Reaction Engines

Innovation Flashback! Following our Mach 5 success, the Reaction Engines team was eager to push the technology even further. In 2022, we conquered another significant precooler testing milestone by nearly tripling the amount of demonstrated heat transfer. Conducted in partnership with the U.S. government, the FCT program achieved over 10MW of heat transfer! This was made possible by utilizing the same HTX precooler design while modifying the heat rejection system of the TF2 test facility to enable operation at significantly higher air mass flow rates. We also expanded our heat exchanger technology expertise by switching the coolant from high-pressure helium to water, paving the way for running our microtube heat exchangers at high temperatures with other liquid coolants, including fuel. Fun fact: 10MW is enough energy to power 8,000 American homes, and our precooler heat exchanger is roughly the size and diameter of a household washing machine drum - talk about energy density! #HistoricalHighlight #HeatTransfer #MakingBeyondPossible #Microtube #Precooler #AerospaceInnovation

5 Years Since Mach 5! 🚀 On October 22, 2019, the Reaction Engines team achieved our most impressive performance results yet. Our unique precooler successfully quenched airflow temperatures exceeding 1,000°C (~1,800°F) in less than 1/20th of a second at our Colorado test site.   This sporty heat exchanger, about 1 meter (3ft) in diameter, contains nearly 40 km (25 miles) of microtube organised in 21 nested curved arc modules. This impressive device validated our cooling capabilities at Mach 5 temperatures, which represent speeds far beyond the operational limits of any jet-engine-powered aircraft in history. In fact, Mach 5 is more than twice the cruising speed of the Concorde and over 50% faster than the SR-71 Blackbird—the world’s fastest jet-engine-powered aircraft.   Integrating our thermal management technology with state-of-the-art jet engines is the fastest and most cost-effective way to pave the way for future fast jet aircraft! Who’s ready to fly at speeds of one mile per second?   #HistoricalHighlight #Mach5 #MakingBeyondPossible #Microtube #Precooler #Hypersonics #AerospaceInnovation   Click here for more: https://lnkd.in/eEvHNJsj

Innovation Flashback! In 2019, Reaction Engines delivered the ultimate proof behind our bold performance claims, successfully demonstrating engine precooler operation at airflow temperatures equivalent to an engine flying at five times the speed of sound - Mach 5! Our advanced microtube precooler effectively cooled incoming air from temperatures as scorching as molten lava (1,800°F / 1,000°C) down to ambient temperature in just 1/20th of a second. This milestone not only secured Reaction Engines' position as the leader in cooled air-breathing propulsion for high-speed and hypersonic flight but also set a new standard for performance in our industry. The results of the HTX testing validated our innovative designs, anchoring our analytical models and propelling subsequent technology developments into cutting-edge thermal management solutions across multiple markets. It was a truly momentous achievement, delivering on our ambitious goals in high-speed flight and expanding our product offerings! #HistoricalHighlight #MakingBeyondPossible #Microtube #Precooler #Hypersonics #AerospaceInnovation

Innovation Flashback! The Viper precooler test campaign was the first of many ground-breaking ground-based tests for our microtube precooler technology - but it was this campaign that truly made the world sit up and take notice of what Reaction Engines could achieve. In this integrated test, ambient airflow was precooled before entering a Viper jet engine. The precooler was approximately 1-meter diameter and used high pressure gaseous helium (at over 100bar) as the coolant. The helium was circulated in a closed loop and was in turn cooled by a liquid nitrogen boiler. The compelling results from the Viper Program validated our precooler’s exceptional heat exchange capabilities while demonstrating critical aerodynamic and structural design features. By the time the Viper program concluded in 2012, Reaction Engines had successfully captured the interest of both government and industry, showcasing the vast potential of our technology. #HistoricalHighlight #MakingBeyondPossible #Microtube #Precooler #HeatExchanger #AerospaceInnovation

IF Oxford science, innovation and ideas Festival for friends and families is underway and runs from Sun 6 Oct — Sun 3 Nov. 100+ events and activities will be happening across Oxford and beyond. Reaction Engines is participating in the BLAST! Day on 28th October in Blackbird Leys Awesome Science and Technology zone. We’d love to see you there!   Festival programme: https://lnkd.in/edrscQvY   #science #discovery #STEMevents IF Oxford - Oxford Science & Ideas Festival

