Pulse Detonation Engine

[SasquatchM]

 

 

This needs Snjo's Firespitter Plugin to work


Wikipedia link for PDE information.

 

 

Edited November 13, 2016 by monstah
MediaFire link removed

[Svga777 -RUS-]

Nya! :3

Great engine!

[KinkyFerrets]

So...time to build the X-1?

[SasquatchM]

I still may have to tweak the Isp and propellant ratios a bit, but you can cruise at 30000 meters if you are a bit careful

[42undead2]

The engine sounds SO weird to me. But I like it.

[Canopus]

Sounds similar to this:

[Shaun]

That noise is haunting...

[Unistrut]

There's a group up in Northern California that does a bunch of right crazy things with pulse jet engines.

They've got a big one:

You can power a pretty sweet go-cart with one (skip to 1:30).

Or a slightly uncontrollable hovercraft.

My apologies regarding the video quality, I didn't film it.

So yeah, I'm pretty excited about being able to fire my Kerbals into the air with my very own pulse engines, and OP - that sound is fantastic.

[SasquatchM]

That sound is actually one I captured from the video in Canopus' post, modulated it a bit and looped it

[Canopus]

My ears must be better than i thought:D Anyway i love the glowing effect on the engine. Really good work.

[Devo]

Nice engine!

I see you got the animation to play in response to throttle control, what was the problem in the end?

Also maybe start a big thread, if you are going to make alot of parts, would be good to have them all in one area.

[Galacticruler]

You might want to rename the thread, this sounds like an Orion drive at first glance.

Love the part though!

[SasquatchM]

Actually I haven't had any problems using emissives, it is when object actually rotate that has been giving me grief. The intake thing spinning is done using Snjo's firespitter plugin

[Canopus]

You might want to rename the thread, this sounds like an Orion drive at first glance.

Love the part though!

It is a pulse detonation engine why should he rename the thread?

[lobsterbark]

You might want to rename the thread, this sounds like an Orion drive at first glance.

Love the part though!

In what way is this an Orion drive, and why should he re-name the thread.

[Midnight Jade]

This is beautiful! Especially the noise! Thank you!

[mootavic]

nuclear pulse propulsion ≠ pulse detonation. thread title is fine...

also, great part mate!

Edited May 20, 2013 by mootavic
spelling/clarity

[medikohl]

ok, made a few tweaks to the part config. hopefully this is in the ballpark of balance.

// --- general parameters ---

name = SM-Pulse-Detonation Engine

module = Part

author = SasquatchMarmalade

// --- asset parameters ---

mesh = model.mu

// --- node definitions ---

//node_stack_top = 0.0, 0.3820, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0

node_attach = -0.6386, 0.0, 0.0, -1.0, 0.0, 0.0

// --- FX definitions ---

fx_exhaustFlame_blue_small = 0.0, -10.3, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, running

fx_smokeTrail_light = 0.0, -10.3, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, running

fx_exhaustLight_blue = 0.0, -10.3, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, running

fx_exhaustSparks_flameout = 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, flameout

// --- Sound FX definition ---

// --- Sound FX definition ---

sound_vent_medium = engage

sound_PDE.wav = running

sound_PDE.wav = power

sound_vent_soft = disengage

sound_explosion_low = flameout

cost = 5000

category = Propulsion

subcategory = 0

title = SM-Pulse-Detonation-Engine

manufacturer = SM Aeronautics

description = The basic operation of the PDE is similar to that of the pulse jet engine; however, the PDE uses detonation waves to combust the fuel and oxidizer mixture. This PDE includes the housing and intakes.

