h a l f b a k e r y"Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
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I wonder if it would be possible to
construct an entire propulsion system
using only acoustic tech. One would
maintain superchill for fuel like RP-1
using
thermoacoustics... Since principle of
acoustic ignition is also based on
shockwave passing through a gas, could
the same system be
used to both cool
propellant & later ignite it? If you linked
these two systems via something like
NASA's Bellocq Compression Wave Pump
could you cool the propellant, keep it
under pressure, pump it to the ignition
chamber, and ignite it all using one
(acoustic) system rather than multiple
systems? I'm picturing a much-simplified
engine, somehow, with only one major
component, although I haven't had
enough coffee today yet that I can picture
it playing Van Halen in the parking lot...
I suppose something much similar could
also be used as a naval torpedo,
although it would probably drive
sonically-sensitive sea creatures--such
as whales and dolphins--nuts. Lord
knows it might spoof up a sonar
array...and come to think of it might also
tend to do interesting things to a sonic
boom...
Bellocq link
http://www.unusualr...om/Pump/bellocq.htm [cloudface, Oct 05 2004]
Thermoacoustic scientific gobbledygook PDF
http://www.td.mw.tu...eratur/NiPoliJoos00 I have no idea what any of this page means. [cloudface, Oct 05 2004]
Thermoacoustics for Dummies
http://www.er.doe.g...s_Discovery/25.html [cloudface, Oct 05 2004]
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Annotation:
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If, [contracts], you are implying that this idea will not work due to the absence of an atmosphere in space, I think you will find that all of the acoustic activity is to occur inside of the rocket, conducted by the medium of the fuel itself, in either a liquid or exploding state. |
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There may be other reasons this idea won't work, but that is not one. |
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The idea is not to use soundwaves for power, just for cooling/ignition. The only purpose seems to be to reduce the number of systems and simplify the engine. |
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I saw a shuttle launch once from about a mile or so from the cape. It was definitely acoustic. Unbelievably so. |
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Bris-for what it is worth, you could
probably squidge something together
with a purely acoustic system that
might cancel out some of the launch
noise. Not sure how you would do this,
but if you're doing everything else by
propagating vibration, why not
precisely cancel out air vibes while
you're at it? Probably save on wear and
tear to the vehicle. Note: not a new
technology; I think US could already use
this on certain military vehicles. Second
note I have no idea what I'm talking
about (the 3 gizmos I mentioned, are,
according to a Higher Authority, all very
different). |
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Does a pulse-jet qualify as an acoustic impulse engine? |
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Resonant waveguides are already in use as igniters. Fully baked, I'm afraid. |
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Maybe this thing could be fabbed on a
chip somehow... |
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I remember a Frank Zappa concert that really "impulsed" you. Also the structure I was perched on, to my great alarm. |
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Does a pulse-jet qualify as an acoustic
impulse engine?
Fussass, Aug 26 2004 |
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Yes!:-) we call it acoustic compression
combustion, complex as hell but it
works well, a big pressure jet type
engine is 150 dba at one metre, and
gives up to 3 atm of compression in the
combustion chamber, but for what this
idea needs you would have to apply
Macrosonics (patented) to stop shock
wave formation to get higher
compression ratios. |
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Anything like a pulse jet? |
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