5 ms·
For reasons I can't entirely recall, there are pretty serious limitations on the thrust these can generate. I believe it has something to do with the air becomi
by pluto9 6y ago
For reasons I can't entirely recall, there are pretty serious limitations on the thrust these can generate. I believe it has something to do with the air becoming "saturated" with ions. The limit on the density of charged particles limits how much mass you have to push on. The aircraft in your link has a top speed of 17km/h.
Heating the air with microwaves or an electric arc could work, since it would just be replacing burning fuel with another heat source. It would still require moving parts though (unless it's only used as a ramjet), since a jet engine has to compress the air before heating it.
- handol 6y ago>It would still require moving parts though (unless it's only used as a ramjet), since a jet engine has to compress the air before heating it. You could use a tesla valve for an electric pulse jet, that would make for no moving parts.
- pluto9 6y agoI hadn't considered that, that's a good idea.
- mrfusion 6y agoWhy do you need a tesla valve? Has anyone tried this?
- pluto9 6y agoYou need something to make sure the hot air only comes out one end of the engine, otherwise you get net zero thrust. In a normal jet the compressor takes care of this.
- handol 6y agoYou don't strictly need one. There are designs that rely on exhaust pulse resonance for pressure. There are designs that use various kinds of mechanical valves. It looks like (propane fuel) tesla valve pulse jets have been built, but I'm not seeing anything flight capable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYZhZ_qNKfE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYZhZ_qNKfE