Rocket Engine Valve With Submerged Actuator for High-Pressure Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chamber valves for rocket engines are bulky, heavy, and expensive due to their need to withstand high pressures and flow rates, while also facing challenges with sealing and actuation, particularly at low temperatures and high power requirements.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a linearly slidable shutter and an electrical actuator with a submerged rotor, eliminating the need for dynamic seals and allowing for reduced power consumption and simpler sealing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional pneumatic or hydraulic ball valves are used to withstand high pressures and flow rates, then the valve can handle the required mechanical stresses, but the valve becomes very bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pneumatic or hydraulic actuation systems with an electrical actuator that uses magnetic fields to move the shutter. This substitution eliminates the need for high-pressure fluid systems and heavy structural components, significantly reducing valve mass while maintaining the capability to withstand high mechanical stresses through optimized material selection and structural design
2Power
If conventional pneumatic or hydraulic actuation is used to achieve high power density, then the actuation power requirement is met, but the valve becomes bulky and operational limitations arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex pneumatic or hydraulic actuation systems with a streamlined electrical actuator that uses electromagnetic fields. This substitution maintains high power density for rapid shutter actuation while dramatically simplifying the overall system architecture, eliminating numerous components and reducing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the actuation mechanism from fluid-based (pneumatic/hydraulic) to electrical-based, fundamentally altering the physical parameters of the actuation system. This parameter change enables high power density through electromagnetic forces while reducing system complexity and eliminating the need for complex fluid management infrastructure
3Ease of operation
If dynamic seals are used at the interface between shutter and actuator, then the valve can be actuated, but sealing problems arise under very high pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the dynamic seal interface between the shutter and actuator by using a contactless electrical actuation system. The electrical actuator operates remotely or through a sealed interface, removing the source of sealing failures that occur under high pressure conditions while maintaining full actuation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the actuator and shutter, allowing force transmission without direct mechanical contact. This intermediary enables valve actuation while eliminating the need for dynamic seals, thereby resolving the sealing reliability issue under high pressure
4Reliability
If special seals are used to address sealing problems, then sealing reliability improves, but cost increases and wear occurs quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for special seals by removing the dynamic interface between moving components. The contactless electrical actuation system requires no sealing elements, dramatically reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining or improving sealing reliability through the elimination of potential failure points
Solution Approach 2:
By eliminating seals entirely through contactless actuation, the patent removes the need for expensive special seal materials and the associated maintenance requirements. The system achieves indefinite service life without the recurring costs of seal replacement or specialized sealing components
5Ease of operation
If electrical actuators are used for easier control, then control precision improves, but very high power requirements prevent their use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the electrical actuator parameters including magnetic field strength, coil configuration, and pulse duration to achieve precise control at reduced power levels. By changing these parameters, the system maintains high control precision while operating within acceptable power constraints for rocket engine applications
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 design results in a compact, lightweight, and cost-effective valve capable of handling high flow rates and pressures, with reduced wear and maintenance requirements, enabling more efficient control of rocket engine propellants.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator, of electrical type, configured to adjust the position of the shutter
Implementation Method 2
the actuator comprises a rotor installed in a service cavity of the valve body
Data Source
AI summary
A valve suitable for high flow rates and high pressures, and a rocket engine including such a valve, the valve including a valve body, including a first fluidway and a second fluidway, a movable shutter, configured to adjust the flow area between the first fluidway and the second fluidway, and an actuator, of electrical type, configured to adjust the position of the shutter, wherein the shutter is able to move linearly between a first position and a second position, wherein the actuator includes a rotor installed in a service cavity of the valve body, the service cavity being in fluid communication with the first fluidway or the second fluidway, and wherein the actuator is configured to drive the movement of the shutter by way of a rotary-to-linear transmission member.