ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-11123
Open Date: 18/02/2022 12:53 CEST
Closing Date: 01/04/2022 13:00 CEST

Develop analysis and design methodologies for rotating detonation engines and assess the feasibility of the technology.A RotatingDetonation Engine (RDE) is a supersonic combustion device which utilises one or more continuous detonations traveling around an annular chamber, without any moving mechanical parts in the device itself. The chamber is open on one end where the high pressure combustion products can be further expanded down in a nozzle to produce thrust. Fuel and oxidiser are injected tangentially at the closedend of the chamber. After the engine has been started, the detonation is self-sustaining.Theoretically detonative combustion has much higher efficiency than deflagrative combustion utilised in traditional propulsion systems. This efficiency gain translates intoincreased specific impulse. Previous investigations indicate that Rotating Detonation Engines offer the same level of performance as Pulsed Detonation Engines, but are mechanically much more simple. As further advantages, continuous operation offers reduced analysis complexity and mechanical requirements.This activity encompasses the following tasks:- Analysis of current Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) technologies. This task aims to increase the understanding of the supersonic combustion process.- Development of theanalysis and design methodologies for RDEs. This involves the establishment of a methodology for analysis and design, and the development of the necessary tools to perform the design (ESPSS software library).- Assessment of the feasibility of the RDE technology in its applicability to ESA space transportation systems. Based on the design method, a system-level feasibility analysis is carriedout to identify potential applications and further developments.- Simulation of the preliminary design of and RDE system. The simulation shall allow to validate the methodology and models using experimental data.

Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. Quality
Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Maximilian Ludwig Garre
Initiating Service: TEC-MPA
IP Measure: N/A
Prog. Reference: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EE+EL+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 18-A-I-Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) / 19-A-I-Liquid Propulsion Systems / 19-A-II-Solid Propulsion Systems / 19-D-I-Modelling
Products Keywords: 1-G-7-a-SW tools for propulsion system and engine design, analysis, simulation, etc. / 1-H-2-c-System Modelling & Simulation (Aerothermodynamic Tools for Design, Environment, …) / 2-K-2-a-SW for Chemical propulsion design, analysis, simulation, etc. / 3-G-2-a-SW for electric propulsion design, analysis, simulation, etc.