Power plants – Reaction motor – Method of operation
Patent
1996-07-18
1998-07-07
Casaregola, Louis J.
Power plants
Reaction motor
Method of operation
60214, 60 39461, F02K 942
Patent
active
057750963
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a national phase application of PCT/DE95/01431 filed 16 Oct. 1995 and based, in turn, on German National Application P44 375 24.7 filed 20 Oct. 1994 under the International Convention.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a process for operating a reaction-type missile propulsion system. Furthermore, the invention refers to the formation of the missile propulsion system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the rocket technique, for such cases requiring high specific thrust normally liquid hydrogen is used as propellant and is reacted with oxydants, as for instance liquid oxygen and liquid fluorine (outside of the atmosphere). However, with these propellant combinations the high specific thrust is in contrast to the need of large container volumes for the propellant components and the special expense for the storing of the same. The large container volumes are a consequence of the low specific density of the cited propellant combinations for which primarily hydrogen is responsible. The special expense for the storing results from the extremely low boiling points of the propellant components.
For the removal of the above-cited disadvantages one has already proposed the use of silicon hydride and silicon amine as rocket propellant (German disclosure letter 22 31 008). In this connection tetrasilane (Si.sub.4 H.sub.10) has been cited. However, tetrasilane is extremely self-inflammable and cannot be prepared in a simple manner.
Silicon hydrides, preferably silahe oils, have been suggested as rocket propellants in DE 42 15 835 C2. The preparation of such silane oils is described in German patent 21 39 155, wherein especially the preparation of the oil mixture Si.sub.5 H.sub.12 up to Si.sub.lO H.sub.22 is described. Surprisingly, such silane oils are safe with regard to handling and are especially suited as rocket propellant on account of their high specific density and their high energy. This safety with regard to handling is surprising since the lower silanes cannot be used as propellants on account of their extraordinary insecurity.
However, also in accordance with these suggestions it was always emanated from the fact that the silane oils are burned together with liquid oxygen, liquid chlorine or fluorine so that, also in this case, on principle the oxidizing agent has to be carried along.
As regards the propulsion of missiles within the earth's atmosphere, moreover jet engines are known. Jet engines have the advantage that they use the oxygen of the atmosphere as oxidizing agent so that a specific oxidizing agent has not to be carried along. However, in such a case the nitrogen contained in the air as inert gas (about 80%) has to be co-accelerated and to be co-heated. Since the velocity of the combustion gases depends on the temperature, the power of this process is limited and can no more be increased technically.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a process for operating a reaction-type propulsion system of a missile which is characterized by an especially high efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved by reacting silicone hydride compounds with nitrogen and/or nitrogen compounds at high temperatures in the presence of an oxidizing agent for the hydrogen of the silicon hydride compounds in a combustion chamber.
The N.sub.2 molecule as such, notwithstanding its triple bond, is extremely inactive and tends to open its linkage only with electron bombardment, for instance in thunderstorms, and to react with oxygen so that nitric oxides are formed. However, above 1400.degree. C. hot nitrogen reacts with finely distributed silicon and forms silicon nitride Si.sub.3 N.sub.4. The reasons for this nitrogen combustion can be found in the fact that silicon, in contrast to carbon, cannot enter into double bonds or triple bonds. Nitrogen shows an especially good reaction performance with silicon hydride compounds. The invention takes advantage of this recognition and uses inten
REFERENCES:
patent: 3665862 (1972-05-01), Lane
patent: 4139403 (1979-02-01), Baum et al.
patent: 5224663 (1993-07-01), Criswell
Casaregola Louis J.
Dubno Herbert
Kateshov Yuri
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