palovirtamoottorin

Palovirtamoottori, also known as a pulsejet engine, is a type of internal combustion engine that uses pulsating combustion. It is characterized by its simple design, lacking any moving parts like valves or pistons. The operation relies on the intermittent burning of a fuel-air mixture within a combustion chamber. When fuel and air are injected and ignited, the resulting explosion creates a high-pressure pulse that expels exhaust gases out of a nozzle. This expulsion creates thrust. After the exhaust, a fresh charge of fuel and air is drawn into the chamber, and the cycle repeats. This rapid on-off combustion process generates a distinctive pulsating noise.

Pulsejet engines were first developed in the early 20th century and saw significant use during World War II, most notably in the German V-1 flying bomb. Their simplicity and low manufacturing cost made them attractive for certain applications. However, their inherent inefficiency, high noise levels, and limited operational speed range have largely relegated them to niche uses today. They are sometimes employed in applications where a simple, disposable thrust source is needed, such as in some model aircraft or experimental vehicles. Unlike continuous combustion engines like turbojets or ramjets, the pulsejet's thrust is not constant but rather a series of powerful pulses.