Airbreathing Propulsion with PACER Control

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and University of Minnesota (UMN) will develop and demonstrate strategies for using plasma assisted combustion with enhanced repetition (PACER) control in airbreathing propulsion systems. Using nanosecond plasma discharges, PSI and UMN will evaluate plasma assisted combustion strategies with very high discharge frequencies (~100 kHz) to enhance combustion efficiency and/or reduce combustion resonance time. Coupled with a unique sensing capability, plasma assisted combustion will also be used as a combustion stability control strategy, enabling reduced lean blowout limits and shorter combustors. In Phase I, small-scale experiments at UMN, rotating detonation combustor testing at PSI, guidance from our OEM partner, and system-level trade studies will be used as a pathfinder to down-select a single plasma assisted combustion strategy for further development in Phase II. Phase II will include a critical design review (CDR), fabrication, and testing with JP-5 fuel in order to demonstrate the down-selected strategy in a full-scale test article that translates directly to an OEM engine platform.