What is Scramjet Engine ?

HEADLINES:

Science behind air-breathing scramjet engine

WHY IN NEWS:

Launch of HSTDV.

MINISTRY? :-Ministry of Space

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Space : Science and Technology

LEARNING:

For PRELIMS go through priniciple carefully and note down the technologies used in these types of engines.

For MAINS what are the significances if hypersonic ramjet engines ? Can you name a few ?

ISSUE:

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) performed a major technological feat on September 7 when it flew a cruise vehicle at a hypersonic speed of Mach six for 20 seconds.

AIR BREATHING ENGINES

This indigenous engine is the centrepiece of the cruise vehicle flown by DRDO

The cruise vehicle was flown at a hypersonic speed of Mach six for 20 seconds.

The DRDO called the cruise vehicle Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV).
The centrepiece of the HSTDV was the indigenously developed air-breathing scramjet engine, which formed the HSTDV’s propulsion system.
If the mission’s aim was to prove this scramjet engine in flight, it was achieved.

CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES IN HSTDV MISSION

The scramjet engine and its ignition

Sustaining the ignition, ethylene fuel.

Generation of maximum energy from the engine
Development of materials to take care of the high temperatures that occurred due to air friction on the leading edges of the cruiser’s wings,
Tail surface and nose tip, and controlling the HSTDV with minimum drag and maximum thrust.

THREE TYPES OF AIR-BREATHING ENGINES

Ramjet
Scramjet
Dual Mode Ramjet (DMRJ)

These are the three concepts of air-breathing engines which are being developed by various space agencies.

RAMJET ENGINE

A ramjet is a form of air-breathing jet engine that uses the vehicle’s forward motion to compress incoming air for combustion without a rotating compressor.

Fuel is injected in the combustion chamber where it mixes with the hot compressed air and ignites.

A ramjet-powered vehicle requires an assisted take-off like a rocket assist to accelerate it to a speed where it begins to produce thrust.
Ramjets work most efficiently at supersonic speeds around Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound) and can operate up to speeds of Mach 6.
However, the ramjet efficiency starts to drop when the vehicle reaches hypersonic speeds.

SCRAMJET ENGINE

A scramjet engine is an improvement over the ramjet engine .

These engines are efficiently operated at hypersonic speeds and allows supersonic combustion.

Thus it is known as Supersonic Combustion Ramjet, or Scramjet.

What is Scramjet Engine ?

DUAL MODE RAMJET

A dual mode ramjet (DMRJ) is a type of jet engine where a ramjet transforms into scramjet over Mach 4-8 range.
Which means it can efficiently operate both in subsonic and supersonic combustor modes.

What is Scramjet Engine ?

IASbhai WINDUP:

India is the fourth country to demonstrate the flight testing of a Scramjet Engine.

Mastering the air-breathing scramjet technology will lead to the development of hypersonic missiles.

Also , faster civilian air transportation and facilities for putting satellites into orbit at a low cost.

SOURCES:THE HINDU | What is Scramjet Engine ?

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