Patent ID: 6907724
Filing Date: 2005-06-21
Classification: F02K,F23C,F23R,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A combined-cycle engine for producing propulsive thrust, the combined-cycle engine comprising: a core engine operable for producing all of the propulsive thrust when the combined-cycle engine has a velocity that is less than a predetermined transition velocity; and at least one ramjet engine for producing at least a portion of the propulsive thrust after the velocity of the combined-cycle engine is greater than or equal to the predetermined transition velocity, the ramjet engine including a combustor and a swirl generator, the combustor having a combustor inlet, the swirl generator having an inlet housing, a swirl vane pack, a centerbody assembly, and a plurality of groups of fuel injectors, the inlet housing being coupled to the combustor inlet and defining a hollow interior volume therein, the inlet housing serving as a conduit through which an oxidizer flow is conducted, the hollow interior volume intersecting the combustor inlet at a dump step wherein the inlet housing has an inner dimension that is smaller than that of the combustor, the swirl vane pack being disposed within the hollow interior volume and having a plurality of vanes, the vanes cooperating to change the velocity of the oxidizer flow so that the velocity includes a substantial tangential velocity component, the centerbody assembly being disposed in the hollow interior volume and being coupled to the swirl vane pack so as to extend rearwardly therefrom, the centerbody assembly including an aft bluff body, an aft-most portion of the aft bluff body being sized relatively larger than an adjacent upstream portion of the centerbody assembly, and the plurality of groups of fuel injectors being coupled to at least one of the inlet housing, the swirl vane pack and the centerbody assembly and dispensing a fuel therefrom directly into the oxidizer flow for at least partially mixing the fuel and oxidizer prior to entering the combustor; wherein the swirl generator converts the oxidizer flow received therein into a swirling, three-dimensional flowfield; wherein a first portion of the flowfield flows over the dump step to form an outer recirculation zone; wherein a second portion of the flowfield forms a central recirculation zone that is anchored by an aft end of the centerbody assembly; wherein a first portion of the fuel mixes with the first portion of the flowfield to fuel the outer recirculation zone; wherein a second portion of the fuel mixes with the second portion of the flowfield to fuel the central recirculation zone; and wherein a remaining portion of the fuel enters and fuels a core flow.