Abstract:
The presently disclosed linear detonation wave diverter (600) provides a structure and method for quickly and controllably venting a detonation event out of the diverter without igniting working fluid upstream of a microporous barrier (626) within the linear detonation wave diverter. Further, the detonation wave is linearly vented out of the diverter upon the failure of a burst member (682), which provides a low resistance path for detonation waves to exit the detonation wave diverter.
Abstract:
A throttleable exhaust venturi (700) is described herein that generates strong suction pressures at an exhaust outlet (718) by accelerating an incoming ambient fluid stream with the aid of a venturi to high gas velocities and injecting a combustion exhaust stream into the ambient fluid stream at an effective venturi throat (728). A mixing element (544) downstream of the venturi throat ensures that the mixed fluid stream recovers from a negative static pressure up to local atmospheric pressure. A physical (724) and the effective (728) throat of the venturi (700) are designed to promote mixing and stabilize the ambient fluid flow to ensure that high velocity is achieved and the effective venturi is operable over a variety of combustion exhaust stream mass flow rates.
Abstract:
Implementations described herein provide a high efficiency steam cycle that includes a steam turbine cycle coupled to output of a high performance steam piston topping (HPSPT) cycle. The HPSPT cycle includes a piston-cylinder assembly that extracts work from an expanding fluid volume and operates in a thermal regime outside of thermal operational limits of a steam turbine. The steam turbine cycle utilizes heat, transferred at the output of the HPSPT cycle, to generate turbine work.
Abstract:
A clustered, fixed cant, throttleable rocket assembly (102) is used to propel and a steer a vessel (100) in terrestrial or extraterrestrial applications. The fixed cant of each of at least three individual rocket engines (104, 106, 108) in the cluster provides the steering input to the overall assembly (102). More specifically, by changing the propellant flow rate to the individual rocket engines (104, 106, 108) relative to one another, the overall thrust vector of the rocket assembly (102) may be selected to provide a desired steering input to the vessel (100). A measured vessel orientation may be compared with a desired vessel orientation to determine what steering input is required to achieve the desired vessel orientation.
Abstract:
The presently disclosed technology relates to using a combustion / decomposition heater (214) fed by a working fluid (234) stored within a storage tank (202) to thermally pressurize the storage tank. The thermal pressurization may be used to maintain a desired pressure within the storage tank, even as the working fluid (232) within the storage tank is drawn down. Further, a feedback mechanism may also be incorporated that varies the thermal energy added to the working fluid within the storage tank to maintain the desired pressure within the storage tank.
Abstract:
A thermal variation source (318) (e.g., a heater or a heat sink) is used to induce a temperature gradient across an interior surface of a storage tank (302). The storage tank stores a working fluid (e.g., a fuel, and oxidizer, or a monopropellant) that may have pockets of gaseous-phase working fluid interspersed within liquid-phase working fluid, or vice versa. In the absence of gravity or other significant forces on the working fluid, the temperature gradient is sufficient to cause phase-separation of the working fluid and allow either the liquid-phase or the gaseous-phase working fluid to be withdrawn from the storage tank, as desired.
Abstract:
A throttleable exhaust venturi (700) is described herein that generates strong suction pressures at an exhaust outlet (718) by accelerating an incoming ambient fluid stream with the aid of a venturi to high gas velocities and injecting a combustion exhaust stream into the ambient fluid stream at an effective venturi throat (728). A mixing element (544) downstream of the venturi throat ensures that the mixed fluid stream recovers from a negative static pressure up to local atmospheric pressure. A physical (724) and the effective (728) throat of the venturi (700) are designed to promote mixing and stabilize the ambient fluid flow to ensure that high velocity is achieved and the effective venturi is operable over a variety of combustion exhaust stream mass flow rates.
Abstract:
A flashback-arresting shut-off valve is disclosed herein. Propellant is moved from a propellant reservoir, through the shut-off valve in an open configuration to a point of combustion in a normal propellant flow direction. During a flashback, the propellant is ignited within the propellant line and substantial physical/thermal energy caused by the flashback travels in the direction opposite to the normal propellant flow direction back to the shut-off valve. A burst member within the shut-off valve fails because of the flashback. Failure of the burst member causes compression on a spring-loaded portion of the shut-off valve to be released, thereby closing the shut-off valve and sealing the propellant reservoir from the flashback. Failure of the burst member also causes one or more pressure relief outlets to open that direct the physical/thermal energy and/or un-combusted/combusted propellant out and away from the shut-off valve.
Abstract:
A flashback-arresting shut-off valve is disclosed herein. Propellant is moved from a propellant reservoir, through the shut-off valve in an open configuration to a point of combustion in a normal propellant flow direction. During a flashback, the propellant is ignited within the propellant line and substantial physical/thermal energy caused by the flashback travels in the direction opposite to the normal propellant flow direction back to the shut-off valve. A burst member within the shut-off valve fails because of the flashback. Failure of the burst member causes compression on a spring-loaded portion of the shut-off valve to be released, thereby closing the shut-off valve and sealing the propellant reservoir from the flashback. Failure of the burst member also causes one or more pressure relief outlets to open that direct the physical/thermal energy and/or un- combusted/combusted propellant out and away from the shut-off valve.
Abstract:
Monopropellant and pre-mixed bipropellant storage and supply systems for rocket engines and other work producing systems are subject to damage when detonation progresses upstream from a combustion chamber to and through supply lines. Interposing one or more micro porous or micro fluidic elements into the supply conduit can limit the flame front that accompanies such unintended detonation, but inevitably restrict the flow of the propellant to the combustion chamber. A tiered micro fluidic element where a bulk of the element has relatively large pores but forms a structurally robust supports a second, relatively thin region having appropriately small mean pore diameter provides an effective flashback barrier that can resist catastrophic failure during such detonations. Such elements can be used in isolation, or they can be incorporated into detonation wave arrestors or pressure wave-triggered cut-off valves or the like to decrease the incidence of unintended detonations.