China tests a hypersonic afterburner, doubling thrust at Mach 6
Chinese
scientists have unveiled a propulsion breakthrough that could redefine the future of hypersonic flight.
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Led by Yang Qingchun, an associate professor with Beihang University in Beijing, the research team has developed an innovative secondary combustion technique that nearly doubles the thrust of a
scramjet engine by injecting magnesium powder into the exhaust gases from conventional jet fuel combustion.
Tested under conditions simulating Mach 6 flight at 30km altitude, this unprecedented afterburner promises to strengthen China's lead in
hypersonic technology , offering faster speeds, greater manoeuvrability and extended range for next-generation weapons and aircraft.
Traditional scramjets face limitations at extreme speeds – the energy output of the kerosene fuel plateaus and ignition during low-speed take-off becomes erratic.
Testing of the afterburner which uses magnesium to nearly double the thrust of hypersonic aircraft. Photo: Beihang University
So, Yang's team turned to magnesium, a metal known for its violent reactivity. Their solution exploited a simple yet radical concept: they could harness the residual water vapour and carbon dioxide from the burned kerosene as oxidisers to ignite magnesium particles.
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