High-speed vehicle power and thermal management system and methods of use therefor

Abstract

A thermal management and power generation system for a hypersonic vehicle. The thermal management and power generation system comprising a fluid supply having a volatile fluid and a fuel supply having an endothermic fuel. A first heat exchanger, fluidically coupled to the fluid supply, absorbs heat from a first portion of the hypersonic vehicle, which vaporizes the volatile fluid. A mixing apparatus, fluidically coupled to the first heat exchanger and the fuel supply combines the vaporized volatile fuel and endothermic fuel. A second heat exchanger, fluidically coupled to the mixing apparatus, absorbs heat from a second portion of the hypersonic vehicle and decomposes the endothermic fuel by endothermic pyrolysis. A heat engine, fluidically coupled to the first heat exchanger and the mixing apparatus, is configured to generate an electrical power for use by the hypersonic vehicle. The vaporized volatile fluid mixed with the endothermic fuel within the second heat exchanger reduces coking caused by the endothermic pyrolytic decomposition of the endothermic fuel as compared to an endothermic pyrolytic decomposition of an endothermic fuel not having a vaporized volatile fluid mixed therewith.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.