US2013205754A1PendingUtilityA1

Oxidizer compound for rocket propulsion

57
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 4, 2007Filed: Dec 14, 2012Published: Aug 15, 2013
Est. expiryJan 4, 2027(~0.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Robert L. SackheimJoseph Roger Herdy, Jr.
C06B 43/00C06B 47/04C06B 33/08F02K 9/425F02C 7/22
57
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Claims

Abstract

The present disclosure generally pertains to a rocket propulsion oxidizer compound that is a solution, is a homogenous and stable liquid at room temperature and includes nitrous oxide and nitrogen tetroxide. In addition, an apparatus is provided for burning a fuel and nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide. The apparatus has a combustor, a catalyst, a nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide supply passage for directing the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide to a contact position with the catalyst, and a fuel supply passage for supplying the fuel to the combustor. The catalyst acts to facilitate decomposition of the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide, while the combustor burns the fuel, the decomposed nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide and/or nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide decomposed in the reaction.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
Now, therefore, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . An oxidizer solution for use in a rocket propulsion system comprising nitrous oxide dissolved into nitrogen tetroxide that is a homogenous and stable liquid at room temperature. 
     
     
         2 . The oxidizer solution of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additive having a theoretical specific energy greater than that of said nitrous oxide. 
     
     
         3 . The oxidizer solution of claim,  2  wherein said at least one additive is an earth-storable oxidizer. 
     
     
         4 . An oxidizer solution of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid is non-viscous at room temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The oxidizer solution of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid is a gel at room temperature. 
     
     
         6 . An oxidizer solution for use in a rocket propulsion system comprising a homogenous solution that includes nitrous oxide and approximately 28 to 52 weight percent nitrogen tetroxide. 
     
     
         7 . The oxidizer solution of  claim 6 , wherein said solution is a non-viscous liquid at room temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The oxidizer solution of  claim 6 , wherein said solution is a gel at room temperature. 
     
     
         9 . A rocket propulsion system comprising:
 a first container;   a rocket fuel stored in said first container;   a second container;   an oxidizer solution stored in said second container, said oxidizer solution comprising a homogeneous and stable liquid solution at room temperature that includes nitrous oxide and nitrogen tetroxide; and   means coupled to said first container and said second container for controlling mixing of said rocket fuel, heated via catalytic decomposition, with said oxidizer solution.   
     
     
         10 . The oxidizer solution of  claim 9 , wherein said solution further includes at least one additive having a theoretical energy greater than that of said nitrous oxide. 
     
     
         11 . The oxidizer solution of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one additive is an earth-storable oxidizer. 
     
     
         12 . The oxidizer solution of  claim 9 , wherein said solution is non-viscous at room temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The oxidizer solution of  claim 9 , wherein said solution is viscous at room temperature. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for burning a fuel and a nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer solution, the apparatus comprising:
 a combustor;   a catalyst;   a supply passage for directing the fuel to a contact position with the catalyst; and   a passage for supplying the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer solution to the combustor,   wherein the catalyst is raising the temperature of the fuel and wherein the combustor ignites the fuel and the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer solution.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the fuel is a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the fuel is propane. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, tungsten carbide, copper, cobalt and gold. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for burning a fuel and a nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer solution, the apparatus comprising:
 a combustor;   a catalyst;   a supply passage for directing the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer solution to a contact position with the catalyst;   a supply passage for directing the fuel to a contact position with the second catalyst; and   a fuel supply passage for supplying the fuel to the combustor,   wherein the first catalyst is facilitating decomposition of the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer solution at about 122° F. to 662° F. and wherein the second catalyst if raising the temperature of the fuel, and wherein the combustor ignites the fuel and the oxide/nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer solution.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the fuel is a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the fuel is propane. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, tungsten carbide, copper, cobalt and gold. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for burning a fuel and a nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer solution, the apparatus comprising:
 a combustor;   at first catalyst and a second catalyst;   a supply passage for directing a nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide solution to a contact position with the first catalyst; and   a supply passage for directing the fuel to a contact position with the second catalyst;   wherein the catalyst is facilitating decomposition of the nitrous oxide at about 122° F. to 662° F. and the combustor is for burning the fuel and the decomposed nitrous oxide.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the fuel is a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the fuel is propane. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the first catalyst wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, tungsten carbide, copper, cobalt and gold. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the second catalyst wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, tungsten carbide, copper, cobalt and gold. 
     
     
         27 . A method of burning a nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide solution and a fuel, the method comprising:
 supplying the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide solution to a catalyst;   facilitating decomposition of the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide solution by passing the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide solution over the catalyst at about 122° F. to 662° F.;   supplying the fuel to a combustion point; and   supplying the decomposed nitrous oxide to the combustion point.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the fuel is a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the fuel is propane. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the decomposed nitrous oxide is a sufficient temperature to ignite the fuel. 
     
     
         31 . A method of burning a nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide solution and a fuel, the method comprising:
 supplying the fuel to a catalyst wherein the catalyst heats the fuel;   supplying the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide solution to a combustion point; and   supplying the heated fuel to the combustion point.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the fuel is a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the fuel is propane. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the decomposed nitrous oxide is a sufficient temperature to ignite the fuel. 
     
     
         34 . A method of burning a nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide solution and a fuel, the method comprising:
 supplying the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide solution to a first catalyst;   facilitating decomposition of the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide solution by passing the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide solution over the catalyst at about 122° F. to 662° F.;   supplying the fuel to a second catalyst wherein the catalyst heats the fuel;   supplying the decomposed nitrous oxide to the combustion point; and   supplying the fuel to a combustion point; and   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the fuel is a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the fuel is propane. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the decomposed nitrous oxide is a sufficient temperature to ignite the fuel.

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