// attachment rules: stack, srfAttach, allowStack, allowSrfAttach, allowCollision

attachRules = 0,1,0,1,0

// --- standard part parameters ---

mass = 1.8

dragModelType = default

maximum_drag = 0.1

minimum_drag = 0.1

angularDrag = 2

crashTolerance = 5

breakingForce = 200

breakingTorque = 200

maxTemp = 4000

MODULE

{

name = ModuleEngines

thrustVectorTransformName = thrustTransform

exhaustDamage = true

ignitionThreshold = 0.01

minThrust = 0

maxThrust = 260

heatProduction = 1000

useVelocityCurve = True

fxOffset = 0, 0, 0

PROPELLANT

{

name = IntakeAir

ratio = 10

}

PROPELLANT

{

name = LiquidFuel

ratio = .75

DrawGauge = True

}

atmosphereCurve

{

key = 0 1500

key = 0.4 2500

key = 1 800

}

velocityCurve

{

key = 0 0.7 0 0

key = 1000 1 0 0

key = 2000 0.6 0 0

key = 3400 0 0 0

}

}

MODULE

{

name = ModuleAnimateHeat

ThermalAnim = EmissiveAnim

}

MODULE

{

name = FXModuleAnimateThrottle

animationName = DetLight

dependOnEngineState = True

//responseSpeed = 0.1

}

MODULE

{

name = throttlePropSpinner

rotorparent = Nose // name of your propellers root part

rotationSpeed = -240f

}

MODULE

{

name = ModuleResourceIntake

resourceName = IntakeAir

checkForOxygen = true

area = 0.04

intakeSpeed = 1000

intakeTransformName = Intake

}

RESOURCE

{

name = IntakeAir

amount = 0.5

maxAmount = 0.5

}

MODULE

{

name = ModuleAlternator

RESOURCE

{

name = ElectricCharge

rate = 1

}

}

RESOURCE

{

name = ElectricCharge

amount = 0

maxAmount = 0

}

[SasquatchM]

It certainly is balanced to other engines, but have you looked up any info on PDEs? the Isp on the original was actually low, the thrust, if anything, is what should be tweaked. As far as the Isp at different altitudes, one of the main things about a PDE is that the internal pressure is pretty constant as long as it is operational, hence the constant ISP. I figured that oxygen deprivation would make a natural, if very high, ceiling. As far as Velocity CUrve, I actually have no idea how that works.

Thank you for the suggestions though, and if more people agree I may change the release values, or release an alternate, lower powered version

[rosenkranz]

The velocity curve defines the performance of the engine at various speeds.

velocityCurve

{

key = 0 0.7 0 0 // 70% thrust at a standstill

key = 1000 1 0 0 // 100% thrust at 1000m/s (mach 3?)

key = 2000 0.6 0 0 // 60% thrust at 2000m/s (near orbital speed)

key = 3400 0 0 0 // no thrust at 3400m/a (doesn't matter, you're going to space no matter what at this speed)

}

You're upper limit is set at 3400 which is 1000m/s faster than orbital speed. What is the practical speed limit on that type of engine?

[ghost010]

lol,the base principels of the PDE is almost the same as my fictional EMSP..and i didnt even know any thing about PDE until now.

wel im looking forward to this mod.

i stil have to update my EMSP with newer models..

[SasquatchM]

About Mach 5 from what I have seen, with fairly constant operating parameters all the way up to that speed. A few places are saying Mach 10+.

[Deadweasel]

You might want to rename the thread, this sounds like an Orion drive at first glance.

Love the part though!

The Orion drive concept involved detonating nuclear bombs outside of the vessel and riding the shockwaves. A pulsejet is a real thing, requiring no moving parts to operate (though I like the spinning forced-air intake on this model!) Instead of compressing fuel through pumps or turbines before detonation, a pulsejet relies on the shape of the exhaust nozzle to create a backblast into the combustion chamber, setting up the compression necessary for the next pulse to initiate. That's why they make such a head-rending racket: they are literally "fwoomp"-ing with each detonation, again and again at high speed.

[SasquatchM]

The difference between a pulse detonation engine and a pulse jet is that in the jet the fuel deflagerates/burns where in a PDE it actually detonates/explodes and the exhausting gasses are moving much faster. A pulse jet is pulse at around 250htz where a PDE is pulsing more than 1000htz

[bs1110101]

Is it just me, or does this have way to much drag with FAR?