Low-thrust cryogenic propulsion module
AssigneeSnecma Moteurs
InventorDominique Valentian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The cryogenic propulsion module comprises a main cryogenic thruster (10), two attitude-controlling secondary thrusters (21, 22), tanks (31, 32, 33, 34) for feeding cryogenic propellants, a device for intermittently pressurizing the tanks (31, 32, 33, 34), and a device for initiating firing of the main cryogenic thruster (10) in intermittent manner while the tanks (31, 32, 33, 34) are intermittently pressurized. The device for intermittently pressurizing a tank (31, 32, 33, 34) comprises a heat exchange circuit associated with a heat accumulator (61, 62) and a device (71, 72) for putting a predetermined quantity of a propellant into circulation in the heat exchanger circuit. The module also comprises a device for heating the heat accumulator (61, 62) in the periods between two consecutive firings.
Claims17
A low-thrust cryogenic propulsion module presenting thrust lying in the range 100 N to 1000 N, the module being characterized in that it comprises at least one main cryogenic thruster whose combustion pressure lies in the range 2 bars to 10 bars, at least two attitude-controlling secondary thrusters, at least first and second feed tanks for feeding cryogenic propellants, means for intermittently pressurizing said feed tanks, and means for triggering intermittent firing of the main cryogenic thruster during intermittent pressurization of said feed tanks, the duration between two successive firings lying in the range about 1 h 30 mm to 12 h, in that the means for intermittently pressurizing a feed tank comprises at least one heat exchange circuit associated with a heat accumulator and with means for circulating a predetermined quantity of a propellant through said heat exchange circuit, and in that it further comprises means for heating the heat accumulator in the periods that lie between two consecutive firings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.