American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 1 Study on an Inflow-Drive Valve System for Pulse Detonation Engines Ken Matsuoka 1 , Jun Yageta 2 and Tatsuya Nakamichi 2 , Jiro Kasahara 3 University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8573, Japan Takashi Yajima 4 IHI Aerospace Engineering, Tomioka, Gunma, 370-2307, Japan and Takayuki Kojima 5 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Chofu, 182-8522, Japan High operation frequency, high mass flow, light weight, response of thrust change and wide range of inflow are required for a valve which supply gas such a oxidizer and a fuel for a Pulse Detonation Engine (PDE). We proposed an Inflow-Drive Piton Interrupting Valve (IDV) for PDE. IDV is able to produce intermittent flow by a piton which is driven by propellant gas enthalpy. Since an energy source in the valve system is no necessary and the structure is very simple, the mass flow rate per valve mass is comparatively large and response of thrust change is good. Moreover, range of inflow for stable operation is wide. We carried out the thrust measurement by using a three-piston IDV and a Pulse Detonation Rocket Engine-Model (PDR-EM). As a result, the stable operation of the valve system and the generation of the time-average thrust were confirmed in a wide supply pressure range. In addition, Maximum experimental time-average thrust and specific impulse were 22.6 N and 279 sec, respectively. 1 Graduate Student, Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, matsuoka212@edu.esys.tsukuba.ac.jp, Student Member AIAA. 2 Graduate Student, Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba. 3 Associate Professor, Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Senior Member AIAA. 4 Manager, Development of Engineering Mechanics and Energy. 5 Researcher, Aerospace Research and Development Directorate, Member AIAA. 45th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit 2 - 5 August 2009, Denver, Colorado AIAA 2009-5313 Copyright © 2009 by University of Tsukuba. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., with permission.