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French to English: UAV/missile engines General field: Other Detailed field: Military / Defense
Source text - French Nouveaux moteurs pour drones et missiles
L'essai d'un moteur à ondes de détonation pulsées par MBDA ouvre la voie vers de futures démonstrations en vol.
Serait-ce le grand retour du moteur à ondes de détonation pulsées? Ce mode de propulsion dit "rustique" pourrait présenter des avantages par rapport au moteur à poudre ou au petit turboréacteur dans la motorisation des futurs engins militaires aéroportés. La chose n'a pas échappé à MBDA : le missilier européen, en partenariat avec l'institut de recherche singapourien DSO, réalise en ce moment à Singapour les premiers essais au banc d'un démonstrateur complet de moteur à ondes de détonation pulsées ou PDE (Pulse Detonation Engine) aérobie. Après de nombreux travaux menés en laboratoire avec différents instituts russes et le LCD de Poitiers, MBDA veut dorénavant démontrer que l'utilisation d'un PDE est une alternative digne d'intérêt dans la propulsion des futurs missiles ou UAV subsoniques. "L'idée, c'est de remettre à l'ordre du jour un mode de propulsion dont le principe est bien connu, afin, dans un premier temps, de maîtriser la technologie. Puis dans un second temps, d'envisager une démonstration en vol", explique François Falempin, responsable des études de propulsion avancée chez MBDA. "Et dans le domaine, on approche d'un tournant : on va démontrer soit que le concept n'est pas viable, soit qu'il est possible de définir un vrai moteur opérationnel et de l'intégrer à un véhicule. Alors l'affaire deviendra sérieuse", poursuit-il. Ces essais permettront également une première levée de risque quant aux problèmes inhérents à ce mode de propulsion, notamment les fortes vibrations générées par un PDE. Bien que le cycle thermodynamique à combustion isochore (volume constant) d'un PDE ait un rendement 20 à 25 % supérieur à celui d'un moteur à combustion isobare (pression constante), l'idée n'est pas de privilégier la performance, mais de proposer une solution qui a ses propres avantages : "On cherche à obtenir quelque chose se situant entre le moteur à poudre et le petit turboréacteur. En a fait, on vise des performances intermédiaires et un coût réduit. On vise également à preserver des capacités opérationnelles très spécifiques, comme la possibilité d'éteindre et de rallumer le moteur autant de fois que voulu ou d'obtenir des niveaux de poussée très différents dans une même mission. Des choses qui ne sont pas forcément simples à faire avec un petit turboréacteur", précise François Falempin.
Nouvelles solutions. Ainsi un PDE pourrait convenir à de nouvelles armes ou UAV subsoniques dont le profil de vol serait très différent de ce qui existe aujourd'hui. En jouant sur la fréquence de fonctionnement du moteur, l'aéronef pourrait alterner des phases de vol à grande vitesse (croisière, mouvement offensif) et des phases de patrouille ou de surveillance à vitesse réduite, voire en vol plané. "Aujourd'hui, il n'y a pas d'application clairement identifiée pour ce genre de moteur car on est encore au stade de l'acquisition technologique. Mais ces essais sont également un moyen de générer le besoin chez les équipes chargées d'imaginer les armes de demain, en montrant qu'il existe d'autres solutions technologiques offrant de nouvelles capacités", poursuit l'ingénieur. Le concept proposé par MBDA et le DSO comprend deux tubes de prédétonation permettant une amorce plus facile de la détonation dans le tube principal (celui dans lequel est généré l'essentiel de la poussée). Il utilise comme combustible de l'hydrocarbure gazeux (type éthylène), qui facilite la détonation. Pour résoudre le problème de la purge des gaz brûlés dans le tube principal, MBDA a déposé un brevet sur un système de piston combiné à des ouïes qui permettent d'amortir le pic de pression. A terme, l'objectif est de rendre ce moteur avionnable : l'une des pistes envisagées est d'utiliser un UAV existant pour une démonstration en vol. Pour le moment, une telle entreprise reste toujours conditionnée par les financements que pourraient accorder les gouvernements français et singapourien. Néanmoins, le missilier européen ne désespère pas de réaliser un premier vol d'ici trois ou quatre ans.
Détonation continue. Autre concept étudié par MBDA, le moteur à ondes de détonation continues ou CDWE (Continuous Detonation Wave Engine). Un démonstrateur préliminaire devrait être essayé au centre d'essais MBDA/Roxel de Subdray, en novembre prochain. Le CDWE a un fonctionnement différent du PDE (cf. schéma) : dans une chambre de combustion annulaire, on injecte en permanence par le haut un mélange de combustible et du comburant. On initie ensuite une détonation à un endroit de la chambre et, par un phénomène de surpressiondépression, une ou plusieurs ondes vont se propager de manière circulaire dans la chambre. Comme du mélange frais est injecté en permanence, l'effet s'auto-entretient sans qu'il soit besoin de renouveler la détonation. Un CDWE pourrait avoir des applications multiples, comme remplacer la chambre de combustion dans un turboréacteur, en vue de répercuter sur l'ensemble du moteur le gain du cycle isochore par rapport au cycle isobare. De même, équipé d'une tuyère, un CDWE pourrait se substituer à un moteurfusée liquide, tout en disposant théoriquement d'une meilleure impulsion spécifique. Dans un premier temps, MBDA souhaite reproduire ce qui a été fait en Russie en coopération avec l'institut Lavrentiev. L'idée est ensuite de démontrer que la technologie est effectivement prometteuse afin de convaincre les donneurs d'ordres. Selon les financements obtenus, MBDA table sur l'essai d'un démonstrateur plus gros (diamètre de 300 mm) qui permettra une meilleure compréhension du phénomène, l'optimisation des performances, de premiers travaux sur les matériaux et la validation des premiers brevets. Avec en ligne de mire l'établissement d'éventuels partenariats avec d'autres industriels.
