to be converging on an industry-accepted thermodynamic model for the Pulsed Detonation Engine, PDE, total convergence has not yet occurred. This paper attempts to assist in the convergence by applying analysis to representative trajectories, fuel-to-air ratios, and component efficiencies. It is found that global conservation of energy for the post-detonative state provides a representative condition from which to compute nozzle expansion losses.