Compliant walled combustion devices II
AssigneeSRI International
InventorsRonald Pelrine, Scott Stanford, Harsha Prahlad, Seajin Oh, Jon Heim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Combustion devices described herein comprise a compliant combustion chamber wall or segment. The compliant segment deforms during combustion in the combustion chamber. Some devices may include a compliant wall configured to stretch responsive to pressure generated by combustion of a fuel in the combustion chamber. A coupling portion translates deformation of the compliant segment or wall into mechanical output. One or more ports are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
Claims85
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that border a combustion chamber, the set of walls including a compliant segment configured to deform to increase volume of the chamber during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- a coupling portion that translates the increase in the volume of the chamber into mechanical output;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that border a combustion chamber, the set of walls including a compliant segment configured to deform to increase volume of the chamber during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- a constraint that reduces deformation of a portion of the compliant segment during combustion;
- a coupling portion that translates the increase in the volume of the chamber into mechanical output;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that border a substantially cylindrical combustion chamber, the set of walls including a substantially cylindrical compliant segment configured to axially stretch during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber such that a diameter for the substantially cylindrical combustion chamber increases during combustion of the fuel;
- a coupling portion that translates the increase in the volume of the chamber into mechanical output;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that border a combustion chamber, the set of walls including a compliant segment configured to stretch during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber such that thickness for the compliant segment decreases during combustion of the fuel and such that volume for the combustion chamber increases as a result of the thickness decrease in the compliant segment;
- a coupling portion that translates the increase in the volume of the chamber into mechanical output;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
A method for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the method comprising:
- providing a fuel and an oxygen source into a combustion chamber;
- combusting the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- and
- using pressure generated in the combustion, decreasing thickness for a portion of a compliant segment included in a set of walls that border the combustion chamber such that volume for the combustion chamber increases with the thickness decrease.
A method for improving thermal management of a combustion device, the method comprising:
- providing a fuel and an oxygen source into a combustion chamber;
- combusting the fuel in the combustion chamber to produce heat in the combustion chamber;
- using forces generated in the combustion, stretching a compliant segment included in a set of walls that border the combustion chamber, wherein stretching the compliant segment increases surface area for the set of walls that border the combustion chamber;
- and
- dissipating heat produced in the combustion chamber through the stretched compliant segment.
A combustion cycle for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the cycle comprising:
- providing a fuel and an oxygen source into a combustion chamber;
- combusting the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- using forces generated in the combustion, stretching a compliant segment included in a set of walls that border the combustion chamber;
- and
- at least partially exhausting combustion products using elastic return of the stretched compliant segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.