Method of fluid flow control using a porous media

Details Method of fluid flow control using a porous media Method of fluid flow control using a porous media

1991-10-02

1993-12-07

Bertsch, Richard A.

Fluid handling

Processes

Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy

137828, 602031, F17D 116

Patent

active

052675840

ABSTRACT:
An apparatus for use in space environments to control the flow of a propellant to a thruster at a low mass flow rate comprises an insulated body having a cavity therein defining a vaporizing chamber, a porous medium having a low liquid permeability disposed in the chamber, a conduit means for feeding a propellant liquid into the chamber and exhausting a propellant vapor from the vaporizing chamber, and a heating means communicating with the medium within the chamber for controllable heating of the liquid propellant in the chamber creating a variable liquid/vapor transition zone within the medium. The transition zone is responsive to the heating means to control the mass flow rate of propellant through the vaporizing chamber. As the liquid/vapor transition zone is moved upstream by increasing the heater output, and thus increasing the volume of vapor within the porous medium, mass flow through the porous medium is decreased. Conversely, movement of the liquid/vapor transition zone downstream through the medium by decreasing the heater output, and thus exposing more of the porous medium volume to liquid, increases the mass flow rate.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3612084 (1971-10-01), Kassel
patent: 3688083 (1972-08-01), Rice et al.
patent: 3781518 (1973-12-01), Power et al.
patent: 3906978 (1975-09-01), Kurz
patent: 3943330 (1976-03-01), Pollack et al.
patent: 4254800 (1981-03-01), Masaki

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