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US 8,827,209 B2Granted
Methods and systems for propelling an externally powered vehicle
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorBrian J. Tillotson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle is disclosed that includes a propellant tank, an optical absorber operable to transform optical energy into thermal energy, a quantity of solid lithium within the propellant tank, a heat exchanger, and an engine. The heat exchanger is operable to transfer thermal energy from the optical absorber to the quantity of solid lithium to liquefy at least a portion of the solid lithium, and further operable to boil the liquefied portion of the solid lithium. The engine is operable to utilize lithium vapor from the boiled lithium to propel the vehicle.
Claims13
A vehicle comprising:
- a propellant tank;
- a quantity of solid propellant containing lithium within said propellant tank;
- an optical absorber operable to transform optical energy into thermal energy;
- a heat exchanger;
- a heat conduit coupled to said optical absorber and to said heat exchanger, said heat conduit operable to transfer thermal energy from said optical absorber to said quantity of solid propellant to liquefy at least a portion of the solid propellant, said heat conduit oriented to channel the liquefied portion of the lithium in the propellant to said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger operable to boil the liquefied portion of the lithium in the propellant;
- and
- an engine operable to utilize lithium vapor from the boiled lithium to propel said vehicle.
4 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a propellant tank comprising a port and a mechanism operable to open and close said port, wherein a first quantity of solid propellant containing lithium is within said propellant tank, and a second quantity of solid propellant containing lithium is external to said vehicle, said mechanism operable to place a portion of the second quantity of solid propellant into said propellant tank via said port;
- an optical absorber operable to transform optical energy into thermal energy;
- a heat exchanger operable to transfer thermal energy from said optical absorber to said quantity of solid propellant to liquefy at least a portion of the solid propellant, said heat exchanger operable to boil the liquefied portion of the lithium in the propellant;
- and
- an engine operable to utilize lithium vapor from the boiled lithium to propel said vehicle.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.