Innovation Flashback! Did you know that as far back as 2012, Reaction Engines was already increasing production of engine precooler heat exchangers? This milestone photo from 2012 shows our multi-unit production of precoolers, each containing nearly 1.2 miles of high-temperature microtubes - all precisely engineered and ready to push the limits of performance. Our UK Oxfordshire facility has always been ahead of the curve, with unique capabilities to precision-manufacture and join thousands of microtubes into leak-tight devices designed to withstand extreme temperatures and internal pressures. Reaction Engines has been delivering revolutionary heat exchanger technology and remarkable manufacturing techniques since 2012 - and we’re even better at it today. #HistoricalHighlight #MakingBeyondPossible #Microtube #Precooler #HeatExchanger #AdvancedManufacturing #AerospaceInnovation

Reflecting on an Inspiring Event 🌍 Recep Kahraman, PhD Technical Fellow - Heat Exchanger Aerothermal Design, had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion on the future of thermal management, where he delved into the transformative role of additive manufacturing in driving innovation toward a zero carbon future in aerospace, motorsport, and energy. It was great to be part of a global perspective on thermal management, sharing insights and exploring how cutting-edge technologies can address the challenges of efficient heat management while promoting sustainability. The discussions highlighted the potential of additive manufacturing to revolutionise our approaches and enhance performance in these critical sectors. Thank you to all the panellists and attendees for a thought-provoking experience. Excited to apply these insights and continue collaborating on solutions that will shape a more sustainable future! #ThermalManagement #AdditiveManufacturing #ZeroCarbon #Aerospace #Motorsport #Energy #GlobalPerspectives #Sustainability #TII #AMtF #Innovation

Innovation Flashback! We’ve been hands-on with microtube cooling technology since 2005—because we didn’t just want to keep pace with the industry; we wanted to shape its future. With two decades of expertise, we’ve advanced multiple generations of designs and manufactured world-class hardware at our UK Oxfordshire facility. We’re bold in our pursuits and not afraid to break boundaries. In fact, we pioneered the world’s first microtube heat exchangers designed to enable advanced aircraft propulsion. Our curved rack and involute spiral designs were engineered from day one to integrate conformally and compactly into air-breathing engines. We’ve never been satisfied with being a conventional technology company—we’re here to disrupt, innovate, and continue making beyond possible. #HistoricalHighlight #MakingBeyondPossible #Microtube #Precooler #HeatExchanger #AerospaceInnovation

Innovation Flashback! For over two decades, we’ve been dedicated to the design, development, manufacturing, testing, and continuous improvement of our microtube precooler technology. We’ve achieved several major milestones which are testament to our expertise in perfecting advanced heat management technologies. With each challenge we've faced, we've strengthened our position as industry leaders. As we reflect on this incredible journey, we look forward to pushing the limits even further and sharing more innovations with you. Join us in celebrating our past successes and the exciting future ahead! 🌟 #MakingBeyondPossible #MicrotubePrecooler #InnovationInAction #ThermalManagement

Our Systems Architecture Engineer, Rūta Marcinkevičiūtė, recently spoke at The University of Sheffield and the Henry Royce Institute during the ATI (Aerospace Technology Institute) Manufacturing Net Zero Aviation Conference. This inspiring event brought together aerospace manufacturers, academics, and innovators to explore sustainable solutions for UK aerospace. Key insights from the event: • Understanding and reducing the lifecycle impacts of aerospace products is critical to the industry - both OEMs and SMEs can contribute important knowledge and learning in this space. • The ATI plays a key role in fostering and guiding this collaboration through events like this conference, working groups and its Cross-Cutting Technologies Roadmap. • Tackling data challenges in emissions assessment is critical - supply chain transparency and high-quality carbon data are needed. Reaction Engines was excited to share the results and learning from its first product carbon foot printing tool which was developed through funding awarded in the ‘ADS Sustainability Challenge 2023’. The toolset is now being further updated and refined to enable more products to be modelled and allow engineers to design in environmental improvements early in the process. #ZeroCarbon #Aerospace #SustainableManufacturing #Innovation #ATI #Manufacturing