China Tests Hypersonic Afterburner, Doubling Thrust at Mach 6

China has taken a major leap forward in hypersonic propulsion technology with the successful testing of a groundbreaking hypersonic afterburner. Led by Yang Qingchun, an associate professor at Beihang University in Beijing, the research team has developed an innovative secondary combustion method that nearly doubles the thrust of a scramjet engine. By injecting magnesium powder into the exhaust gases from conventional jet fuel combustion, the new system significantly enhances efficiency and performance.

Tested under conditions simulating Mach 6 flight at an altitude of 30 kilometers, this breakthrough technology could strengthen China’s dominance in hypersonic weaponry and aviation. With faster speeds, improved maneuverability, and extended range, the hypersonic afterburner could revolutionize next-generation aircraft and missile systems.

Propulsion Breakthrough

Traditional scramjet engines face inherent challenges at extreme speeds, including the limited energy output of kerosene fuel and inconsistent ignition during takeoff. To address these issues, Yang’s team turned to magnesium, a highly reactive metal. Their innovative approach utilizes residual water vapor and carbon dioxide from burned kerosene as oxidizers to ignite magnesium particles, significantly boosting combustion efficiency.

Unlike conventional afterburners that require fresh atmospheric oxygen, magnesium reacts explosively with waste gases already inside the engine. According to the research published in Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica, ground tests using commercial RP-3 jet fuel showed remarkable results. Injecting magnesium at 13% of the exhaust mass led to an 86.6% increase in thrust, while combustion efficiency reached 65.1%. The engine’s specific thrust surged from 613 Newton-seconds per kilogram to an impressive 1,126 Newton-seconds per kilogram, demonstrating the power of magnesium’s rapid exothermic reaction.

Technical Challenges

Despite its promising potential, the technology still faces challenges. The supersonic turbulence within the engine can cause uneven dispersion of magnesium particles, affecting thrust gains. For example, at just 5% magnesium injection, thrust gains plummeted to 18.7% due to poor particle penetration. Additionally, sharp magnesium oxide crystals, while heat-resistant, pose a risk to engine longevity, necessitating erosion-resistant materials.

Global Competition

The breakthrough comes at a time when global powers are racing to perfect hypersonic technology. The US military plans to deploy its first hypersonic weapon later this year, while China continues advancing air-breathing engine technology for speeds beyond Mach 10. Yang’s team believes their design could reduce launch weights and extend the range of hypersonic aircraft and missiles. However, scaling the system for variable-speed flight remains a challenge, requiring further testing to optimize supersonic mixing of fuel elements. The next phase of research will focus on refining particle blending and exploring nano-sized magnesium for even higher efficiency.

Future Prospects

As the world’s superpowers compete for hypersonic superiority, China’s latest innovation brings the nation one step closer to leading the future of aerospace technology. The advancements in hypersonic afterburners could open new avenues for commercial hypersonic travel, making ultra-fast passenger flights a possibility. If successfully integrated into civilian aviation, this technology could significantly reduce travel time between continents, revolutionizing global transportation.

Also read this: Chinese HQ-19 THAAD To Intercept Hypersonic Missiles

Furthermore, China’s continued investment in hypersonic propulsion places it at the forefront of military and defense capabilities. Future developments could lead to the creation of hypersonic drones, reconnaissance aircraft, and next-generation missile systems that could evade existing defense mechanisms. However, sustaining long-term operational efficiency will require further breakthroughs in materials science and aerodynamics to counteract the extreme thermal and mechanical stresses faced at hypersonic speeds.

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