The “Eternal” Jet Engine For Drones Created In US
University of Maryland subsidiary Wave Engine Corporation has developed a digitally controlled pulsating jet engine for unmanned aerial vehicles that uses no moving parts. The company announced that it has already delivered the first engines to customers.
Wave Engine Corporation grew out of the University of Maryland and a project to revive the pulse jet engine, which had been around for over a century. An engine of this type consists of two pipes with a common combustion chamber. The liquid fuel injected into the chamber is ignited and creates a shock wave region moving in both tubes, producing thrust. The vacuum that has arisen in the chamber sucks in a new portion of air, the fuel is again injected and ignited, and so on as long as the engine must run.
The design of such an engine is extremely simple – there is nothing to break in it. The use of digital control made it possible to optimize engine operation and make it as controllable as possible. Back in March, the Wave Engine company demonstrated the remote launch of such an engine as part of the proprietary Scitor-D drone.
In addition to the J-1, Wave is working on the larger K-1 engine, which promises up to 979 N of thrust for drones weighing up to 454 kg. The company also believes its technology has potential for larger commercial applications and a new class of high-speed VTOLs.