Refrigeration – Utilizing fuel as refrigerant
Patent
1999-03-24
2000-10-17
Capossela, Ronald
Refrigeration
Utilizing fuel as refrigerant
62 461, 62 471, F25B 1900
Patent
active
061313955
ABSTRACT:
A method for densifying the LO2 propellant of a vehicle (10) includes providing a heat exchanger (16) including a chamber (22), and an isolated heater (24) and cooler (26) located within the chamber (22). The method further includes the step of pumping propellant (LO2) (with pump 14) from the vehicle (10) to the first port (24i) of the path of the heater (24), to thereby create a flow of propellant (LO2) through the heater (24) path, and from the second port (24o) of the path of the heater (24). In conjunction with the pumping, propellant (LO2) is coupled from the second port (24o) of the heater (24) back to the vehicle (10), to thereby establish a recirculating flow of propellant (LO2). The chamber (22) of the heat exchanger (16) is filled with at least sufficient cryogenic liquid (LN2) to cover at least a portion of the path of the cooler (26), and preferably the entirety of the path of the cooler (26). A cryogenic fluid (LH2) is boiled, to thereby cool the cryogenic fluid, and the resulting cooled cryogenic fluid is flowed through the path of the cooler (26). As a result, or whereby, the flow of the cooled cryogenic fluid through the cooler (26) cools the cryogenic liquid, and the cryogenic liquid cools the heater (24) by convection (60). When the cryogenic liquid cools the heater (24), the cryogenic propellant (LO2) flowing through the heater (24) gives up heat to the cryogenic liquid and becomes cooler (26), thereby densifying the cryogenic propellant (LO2).
REFERENCES:
patent: 3473343 (1969-10-01), Chamberlain
patent: 5644920 (1997-07-01), Lak et al.
Anthony Miranda Leigh
Greene William Duncan
Capossela Ronald
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Meise W. H.
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