User:Britalus

See AIAA-88-3067 - A Modified-Brayton Cycle Pulse Turbine Engine - Author: Kenneth W. Porter - AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE 24th JOINT PROPULSION CONFERENCE

This pulse-turbine automotive engine was given the name Britalus by the author.

Brayton's Engine. Twenty-five years ago, in a search to find a new engine, the author felt it was appropriate to re-examine the history of earlier thermodynamic cycles and in particular, the Brayton cycle, devised about a hundred and twenty years ago. This engine had an air compressor, a pressurized air and gas reservoir, and a cylinder where the mixture was burned and expanded to drive the compressor and other machinery.

The Brayton stationary engines were moderately successful. Comparatively large numbers were built, about three thousand or so, but they could not compete with the Otto and Langen free-piston engines when they were introduced into the United States toward the end of the century.

Among Brayton's various difficulties were the unavailability of reliable heat-resistant materials and high temperature lubricants. Limited operating temperatures and pressures resulted in low efficiency. Over the last century, advances in these technologies have enabled many of these problem areas to be resolved.