Translation - English New engines for UAVs and missiles
MBDA testing of a pulse detonation engine opens the door to future flight demonstrations.
Might this be a large-scale return to pulse detonation engines? This type of propulsion, called “rustic”, could show benefits over solid-fuel engines or small turbojets for future military airborne vehicles. This hasn’t escaped the notice of MBDA. In partnership with the Singapore research institute DSO, the European missile manufacturer is currently conducting initial rig tests with a complete pulse detonation engine (PDE) demonstrator or air-breathing PDE.Following numerous laboratory studies with various Russian institutes and the Combustion and Explosives Science Laboratory (LCD) at Poitiers, MBDA intends from now on to show that use of a PDE is an alternative worthy of interest for the propulsion of future missiles or subsonic UAVs. “The idea is to put back on the agenda a propulsion type whose principle is well known, in order to master the technology as a first step. Then the second stage is to consider a flight demonstration”, explains François Falempin, head of Advanced Propulsion Studies at MBDA. “And we’re approaching a watershed in the technology. It will be proved either that the concept is not viable or that it’s possible to design a real operational engine and fit it to a vehicle. Then the subject will become serious”, he adds.The tests will also give an idea of the risks arising from the inherent problems of the type of propulsion, especially the strong vibrations generated by a PDE. Although the isochore-combustion thermodynamic cycle (constant volume) of a PDE has an efficiency 20 to 25 % above that of an isobar combustion engine (constant pressure), the idea is not to place particular emphasis on performance but to put forward a solution with its own advantages. “We’re trying to obtain something between the solid-fuel engine and the small turbojet. In effect, we are aiming for a compromise performance and reduced cost.We’re also seeking to keep very specific operational capabilities, such as the potential to stop and re-fire the engine as often as desired or to obtain very different thrust levels on the same mission. Things that are not necessarily easy to do with a small turbojet”, explains François Falempin.
New solutions. So a PDE could suit new weapons or subsonic UAVs whose flight profile would be very different from what exists now. By taking advantage of the engine’s operating frequency, the aerial vehicle could alternate high-speed flight phases (cruise, attack movement) with low-speed patrol and surveillance phases or even gliding. “Today there is no clearly identified application for this type of engine because we’re still at the technology acquisition stage.But these tests are also a way of generating a requirement in the concept teams responsible for visualising the weapons of tomorrow, by showing there are other technology solutions offering new capabilities”, continues the engineer. The concept proposed by MBDA and the DSO comprises two pre-detonation tubes giving an easier ignition of detonation in the main tube (where the main part of the thrust is generated). As fuel it uses gaseous hydrocarbon (ethylene type), facilitating the detonation. To resolve the problem of cleaning burnt gases in the main tube, MBDA has applied for a patent on a piston system combined with louvres that allow attenuation of the pressure peak. In the long run, the objective is to make the engine suitable for aerial vehicle propulsion. One of the avenues considered is to use an existing UAV for a flight demonstration. For the moment, this kind of undertaking depends on any funding granted by the French and Singapore governments. Nevertheless the European missile maker has not lost hope of effecting a first flight within three to four years.
Continuous detonation. Another concept studied by MBDA is the continuous detonation wave engine (CDWE). A preliminary demonstrator is reportedly to be tested at the MBDA/Roxel test centre at Subdray next November. The CDWE operates differently from the PDE (see diagram). A mixture of fuel and oxidiser is injected continuously from above into a ring-shaped combustion chamber. A detonation is then initiated at a point in the chamber and, through the phenomenon of overpressure-underpressure, one or more waves spread in a circular movement in the chamber.As a fresh mixture is injected continuously, the effect is self-perpetuating without the need to repeat the detonation. A CDWE could have many applications, such as replacement of the combustion chamber in a turbojet, in order to pass on to the whole engine the benefits of the isochore cycle, compared with the isobar cycle. Similarly, if fitted with a nozzle a CDWE could replace a liquid rocket engine, while having theoretically a better specific pulse.In a first phase MBDA aims to reproduce what was done in Russia in cooperation with the Lavrentyev Institute. The idea is then to demonstrate that the technology is indeed promising, in order to convince those who place orders. According to the funding obtained, MBDA is counting on the testing of a larger demonstrator (300 mm diameter) which will allow better understanding of the phenomenon, performance optimisation, initial work on the materials and validation of the first patents. With a future eye on the creation of possible partnerships with others in the industry.
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