Revolutionary Rotary Airflow Controller Published Dec. 12, 2006 By Plans and Programs Directorate AFRL/XP WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The cyclic (on/off) characteristics of pulsed detonation engine (PDE) airflow requirements impose a difficult airflow matching problem for the integration of an unsteady PDE with a high speed limit. Therefore, AFRL engineers developed a revolutionary airflow controller and isolator to (1) control the detonation chamber airflow, (2) provide sealing, and (3) isolate the inlet from the severe airflow disturbances that could be imposed by PDE operation. TechLand Research, Inc. (North Olmsted, Ohio), designed and fabricated the controller under a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research project. AFRL technicians installed the unit in the laboratory's Pulsed Detonation Research Facility, which was instrumented to assess the airflow controller's operation. During testing, the controller successfully isolated the upstream inlet conditions from the downstream pressure oscillations associated with PDE operation. In addition, the device significantly reduced pressure losses through the engine, making the fill process more efficient and consequently boosting performance.Test efforts also demonstrated continuous operation of one tube and two adjacent tubes. The high performance achieved with this rotary airflow controller demonstrates a revolutionary pulsed detonation propulsion technology.