Patent ID: 6052987
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: F02K,F05D

Abstract:
In a space craft comprising a rocket engine means, a liquid propellant reservoir for storing liquid propellant, and protellant conduit feed means for supplying propellant from said liquid propellant reservoir to aid srocket engine means, the combination comprising:a coolant reservoir for storing and disposing coolant fluid; andrecirculative coolant means coupled to said coolant reservoir for circulating coolant fluid in a recirculating loop between said coolant fluid reservoir, said rocket engine means, and said propellant conduit feed means;said coolant fluid absorbing heat generated by said rocket engine means to cool said rocket engine means and transferring a portion of said heat to said propellant conduit feed means for warming propellant supplied by said propellant conduit feed means;said recirculative coolant means further comprises:engine heat exchanger means, having a coolant fluid inlet for receiving coolant fluid and a coolant fluid outlet for expressing coolant fluid passing through said engine heat exchanger means;propellant heat exchanger means, having a coolant fluid inlet for receiving coolant fluid and coolant fluid outlet for expressing coolant fluid passing through said propellant heat exchanger means;coolant pump means having a coolant fluid inlet and coolant fluid outlet for pumping coolant received at said inlet out said outlet;conduit means for connecting said fluid inlets and outlets of each of said engine and propellant heat exchanger means and said pump means in series in said recirculating coolant loop;a coolant fluid tank, said coolant fluid tank having a fluid outlet connected to said conduit means for supplying coolant fluid into and receiving coolant from said recirculating coolant loop;said propelled heat exchanger means being positioned in said recirulating loop following said engine heat exchanger means;said engine heat exchanger means for transferring heat generated in said rocket engine to coolant fluid flowing though said engine heat exchanger means to warm said coolant fluid, whereby coolant fluid flowing through said engine heat exchanger means increases in temperature;said propellant heat exchanger means for transferring heat from coolant fluid flowing through said propellant heat exchanger means to said liquid propellant to warm and/or vaporize said liquid protellant expressed from said liquid propellant reservoir, whereby coolant fluid flowing through said propellant heat exchanger means decreases in temperature; andfirst coolant valve means for controlling coolant flow within said recirculating coolant loop, said coolant valve being located at a position in said recirculating coolant loop between said coolant pump mean's coolant fluid outlet and said engine heat exchanger means.