Combined-cycle pulse detonation engines are promising contenders for hypersonic propulsion systems.In the present study,design and propulsive performance analysis of combined-cycle pulse detonation turbofan engines(PDTEs)is presented.Analysis is done with respect to Mach number at two consecutive modes of operation:(1)Combined-cycle PDTE using a pulse detonation afterburner mode(PDA-mode)and(2)combined-cycle PDTE in pulse detonation ramjet engine mode(PDRE-mode).The performance of combined-cycle PDTEs is compared with baseline afterbuming turbofan and ramjet engines.The comparison of afterburning modes is done for Mach numbers from 0 to 3 at 15.24 km altitude conditions,while that of pulse detonation ramjet engine(PDRE)is done for Mach 1.5 to Mach 6 at 18.3 km altitude conditions.The analysis shows that the propulsive performance of a tubine engine can be greatly improved by replacing the conventional afterbumer with a pulse detonation afterburner(PDA).The PDRE also outperforms its ramjet counterpart at all flight conditions considered herein.The gains obtained are outstanding for both the combined-cycle PDTE modes compared to baseline turbofan and ramjet engines.
