Turbo-hydroduct propulsion system

A method of producing propulsive thrust for an underwater vehicle comprising the steps of:

• providing a propellant storage tank contained within the underwater vehicle for storing a high energy propellant;
• combustion said propellant within a gas generator mounted within the vehicle to produce a flow of high temperature pressurized combustion gases;
• extracting energy from said flow of combustion gases to power a high pressure water pump said extracting step includes conducting at least a portion of said flow of combustion gases to a turbine and expanding said combustion gases within said turbine to extract useful work therefrom, said turbine being mechanically attached to and driving said pump;
• pressurizing a flow of ingested ambient water within said high pressure water pump to a pressure at least 200 psi greater than ambient water pressure;
• mixing at least a portion of said flow of combustion gases with said flow of pressurized water within a primary mixing chamber;
• and
• ejecting said mixed flow of gases and pressurized water to ambient through a nozzle assembly associated with said primary mixing chamber to generate thrust.

A method of producing propulsive thrust for an underwater vehicle comprising the steps of:

• providing a propellant storage tank contained within the underwater vehicle for storing a high energy propellant;
• combusting said propellant within a gas generator mounted within the vehicle to produce a flow of high temperature pressurized combustion gases;
• extracting energy from said flow of combustion gases to power a high pressure water pump said extracting step includes conducting at least a portion of said combustion gases from said gas generator through a hot side of a boiler wherein said combustion gases are cooled, heating a liquid in heat exchange relationship with said combustion gases within said boiler to a temperature in excess of the boiling temperature of said liquid to produce steam, expanding said steam from said boiler within a turbine to extract useful work therefrom and to cool said steam, said turbine drivingly connected to said water pump, condensing said cooled steam from said turbine to a liquid within a condenser in heat exchange relationship with said ingested water, pumping said liquid from said condenser to said boiler;
• pressurizing a fluid of ingested ambient water within said high pressure water pump to a pressure at least 200 psi greater than ambient water pressure;
• mixing at least a portion of said flow of combustion gases with said flow of pressurized water within a primary mixing chamber;
• and
• ejecting said mixed flow of gases and pressurized water to ambient through a nozzle assembly associated with said primary mixing chamber to generate thrust.

A method of producing propulsive thrust for an underwater vehicle comprising the steps of:

• providing a propellant storage tank contained within the underwater vehicle for storing a high energy propellant;
• combusting said propellant within a gas generator mounted within the vehicle to produce a flow of high temperature pressurized combustion gases;
• extracting energy from said flow of combustion gases to power a high pressure water pump said extracting step including the steps of diverting a portion of said pressurized water to a second mixing chamber, said second mixing chamber receiving all of said combustion gases directly from said gas generator, spraying said diverted water into said combustion gases to cause evaporation of said water forming a mixed combustion gas-steam flow, thereby increasing the extractable energy available from the mixed combustion gas-steam flow, conducting said combustion gas-steam flow through a hot side of a boiler wherein said combustion gas-steam flow is cooled, heating a liquid in heat exchange relationship with said combustion gas-steam flow within said boiler to a temperature in excess of the boiling temperature of said liquid to produce steam, expanding said steam from said boiler within a turbine to extract useful work therefrom and to cool said steam, said turbine being drivingly connected to said water pump, condensing said cooled steam from said turbine to a liquid within a condenser in heat exchange relationship with said ingested water, and pumping said liquid from said condenser to said boiler;
• pressurizing a flow of ingested ambient water within said high pressure water pump to a pressure at least 200 psi greater than ambient water pressure;
• mixing at least a portion of said flow of combustion gases with said flow of pressurized water within a primary mixing chamber;
• and
• ejecting said mixed flow of gases and pressurized water to ambient through a nozzle assembly associated with said primary mixing chamber to generate thrust.

A method of producing propulsive thrust for an underwater vehicle comprising the steps of:

• combusting a propellant within a gas generator mounted within the vehicle to produce a flow of high temperature pressurized combustion gases;
• directing a flow of pressurized water to a secondary mixing chamber, said secondary mixing chamber receiving at least a portion of said combustion gases from said gas generator;
• spraying said pressurized water into said portion of said combustion gases in said secondary mixing chamber to cause evaporation of said water, thereby increasing the extractable energy available from a resulting mixed combustion gas-stream flow;
• separating solid particles out of said combustion gas-steam flow within a particle separator;
• extracting energy from said mixed flow of combustion gas and steam to power a high pressure water pump;
• pressurizing a flow of ingested ambient water within said high pressure water pump to a pressure at least 500 psi greater than ambient water pressure;
• mixing at least a portion of said flow of combustion gases with at least a portion of said flow of pressurized water within a primary mixing chamber;
• and
• ejecting said mixed flow of gases and pressurized water to ambient through a nozzle assembly associated with said primary mixing chamber to generate thrust.

