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air-breathing engine


air-breathing engine performance
Performance of air-breathing engines burning hydrogen fuel
An engine that takes in air from its surroundings in order to burn fuel. Examples include the ramjet, scramjet, turbojet, turbofan, and pulse-jet. These contrast with a rocket which carries its own oxidizer and thus can operate in space. Some vehicles, such as space planes, may be fitted with both air-breathing and rocket engines for efficient operation both within and beyond the atmosphere.

The maximum velocity of air-breathing engines is limited to 1–3 km/s due to extreme temperature and dissociation of the exhaust gas; however, the maximum velocity of a hydrogen-breathing engine of the same design is about 4 times higher.


Related categories

   • ADVANCED PROPULSION CONCEPTS
   • AERODYNAMICS AND AERONAUTICS
   • ROCKET ENGINE TYPES


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