The intent of the paper is to establish a relatively simple procedure for evaluating the idealized performance potential of a pulse-detonation engine (PDE) intended for the jet propulsion of air vehicles, The study focuses, exclusively, on PDEs using atmospheric air as the oxidant. The study is based on the proposition that, because of the very fast wave action, an idealized model of a PDE can be regarded as a tubular containment (detonation tube) that is, during combustion, effectively closed at both ends. Furthermore, the maximum possible energy available is that derivable from combustion, at constant volume, of the tube reactants regardless of details of the mode, or modes, of combustion in the detonation tube. This implies, therefore, that in order to establish the idealized performance of a PDE it is possible to avoid becoming engrossed in details relating to the detonation wave itself. Conclusions from the study are that major initial charge nonuniformities do not appear to have a significant impact on idealized PDE performances and that the idealized performances of PDEs improve with increasing flight Mach number.
