Characteristics of pulse detonation engine versus ramjet characteristics

Abstract

We discuss the method of comparing pulse detonation engines (PDE) and engines with combustion in subsonic flow (ramjet) by means of their specific impulse used by the “Center of Pulse-Detonation Combustion” (CPDC). We demonstrate that the method used by CPDC to calculate the performance of PDE overstates the value of specific impulse relative to its actual value by a factor of at least two. In contrast, the values of specific impulse for ramjet are understated. As a result, the specific impulse of PDE significantly exceeds that of ramjet or is close to it. We investigate these misleading conclusions, and demonstrate their complete failure.