Patent ID: 11970997
Assignee: UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE, L.L.C.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  B | IPC B  F

Claim 0:
1. A thermodynamic system associated with an upper stage of a launch vehicle, comprising:
a tank storing a gas fluid, and a gas line extending from the tank to receive the gas fluid;
an internal combustion engine (ICE) associated with the gas line;
a coolant conduit having a coolant fluid, the coolant conduit in thermal communication with the ICE such that the coolant fluid is configured to receive heat generated by operation of the ICE, and the coolant conduit in thermal communication with the gas line such that the gas fluid is configured to receive heat from the coolant fluid to increase the enthalpy of the gas fluid; and
wherein at least some of the gas fluid with increased enthalpy is configured to be transferred to the ICE for operation of the ICE, at least some of the gas fluid with increased enthalpy is configured to be transferred to the tank to pressurize the tank, and at least some of the gas fluid with increased enthalpy is configured to be transferred to a thruster to move the upper stage.