RAMJET Meaning and
Definition
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A ramjet, commonly known as a ram air turbine, refers to a type of air-breathing jet engine designed to propel vehicles at high speeds. It belongs to the category of air-breathing engines that do not rely on onboard stores of oxygen, unlike rockets. The term "ramjet" originates from the engine's unique design where incoming air is compressed by the forward motion of the vehicle, allowing for combustion to occur without the need for a compressor.
A ramjet operates on the principle of the ram effect, utilizing the high-speed forward motion of the vehicle to compress the incoming air and achieve combustion. The air, entering the engine at subsonic speeds, passes through a diffuser and is further compressed within the combustion chamber. Fuel is then injected and ignited to sustain combustion, resulting in an exhaust jet that propels the vehicle.
Due to their simplicity and lack of complex moving parts, ramjets are ideal for high-speed applications. They are particularly effective in supersonic and hypersonic flight regimes, where the compressibility of air limits the efficiency of turbojet engines. However, ramjets require the vehicle to already be moving at a high speed to generate the necessary compression, and therefore need assistance from another propulsion system during takeoff or initial acceleration.
Ramjets have found applications in various fields, including military missiles, research vehicles, and high-speed aircraft. They offer advantages such as high speeds, simplicity, and fuel efficiency at supersonic and hypersonic ranges.
Common Misspellings for RAMJET
Etymology of RAMJET
The word "ramjet" is derived from two components: "ram" and "jet".
The term "ram" refers to the idea of ramming in this context, originating from the verb "to ram", which means to strike or propel something with force. It relates to the engine's operating principle, which involves the ramming or forcing of air into the combustion chamber.
The word "jet" refers to a high-velocity stream of fluid or gas expelled from a nozzle. It is often associated with jet engines, which utilize the principle of jet propulsion to generate forward thrust.
Therefore, the term "ramjet" combines these two elements to describe an engine that uses the ramming of air into the combustion chamber and the expulsion of high-velocity gas to propel an aircraft.