A propulsion system for an underwater vehicle comprising:

• a propellant storage tank;
• gas generator means, mounted within said vehicle, for receiving and combustion propellant from said propellant storage tank producing a flow of high temperature pressurized combustion gases;
• means for extracting energy from said flow of combustion gases;
• high pressure water pump for pressurizing a flow of ingested ambient water to a pressure at least 200 psi greater than ambient water pressure, said pump means powered by said means for extracting energy;
• primary mixing chamber means for receiving at least a portion of said flow of combustion gases and at least a portion of said flow of pressurized water and for mixing said gases and said pressurized water forming a mixed flow;
• second mixing chamber means for receiving a diverted portion of said pressurized water and at least a portion of said combustion gases from said gas generator means, and for spraying said diverted water into said combustion gases to cause evaporation of said water thereby producing a mixed gas-steam flow;
• conduit means for conducting said mixed gas-steam flow from said second mixing chamber means to said means for extracting energy;
• and
• nozzle means for receiving said mixed flow from said primary mixing chamber means and for ejecting said mixed flow to ambient to generate thrust.

A propulsion system for an underwater vehicle comprising:

• a propellant storage tank;
• gas generator means, mounted within said vehicle, for receiving and combusting propellant from said propellant storage tank producing a flow of high temperature pressurized combustion gases;
• means for extracting energy from said flow of combustion gases said means for extracting energy including turbine means for expanding said combustion gases to extract useful work therefrom
• high pressure water pump means for pressurizing a flow of ingested ambient water to a pressure at least 200 psi greater than ambient water pressure, said pump means mechanically attached to and powered by said turbine means of said means for extracting energy;
• primary mixing chamber means for receiving at least a portion of said flow of combustion gases and at least a portion of said flow of pressurized water and for mixing said gases and said pressurized water forming a mixed flow;
• and
• nozzle means for receiving said mixed flow from said primary mixing chamber means and for ejecting said mixed flow to ambient to generate thrust.

A propulsion system for an underwater vehicle comprising:

• a propellant storage tank;
• gas generator means, mounted within each vehicle, for receiving and combusting propellant from said propellant storage tank producing a flow of high temperature pressurized combustion gases;
• means for extracting energy from said flow of combustion gases said means for extracting energy including boiler means for heating a liquid in heat exchange relationship with said combustion gases from said gas generator means to a temperature in excess of the boiling temperature of said liquid to produce steam, conduit means for conducting said combustion gases from said gas generator means to said boiler means, turbine means for receiving said steam from said boiler means and for expanding said steam to extract useful work therefrom while cooling said steam, condenser means for condensing said cooled steam to a liquid in heat exchange relationship with said ingested water, duct means for transporting said condensed liquid from said condenser means to said boiler means, and a second pump within said duct means for pumping said liquid from said condenser to said boiler;
• high pressure water pump means for pressurizing a flow of ingested ambient water to a pressure at least 200 psi greater than ambient water pressure, said water pump means mechanically attached to and driven by said turbine means of said means for extracting energy;
• primary mixing chamber means for receiving at least a portion of said flow of combustion gases and at least a portion of said flow of pressurized water and for mixing said gases and said pressurized water forming a mixed flow;
• and
• nozzle means for receiving said mixed flow from said primary mixing chamber means and for ejecting said mixed flow to ambient to generate thrust.

A propulsion system for an underwater vehicle comprising:

• a propellant storage tank;
• gas generator means, mounted within said vehicle, for receiving and combusting propellant from said propellant storage tank producing a flow of high temperature pressurized combustion gases;
• means for extracting energy from said flow of combustion gases, said means for extracting energy including second mixing chamber means for mixing pressurized water into said combustion gases received from said gas generator means to form a mixed gas-steam flow, duct means for diverting a portion of said pressurized water to said second mixing chamber, boiler means for heating a liquid in heat exchange relationship with at least a portion of said mixed gas-steam flow from said second mixing chamber means said liquid heated within said boiler to a temperature in excess of the boiling temperature of said liquid to produce steam, conduit means for conducting said mixed gas-steam flow from said second mixing chamber means to said boiler means, turbine means for expanding said steam to extract useful work therefrom and to cool said steam, condenser means for condensing said cooled steam to a liquid in heat exchange relationship with said ingested water, duct means for conducting said liquid from said condenser means to said boiler means, and a second pump within said duct means to pump said liquid from said condenser to said boiler;
• high pressure water pump means for pressurizing a flow of ingested ambient water to a pressure at least 200 psi greater than ambient water pressure, said water pump means mechanically attached to and driven by said turbine means of said means for extracting energy;
• primary mixing chamber means for receiving at least a portion of said flow of combustion gases and at least a portion of said flow of pressurized water and for mixing said gases and said pressurized water forming a mixed flow;
• and
• nozzle means for receiving said mixed flow from said primary mixing chamber means and for ejecting said mixed flow to ambient to generate thrust.