The Ramjet / Scramjet Engine




	A ramjet engine.
	A ramjet has no moving parts and achieves compression of intake air by the forward speed of the air vehicle. Air entering the intake of a supersonic aircraft is slowed by aerodynamic diffusion created by the inlet and diffuser to velocities comparable to those in a turbojet augmentor. The expansion of hot gases, after fuel injection and combustion, accelerates the exhaust air to a velocity higher than that at the inlet and creates positive push.

	A scramjet engine.
	Scramjet is an acronym for Supersonic Combustion Ramjet. The scramjet differs from the ramjet in that combustion takes place at supersonic air velocities through the engine. It is mechanically simple, but vastly more aerodynamically complex than a jet engine. Hydrogen is normally the fuel used.

(Special thanks to GE Aircraft Engines.)