Please explain and correct me where wrong.
I know that the maximum RPM of an engine dictates the maximum speed at which air can enter it. So when the craft is travelling faster than that speed, there is an ingenious inlet design.
I know that the design of the inlet creates a shock wave to kill the energy in that air, and slow it down.
(This is more so in Supersonic but I'm sticking to subsonic)
So, if a craft is travelling at 600mph, and (Say) the max intake speed is 500mph....
What happens in front of the engine? Is there a build up of air that can't get into the engine?
That would cause a hell of a lot of drag, how is that dealt with?
Please explain in detail as this sort of thing is best described with drawings....but we don't have them.
Cheers!
2007-07-07 09:01:37 · 2 answers · asked by Paul H 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
See the following Wikipedia article for a good explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_engine#Supersonic_inlets
2007-07-07 10:59:26 · answer #1 · answered by gatorbait 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The air enters at greater pressure and temperature, but lower speed. The ram of the engine into the air does some of the compression work.
2007-07-07 16:44:14 · answer #2 · answered by poorcocoboiboi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