Ramjet superheater
AssigneeGrossi Aerospace, Inc.
InventorFabio G. Grossi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a regenerative superheater system for an ejector ramjet engine. The invention includes a superheater in thermal communication with the combustion chamber of the ramjet engine. The superheater transfers thermal energy from combustion chamber to an ejectant which is then redirected upstream to the ramjet ejector. In one embodiment of the invention the temperature of the ejectant is modulated by a variable geometry cooler that controls the amount of thermal energy removed from the superheater system by ambient air. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the temperature of the ejectant is modulated by a variable geometry superheater that controls the amount of thermal energy added to the superheater system through combustion gas.
Claims11
1-6. (canceled)
A regenerative superheater system for a ramjet engine, comprising:
- (a) a superheater that includes a hot side and a cold side in thermal communication with each other;
- (b) a subsonic diffuser with a variable-geometry inlet and a subsonic nozzle with a variable-geometry exit in fluid communication with the hot side of the superheater and a combustion chamber of the ramjet engine, wherein combustion gas is bled from the combustion chamber through the subsonic diffuser inlet to the hot side of the superheater and released as exhaust through the subsonic nozzle;
- (c) a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the cold side of the superheater, wherein fluid flows from the reservoir through internal passages in the cold side of the superheater, wherein the fluid gains thermal energy from the cold side of the superheater according to a temperature differential between the hot side and cold side of the superheater that is modulated by time-varying geometry of the subsonic diffuser inlet and subsonic nozzle;
- and
- (d) a delivery line that redirects the fluid upstream of the combustion chamber from the cold side of the superheater.
(canceled)
A method of achieving static operation of a ramjet engine, the method steps comprising:
- providing a superheater that includes a hot side and a cold side in thermal communication with each other;
- providing a subsonic diffuser with a variable-geometry inlet and a subsonic nozzle with a variable-geometry exit in fluid communication with the hot side of the superheater and a combustion chamber of the ramjet engine;
- bleeding combustion gas from the combustion chamber and directing the combustion gas through the subsonic diffuser inlet to the hot side of the superheater and releasing as exhaust through the subsonic nozzle;
- providing a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the cold side of the superheater, wherein the reservoir provides fluid, which is directed from the reservoir through internal passages in the cold side of the superheater so that the fluid gains thermal energy from the cold side of the superheater according to a temperature differential between the hot side and cold side of the superheater that is modulated by time-varying geometry of the subsonic diffuser inlet and subsonic nozzle;
- and
- providing a delivery line that redirects the fluid upstream of the combustion chamber from the cold side of the superheater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.