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US 2023/0193856 A1Published application
Multi-mode propulsion system
AssigneeAtlantis Research Labs
InventorsCraig Johansen, William Schuyler Hinman, Vladimir Mravcak
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Abstract
The present invention provides a multimode propulsion system, comprising at least one propellant ejector system, a high speed fluid ejection nozzle coupled to a propellant supply provided in the engine, and a propellant-air mixing system comprising at east one fluid intake member having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end being in fluidic communication with the fluid ejection nozzle to receive the propellant ejected from the nozzle.
Claims28
A multimode propulsion system, comprising:
- at least one propellant ejector system for ejecting a first propellant, each comprising:
- a high speed fluid ejection nozzle coupled to a propellant supply, and
- a propellant-air mixing system comprising at least one fluid intake member having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end being in fluidic communication with the fluid ejection nozzle to receive the first propellant ejected from the nozzle,
- the propellant-air mixing system being convertible between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the open position the inlet entrains air to be mixed with the propellant to form a propellant-air mixture and in the closed position the air entrainment is blocked,
- wherein the first propellant is an oxidizer and/or a fuel;
- at least one combustor positioned downstream of the at least one propellant ejector system for combusting a fuel, said combustor having an inlet portion in fluidic communication with the outlet end of the propellant-air mixing system for receiving the first propellant ejected by the propellant ejector system, and an outlet portion to exhaust combustion products, the combustor further being connected to an ignition source;
- optionally, at least one propellant injector positioned downstream of the propellant ejector system for injecting a second propellant into the combustor, wherein the second propellant is a fuel and/or an oxidizer;
- and
- an exhaust nozzle downstream of the outlet portion of the combustor,
- wherein the fuel for combustion in the combustor is a solid fuel provided in the combustor, a fuel injected from the at least one propellant injector, and/or a fuel ejected from the propellant ejector system.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.