posted on Jan, 1 2007 @ 01:23 AM
Originally posted by Darkpr0
What is Pratt and Whitney's next move here? The F135 engine for the F-35 aside, what else is being developed/planned?
How about various combined cycle units giving an air vehicle the ability to go from takeoff to hypersonic with one engine yet utilizing a sequential
methodology to achieve it's terminal performance as well as exotic systems using common fuels, etc.
Examples:
Rocket Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) engine - a scramjet with rockets imbedded in the internal flowpath. With this engine approach, the rockets
are operated initially, up to a flight speed of Mach 3 or 4. The rockets are then turned off, and the engine is operated in ram/scramjet mode to Mach
7-8 for hydrocarbon fuel, or Mach 12-15 for hydrogen fuel.
Turbine Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) system - turbo-ramjet engines are used for flight up to Mach 4, and then separate ram/scramjet engines are
used for flight up to Mach 7-8 (hydrocarbon fuel) or Mach 12-15 (hydrogen fuel).
Hypersonic Scramjets running on hydrocarbon fuel mixtures
standard Turbofans running on alternative fuel sources.