What if

Hot Research Topics => Aircraft, Armor, Weapons and Ships by Topic => Topic started by: KJ_Lesnick on May 15, 2015, 04:43:50 PM

Title: Kronach-Lorin Ramjet
Post by: KJ_Lesnick on May 15, 2015, 04:43:50 PM
I'm curious about a couple of things: I've done some searching online and I've found a little bit about the engine, and this is what I know
This may seem like a pretty comprehensive description, except for two major details

The first has to do with the 200 mph speed at which it became effective, what I'm unsure of is the exact specifics
This, in and of itself, is highly impressive: Most ramjets designed for supersonic speed seem to be highly inefficient at subsonic speeds in terms of overall power and fuel burn: This design looked like it had the ability to operate across a wide range of speeds and appeared to possess a decent endurance.

The second has to do with the subject of fuel: Though the design was configured to use coal, I'm curious if a similar concept could have been adapted to use regular fuels, with the fuel being sprayed in to the combustion chamber, pressurized gas-bottles used to produce massive flames which would serve to produce both an ignition source and possibly a propulsive source.
Title: Re: Kronach-Lorin Ramjet
Post by: wuzak on May 16, 2015, 07:54:12 PM
I guess it used coal because that's the fuel the Germans had in abundnace at that stage of the war.

You might get better performance with regular petrol or Diesel, but what point is that if you haven't enough to put in the plane.

http://tanks45.tripod.com/Jets45/Histories/Do17/Do17.htm

FWIW, the GErmans were developing a couple of aviation steam turbines for use with the Me 264. One was to have 4,000hp and the other 6,000hp. The latter was planned to use 70% pulverised coal/30% liquid fuel at least until liquid fuel supplies improved.
Title: Re: Kronach-Lorin Ramjet
Post by: KJ_Lesnick on May 19, 2015, 06:22:19 PM
Quote from: wuzak on May 16, 2015, 07:54:12 PMI guess it used coal because that's the fuel the Germans had in abundnace at that stage of the war.
No, I get that -- I'm just curious if the basic mechanism would work if gas was used