Reentry Vehicle Thermal Control Using Heat-to-Thrust Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal control systems for reentry vehicles are inadequate in mitigating aerodynamic friction heating and providing efficient deceleration during atmospheric reentry, often resulting in destructive heating and structural damage.
Innovation Solution
A thermal control system that incorporates a heat exchanger and extendable plenum to transfer heat to a working fluid, which is then routed through nozzles to generate thrust opposing the vehicle's motion, thereby reducing kinetic energy conversion to thermal energy, and includes redundant components for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a thick layer of minimally thermally conductive material is used for thermal protection, then thermal protection is improved, but vehicle mass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines thermal protection and propulsion functions into a single integrated system. The heat exchanger captures aerodynamic heating that would otherwise damage the vehicle, transfers it to a working fluid, and then uses that heated fluid in nozzles to generate propulsive thrust. This merging eliminates the need for separate thermal protection materials while providing active deceleration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful aerodynamic friction heating into a beneficial resource by using the heat to thermalize the working fluid. This heated fluid then serves dual purposes: protecting the vehicle from overheating and providing propulsive thrust to reduce velocity during reentry, thereby transforming a destructive force into a useful one.
2Temperature
If conventional thermal control systems are used, then thermal protection is provided, but deceleration efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful aerodynamic friction heating into a beneficial resource by using the heat to thermalize the working fluid. This heated fluid then serves dual purposes: protecting the vehicle from overheating and providing propulsive thrust to reduce velocity during reentry, thereby transforming a destructive force into a useful one.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines thermal protection and propulsion functions into a single integrated system. The heat exchanger captures aerodynamic heating that would otherwise damage the vehicle, transfers it to a working fluid, and then uses that heated fluid in nozzles to generate propulsive thrust. This merging eliminates the need for separate thermal protection materials while providing active deceleration capability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If heat is transferred to working fluid through heat exchanger, then thermal energy is converted to useful work, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The working fluid system serves multiple functions: it absorbs heat from the heat exchanger to protect the vehicle from thermal damage, stores thermal energy, and then expands through nozzles to generate propulsive thrust. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for thermal management and propulsion, thereby managing complexity while achieving energy conversion efficiency.
4Speed
If output nozzles are positioned to create thrust opposing forward motion, then velocity dissipation is reduced, but control precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an extendable plenum that can dynamically adjust the positioning of the heat exchanger and nozzle assembly during reentry. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to optimize nozzle orientation and positioning in response to changing flight conditions, reducing the need for extremely precise fixed manufacturing tolerances while maintaining effective velocity control.
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
This system effectively mitigates aerodynamic friction heating, provides both thermal protection and propulsion, and ensures safe reentry by reducing velocity through counter thrust, with the potential to completely eliminate velocity dissipation through body friction.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger and extendable plenum to transfer heat to a working fluid
Implementation Method 2
one or more fluid channels positioned to transfer heat, from an exterior of the main body during the non-destructive reentry, to a working fluid in the one or more fluid channels
Implementation Method 3
heated fluid output via the one or more output nozzles creates thrust in a direction that opposes forward motion of the vehicle
Implementation Method 4
one or more output nozzles may be positioned so that heated fluid output via the one or more output nozzles creates thrust
Implementation Method 5
one or more fluid paths may comprise a tank for heated working fluid and a pump between the tank and the one or more nozzles
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal control system may transfer energy (directly or after a delay) to a thrusting device that can be used to slow a reentry vehicle entering a gaseous atmosphere from orbit. The thermal control system may mitigate the heating of the vehicle by transferring heat generated by the viscous interaction between the vehicle and high-altitude portions of a planetary atmosphere to a working fluid. This working fluid may then be routed through and/or ejected through one or more nozzles aligned to produce thrust in a direction that opposes the forward motion of this vehicle. This counter thrust may help to slow the reentry vehicle and reduce the amount of kinetic energy that can be converted into thermal energy. The working fluid may also be stored to use for propulsion after the reentry vehicle slows below hypersonic velocities.