Back to results
US 11,378,040 B2Granted
Swirl preburner system and method
AssigneeStratolaunch, LLC
InventorJeffery Tyler Thornburg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A swirl preburner having a first swirl core defining a first swirl chamber having a first swirl chamber first end and a first swirl chamber second end. The swirl preburner further includes a second swirl core defining a second swirl chamber having a second swirl chamber first end and a second swirl chamber second end. The swirl preburner also includes a mixing element defining a mixing chamber, the mixing chamber surrounding a portion of the first and second chamber at least including the first chamber second end and the second chamber second end.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- introducing a first fluid into a first swirl chamber defined by a first swirl core of a swirl preburner, the first fluid introduced at a first swirl chamber first end and generating a first fluid flow propagating toward a first swirl chamber second end, the first swirl chamber second end defining a first swirl chamber exit port, the first fluid flow swirling within the first swirl chamber from the first swirl chamber first end to the first swirl chamber second end, the first swirl chamber comprising a first swirl chamber taper portion that transitions a diameter of the first swirl chamber from a first larger diameter at the first swirl chamber first end to a second smaller diameter at the first swirl chamber second end that is smaller than the first larger diameter;
- introducing a second fluid into a second swirl chamber defined by a second swirl core of the swirl preburner, the second fluid introduced at a second swirl chamber first end and generating a second fluid flow propagating toward a second swirl chamber second end, the second swirl chamber second end defining a second swirl chamber exit port, the second fluid flow swirling within the second swirl chamber from the second swirl chamber first end to the second swirl chamber second end, the second swirl chamber surrounding a portion of the first swirl chamber including at least the first swirl chamber second end being nested within the second swirl chamber, the second swirl chamber comprising a second swirl chamber taper portion that transitions a diameter of the second swirl chamber from a third larger diameter at the second swirl chamber first end to a fourth smaller diameter at the second swirl chamber second end that is smaller than the third larger diameter, the first larger diameter being smaller than the third larger diameter and larger than the fourth smaller diameter;
- introducing a third fluid into a mixing chamber defined by a mixing element, the mixing chamber surrounding a portion of the first and second swirl chambers at least including the first swirl chamber second end and the second swirl chamber second end, with the first and second fluid flow leaving the first and second swirl chambers into the mixing chamber and mixing within the mixing chamber;
- and
- igniting at least the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow within the mixing chamber to generate a combustion that drives one or more pumps that pump fuel or oxidizer to a propulsive combustion chamber of a rocket engine.
2 more elements
A swirl preburner comprising:
- a first swirl core defining a first swirl chamber having a first swirl chamber first end and a first swirl chamber second end, the first swirl chamber second end defining a first swirl chamber exit port, the first swirl chamber comprising a first swirl chamber taper portion that transitions a diameter of the first swirl chamber from a first larger diameter at the first swirl chamber first end to a second smaller diameter at the first swirl chamber second end that is smaller than the first larger diameter;
- a second swirl core defining a second swirl chamber having a second swirl chamber first end and a second swirl chamber second end, the second swirl chamber second end defining a second swirl chamber exit port, the second swirl chamber surrounding a portion of the first swirl chamber including at least the first swirl chamber second end, the second swirl chamber comprising a second swirl chamber taper portion that transitions a diameter of the second swirl chamber from a third larger diameter at the second swirl chamber first end to a fourth smaller diameter at the second swirl chamber second end that is smaller than the third larger diameter, the first larger diameter being smaller than the third larger diameter and larger than the fourth smaller diameter;
- and
- a mixing element defining a mixing chamber, the mixing chamber surrounding a portion of the first and second swirl chamber at least including the first swirl chamber second end and the second swirl chamber second end, wherein the swirl preburner drives a pump that pumps a fuel or oxidizer to a propulsive combustion chamber of a rocket engine.
1 more element
A preburner comprising:
- a first core defining a first chamber having a first swirl chamber first end and a first swirl chamber second end, the first swirl chamber comprising a first swirl chamber taper portion that transitions a diameter of the first swirl chamber from a first diameter at the first swirl chamber first end to a second smaller diameter at the first swirl chamber second end that is smaller than the first diameter;
- a second core defining a second swirl chamber having a second swirl chamber first end and a second swirl chamber second end, the second swirl chamber comprising a second swirl chamber taper portion that transitions a diameter of the second swirl chamber from a third diameter at the second swirl chamber first end to a fourth smaller diameter at the second swirl chamber second end that is smaller than the third diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the third diameter and larger than the fourth smaller diameter;
- and
- a mixing element defining a mixing chamber, the mixing chamber surrounding a portion of the first and second chamber at least including the first chamber second end and the second chamber second end,
- wherein the preburner is disposed downstream of a turbine that drives at least one fluid pump that pumps fluid to at least one of the first core, second core, and mixing element.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.