Chinese Hypersonic Developments (HGVs/HCMs)

Chinese scientists build world’s first jet fuel-powered engine for Mach 16 flight​

As the need for speed grows, researchers have developed an engine that uses standard aviation kerosene to travel up to 20,000km/h​

The world’s first oblique detonation engine (ODE) powered by standard aviation kerosene has been successfully tested by Chinese

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, marking a potential game-changer in hypersonic propulsion that could redefine the limits of air and space travel.

In a series of groundbreaking experiments at Beijing’s

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, which simulates high-Mach flight conditions in altitudes of over 40km (25 miles), researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) achieved sustained oblique detonation waves using RP-3 jet fuel, a common commercial kerosene.

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The results, published in China’s Journal of Experiments in Fluid Mechanics, suggest combustion rates 1,000 times faster than traditional scramjet engines, with operational capability between Mach 6 and Mach 16 – a speed where conventional air-breathing engines falter.

Unlike scramjets, which require bulky combustion chambers and struggle with flame-out risks at high

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, the ODE harnesses shock waves as allies.

By strategically positioning a 5mm bump on the combustor wall, engineers found they could induce self-sustaining “detonation diamonds” – ultra-fast shock wave-fuelled explosions – that completed combustion in microseconds.

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For decades,

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engines have relied on hydrogen or ethylene, but while they are fuels with quick ignition, they have impractical storage requirements. RP-3 kerosene, on the other hand, while logistically ideal with higher energy density, has long ignition delays that make the engine extremely difficult to start mid-flight.

But the CAS team has circumvented this by pre-compressing fuel-air mixtures to 3,800 Kelvin (3,527 degrees Celsius) before ignition, introducing a small bump that creates localised “hotspots” to trigger chain reactions, and accelerating fuel dispersion using wing-shaped struts.

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coolgod said:

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Chinese scientists build world’s first jet fuel-powered engine for Mach 16 flight​

As the need for speed grows, researchers have developed an engine that uses standard aviation kerosene to travel up to 20,000km/h​

Seems like a decently big deal to an outsider like me.

Also as an aside, what do we think of the motivations behind SCMP's Steven Chen articles? I'm neutral on the outcome of his articles, but I have no idea what the motive behind it is.

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The results, published in China’s Journal of Experiments in Fluid Mechanics, suggest combustion rates 1,000 times faster than traditional scramjet engines, with operational capability between Mach 6 and Mach 16 – a speed where conventional air-breathing engines falter.

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Andy1974 said:

I think you should ask what is the motivation for SCMP’s existence.

I believe it is like a honey pot, it’s purpose is to attract the China haters in the west and slowly manipulate them with a mixture of anti-China articles which builds trust with them, and a mix of pro-China articles which gradually converts them to pro-China attitudes.

As for Stephen Chen, you should not listen to the biased opinions here. He is often reporting things published in legit journals, but because he is the one reporting some members here insist we should not believe or even discuss it.

Personally, I like reading his articles and they make me more pro-China.

Edit: If you want to get Stephen Chan reported news past the censors here just go the to original journal source and post that instead..

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coolgod said:

I agree with you because I believe SCMP's overall stance is neutral to slightly positive for China, otherwise the Chinese government wouldn't be leaking exclusive info to them all the time. Also SCMP is owned by Jack Ma, who has now been shown publicly beside President Xi.

Besides just doing a hyped popsci summary of Chinese Science/Tech/Military articles to attract views for SCMP, I think they act as the credible 战恐局 for China's military. They also fulfill a weird role of 出口转内销, somehow using "western/HK media" to increase the credibility of certain news which I'm still puzzled by, why can't domestic Chinese private media be the ones to write about these Chinese sci/tech papers with potential military applications? Cause they don't want to jeopardize the credibility of domestic Chinese media? Or is it because western media, think tanks, government and military orgs wouldn't be able to cite Chinese domestic media even though they know the information is true?

I'm especially curious about @Blitzo 's view on this since he seems very opinionated about these kind of SCMP articles, and also since he is a contributor to military articles in other media organizations. I suspect his distaste for these kind of articles comes from his preference to improve the quality of the PLA watching community, rather than his distaste for what the message behind these articles are trying to send. He would have a different perspective at the narratives/motivation behind PLA watching articles in the western media landscape compared to the rest of us.

I think if ppl want we can continue this conversation in the Chinese Soft Power and Media Discussion and Updates thread.

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daifo said:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1895575419367424312

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