US3585800A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transpiration-cooled devices
Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc
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Filing: 1967-07-27
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1987-07-27
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to transpiration cooling and particularly to transpiration cooling of devices subjected to heat flux above the capabilities of the material forming the device, such as thrust chambers for rockets. According to the present invention, a device to be cooled by transpiration cooling has a wall constructed of a plurality of discrete wafers, each having planar surfaces and edge surfaces. A controlled pattern of flow passages is formed on one or both planar surfaces of each wafer, each flow passage terminating at an end surface of the wafer. The wafers are joined together in a stack to form a unitary structure. The passage terminating edge surfaces together form the wall surface of the device, and the wall surface resembles a porous wall. The wafers are thin enough to give excellent wafer-to-coolant heat transfer area. Transpiration cooling is accomplished by permitting coolant to flow through the passages in such a manner that heat input into the wall of the device is efficiently transferred to the coolant within the wall. This enables the coolant to reach the maximum limiting temperature of the wall material before it is introduced onto the wall surface, thus fully exploiting the cooling capacity of the coolant. According to an optional but desirable feature of this invention, the flow passages in the wafers are divided into discrete groups, thereby allowing isolation of areas where coolant boiling might occur. Restrictor passages are provided to each group of passages so that the flow resistance into each group of passages is independent of the heat transfer on the surface of the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J Kuntz
- 👤 Albert L Blubaugh
- 👤 Richard J Labotz
- 👤 Charles B Mcgough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:22
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02K; F02K9/00; F02K9/42; F02K9/60; F02K9/62; F02K9/64; F05; F05D; F05D2260/00; F05D2260/20; F05D2260/203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A device having a wall adapted to contact heat energy, said wall comprising a stack of a plurality of discrete wafers, each wafer having planar surfaces and edge surfaces; a controlled pattern of flow passages on a planar surface of each wafer, said flow passages terminating at an edge surface thereof, a plurality of flow separators in each flow passage forming a porous surface of said wall having a plurality of edge surface holes arranged in a pattern; delivery means for delivering coolant to said flow passages, said delivery means including metering passages on each wafer for metering coolant flow to edge surface holes; said wafers being sufficient thin as to permit thermal equilibrium between said wafers and the coolant within the flow passages, whereby the device is transpiration cooled by the coolant in the flow passages.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A device having a wall adapted to contact heat energy, said wall comprising a stack of a plurality of discrete wafers, each wafer having planar surfaces and edge surfaces; a controlled pattern of flow passages on a planar surface of each wafer, said flow passages terminating at an edge surface thereof, a plurality of flow separators in each flow passage forming a porous surface of said wall having a plurality of edge surface holes arranged in a pattern; delivery means for delivering coolant to said flow passages, said delivery means including metering passages on each wafer for metering coolant flow to edge surface holes; said wafers being sufficient thin as to permit thermal equilibrium between said wafers and the coolant within the flow passages, whereby the device is transpiration cooled by the coolant in the flow passages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said edge surface holes are of a hydraulic diameter of substantially between 0.0005 inch and 0.020 inch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of each wafer is substantially between 0.001 inch and 0.050 inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 1 further including flow restrictor passages set back from said edge surface, whereby coolant flow resistance through said restrictor passages will be independent of local heat transfer conditions at the edge surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein said restrictor passages are of a hydraulic diameter of substantially between 0.0005 inch and 0.010 inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein said restrictors further form flared passages between them, each flared passage containing a plurality of flow passages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
169 words
A rocket motor thrust chamber, comprising: a combustion chamber adapted to receive propellant injection means at one end thereof, exhaust nozzle means associated with said combustion chamber at the other end thereof, said chamber having a wall comprising a stack of a plurality of discrete wafers, each wafer having planar surfaces and edge surfaces; a controlled pattern of flow passages on a planar surface of each wafer, said flow passages being adapted to receive coolant and terminating at an edge surface thereof; a plurality of flow separators in each flow passage forming a porous surface of said wall having a plurality of edge surface holes arranged in a pattern; said wafers being sufficiently thin as to permit thermal equilibrium between said wafers and coolant within the flow passages, whereby the combustion chamber is transpiration cooled by coolant in the flow passages; and delivery means for delivering coolant to said flow passages, said delivery means including metering passages on each wafer for metering coolant flow to the edge surface holes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
169 words
A rocket motor thrust chamber, comprising: a combustion chamber adapted to receive propellant injection means at one end thereof, exhaust nozzle means associated with said combustion chamber at the other end thereof, said chamber having a wall comprising a stack of a plurality of discrete wafers, each wafer having planar surfaces and edge surfaces; a controlled pattern of flow passages on a planar surface of each wafer, said flow passages being adapted to receive coolant and terminating at an edge surface thereof; a plurality of flow separators in each flow passage forming a porous surface of said wall having a plurality of edge surface holes arranged in a pattern; said wafers being sufficiently thin as to permit thermal equilibrium between said wafers and coolant within the flow passages, whereby the combustion chamber is transpiration cooled by coolant in the flow passages; and delivery means for delivering coolant to said flow passages, said delivery means including metering passages on each wafer for metering coolant flow to the edge surface holes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein said delivery means comprises a coolant manifold, and a manifold header passage passing through each of said wafers, said header passage being a fluid communication with said manifold and said flow passages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein said nozzle means comprises a coNvergent section, a throat, and a divergent section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 7 further including flow restrictor passages set back from said edge surface, whereby coolant flow resistance through said restrictor passages will be independent of local heat transfer conditions at the edge surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |