Desuperheating Spray Chamber for Nuclear Rocket Steam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for desuperheating exhaust steam from nuclear thermal propulsion engines are inefficient, leading to reduced performance and potential issues in heat exchangers and water tanks.
Innovation Solution
A desuperheating spray chamber with a cylindrical outer tank, a concentric shroud, and annular inner and outer spray rings, which directs the exhaust plume through a controlled mixing process with spray from the rings to effectively cool the steam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional desuperheating systems are used, then the structure is simple, but the cooling efficiency is reduced and wall temperatures exceed safety limits
Solution Approach 1:
The spray chamber is segmented into multiple functional zones: an inner spray ring with nozzles directed toward the center axis, an outer spray ring with nozzles directed radially outward, and a shroud dividing the chamber into inner and outer regions. This segmentation allows different areas to perform specialized cooling functions, effectively managing the thermal profile of the exhaust plume and maintaining wall temperatures below safety limits.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the spray chamber are assigned different spray characteristics: the inner spray ring targets the high-temperature core region with concentrated spray, while the outer spray ring addresses the peripheral regions with radially directed spray. The shroud creates distinct flow paths for inner and outer plume portions. This local differentiation optimizes cooling efficiency in each zone without requiring uniform complexity throughout the structure.
2Reliability
If cooling efficiency is improved through advanced spray chambers, then wall temperatures are controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray chamber employs a nested configuration where the inner spray ring and its associated inner plume region are contained within the outer spray ring and outer plume region. The shroud acts as a nested structure dividing the chamber into concentric zones. This nesting allows multiple cooling functions to be integrated within a single unified chamber, improving reliability through comprehensive temperature control while avoiding the need for separate independent cooling systems.
3Productivity
If the exhaust plume is not properly cooled before entering the heat exchanger, then the overall system efficiency is reduced, but additional cooling components increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The spray chamber performs preliminary cooling of the exhaust plume before it enters the heat exchanger 22. By pre-cooling the plume through the dual spray rings and shroud configuration, the system prepares the exhaust for more efficient heat exchange downstream, preventing thermal damage to subsequent components and improving overall productivity without requiring the heat exchanger itself to be oversized or overly complex.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves efficient cooling of high-temperature exhaust steam, maintaining wall temperatures below 482.2 °C (900 °F) and ensuring mass flow balance, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency and safety of the system.
Implementation Method 1
an annular inner spray ring that is both disposed within and concentric to the shroud about the longitudinal center axis, and an annular outer spray ring that is disposed between a side wall of the outer tank and the shroud
Implementation Method 2
directs the exhaust plume through a controlled mixing process with spray from the rings to effectively cool the steam
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A desuperheating spray chamber for use in a rocket exhaust recovery system for a nuclear thermal propulsion rocket, including a substantially-cylindrical outer tank with an upper end including an entrance port and two exhaust ports, a substantially-cylindrical shroud extending downwardly from an inner surface of the upper end of the tank, an annular inner spray ring that is both disposed within and concentric with the shroud; and an annular outer spray ring that is disposed between a side wall of the outer tank and the shroud, the annular outer ring being concentric with the shroud.