US2013196273A1PendingUtilityA1

Thermal Pressurant

42
Assignee: FIRESTAR ENGINEERING LLCPriority: Jan 30, 2012Filed: Jan 30, 2013Published: Aug 1, 2013
Est. expiryJan 30, 2032(~5.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Gregory S. Mungas
F23K 5/20B65D 83/72F02K 9/50
42
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Claims

Abstract

The presently disclosed technology relates to using a combustion/decomposition heater fed by a working fluid stored within a storage tank to thermally pressurize the storage tank. The thermal pressurization may be used to maintain a desired pressure within the storage tank, even as the working fluid within the storage tank is drawn down. Further, a feedback mechanism may also be incorporated that varies the thermal energy added to the working fluid within the storage tank to maintain the desired pressure within the storage tank.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 extracting a first quantity of working fluid from a first outlet of a storage tank;   exothermically reacting the extracted first quantity of working fluid to generate thermal energy; and   transferring a majority of the generated thermal energy into working fluid remaining within the storage tank.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 extracting a second quantity of working fluid from a second outlet of the storage tank; and   exothermically reacting the second quantity of extracted working fluid to provide one or both of work and momentum.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 varying a rate the first quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank responsive to a combined rate the first and the second quantities of working fluid are extracted from the storage tank.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 varying a rate the second quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank responsive to a desired output of one or both of the work and the momentum.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring pressure within the storage tank; and   varying a rate the first quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank to achieve and maintain a desired pressure within the storage tank.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring temperature within the storage tank; and   varying a rate the first quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank to achieve and maintain a desired temperature within the storage tank.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exothermically reacting operation includes one or both of decomposing and combusting the working fluid to generate the thermal energy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank primarily in a gaseous-phase and the second quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank primarily in a liquid-phase. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first outlet and the second outlet are located on opposing sides of the storage tank. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein greater than 90% of the generated thermal energy is transferred into working fluid remaining within the storage tank. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is a monopropellant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the monopropellant has a vapor pressure greater than 101 kPa at 25° C. 
     
     
         13 . A storage tank comprising:
 a first outlet through which a first quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank; and   a heater that exothermically reacts the extracted working fluid generating thermal energy, wherein the heater further transfers a majority of the thermal energy into working fluid remaining within the storage tank.   
     
     
         14 . The storage tank of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second outlet through which a second quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank, wherein the second quantity of working fluid is exothermically reacted to provide one or both of work and momentum.   
     
     
         15 . The storage tank of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first control valve that varies a rate the first quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank responsive to a combined rate the first and the second quantities of working fluid are extracted from the storage tank.   
     
     
         16 . The storage tank of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second control valve that varies a rate the second quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank responsive to a desired output of one or both of the work and the momentum.   
     
     
         17 . The storage tank of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a pressure transducer that monitors pressure within the storage tank; and   a first control valve that varies a rate the first quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank to achieve and maintain a desired pressure within the storage tank.   
     
     
         18 . The storage tank of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a temperature transducer that monitors temperature within the storage tank; and   a first control valve that varies a rate the first quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank to achieve and maintain a desired temperature within the storage tank.   
     
     
         19 . The storage tank of  claim 13 , wherein the heater includes:
 a decomposition/combustion chamber that performs one or both of decomposing and combusting the working fluid to generate the thermal energy; and   a heat exchanger for transferring the majority of the generated thermal energy from the decomposition/combustion chamber to the working fluid remaining within the storage tank.   
     
     
         20 . The storage tank of  claim 14 , wherein the first quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank primarily in a gaseous-phase and the second quantity of working fluid is extracted from the storage tank primarily in a liquid-phase. 
     
     
         21 . The storage tank of  claim 14 , wherein the first outlet and the second outlet are located on opposing sides of the storage tank. 
     
     
         22 . The storage tank of  claim 13 , wherein greater than 90% of the generated thermal energy is transferred into working fluid remaining within the storage tank. 
     
     
         23 . The storage tank of  claim 13 , wherein the working fluid is a monopropellant. 
     
     
         24 . The storage tank of  claim 23 , wherein the monopropellant has a vapor pressure greater than 101 kPa at 25° C. 
     
     
         25 . A system comprising:
 a working fluid storage tank with a first outlet and a second outlet;   a heater fluidly connected to the first outlet that exothermically reacts working fluid discharged via the first outlet to generate thermal energy, wherein the heater further transfers a majority of the generated thermal energy into working fluid remaining within the storage tank; and   an engine fluidly connected to the second outlet that exothermically reacts working fluid discharged via the second outlet to generate one or both of one or both of work and momentum.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a pressure transducer that monitors pressure within the storage tank; and   a control valve that varies a rate the working fluid is discharged from the storage tank via the first outlet to achieve and maintain a desired pressure within the storage tank.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein greater than 90% of the generated thermal energy is transferred into working fluid remaining within the storage tank. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the working fluid is a monopropellant. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the monopropellant has a vapor pressure greater than 101 kPa at 25° C.

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