High-Frequency Detonation-Driven Engine Utilizing High-Voltage Pulsed Plasma

Abstract During the operation of a fuel detonation engine, oxygen is required for combustion to provide the necessary support. After the combustion process, the oxygen content in the gas decreases, making it difficult to form a multistage supercharging system. However, in this work, when the plasma is heated, it can still be reheated and detonated, allowing for the creation of a multistage detonation continuous supercharging engine. The generation of high-temperature plasma does not have strict requirements for the composition of the gas; it does not require a very high content of oxygen or other types of combustion-supporting agents. Nor does it necessarily need standard atmospheric pressure or higher gas pressure support; it can be applicable in a certain degree of vacuum. To verify the feasibility of the output thrust of the high-frequency plasma detonation engine, the author conducted tests on a single-module plasma detonation engine in a certain vacuum environment. By the action of high-frequency and high-voltage plasma pulse heating, a single-stage ion engine can achieve a jet velocity far exceeding the speed of sound. These findings demonstrate that the detonation plasma engine has extremely promising prospects for future practical applications.