By Himanshu Gupta 111638

I have one speed, I have one Gear; Go!

A scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) is a variant of a ramjet air breathing combustion jet engine in which continuous combustion process takes place in supersonic airflow. Requires forward motion to produce thrust

 Scramjets operate at Ramjets fly at high hypersonic (>Mach 5) subsonic to supersonic velocities, through flow speeds but the airflow and combustion takes through them and their place at supersonic combustion is subsonic velocities. velocities. No operational systems, Widely used for missiles, but a number of test and on a few aircraft. flights and many ground tests

A CONVERGING INLET, where incoming air is compressed and decelerated. A COMBUSTOR, where gaseous fuel is burned with atmospheric oxygen to produce heat. A DIVERGING NOZZLE, where the heated air is accelerated to produce thrust.

Scramjet works on the same principle of Ramjet. All the operations are done by the varying cross section of passages.

There are inlet passage, diffuser passage, combustion passage and exhaust passage.
Basically in order to achieve the initial speed, a second engine is integrated in the Scramjet model, it may be rocket or turbojet engine.

As these are air breathing engines, air from the atmosphere enters at very high speed in the inlet passage. Hence the air from the atmosphere enters in the inlet section having very high velocity is reduced in diffuser section; thereby its static pressure increases.

Temperature of air also increases when passing through the narrow cross section towards combustion chamber.

Hot air flows in the combustion chamber and at this moment the propellant i.e. hydrogen (having a very low ignition temperature) as a fuel are injected by the injector in the combustor. Where it gets self ignited within a millisecond and the combustion process is carried out at the supersonic speed. The fresh air supply to the diffuser builds up a pressure at the diffuser so that these burned gases cannot expand towards the diffuser. Instead, the gases are made expand in combustor towards tail engine hence providing the required

Artist's conception of the NASA X-43 with scramjet attached to the underside

Ramjets and Scramjets have been used in missiles, helicopters, and the SR71 Blackbird with varying degrees of success.

 Does not have to carry Testing difficulties:oxygen expensive launch No rotating parts makes vehicles, both of which it easier to manufacture lead to high Higher speed could mean instrumentation costs. cheaper access to outer A scramjet cannot space in the future produce efficient thrust Higher efficiencies unless boosted to high speed, around Mach 5, although depending on the design it could act as a ramjet at low speeds.