Additively Manufactured Pressurization Diffusers

Abstract

Example implementations relate to Additive Manufacturing (AM) pressurization diffusers. An example diffuser includes an integral component configurable for receiving and diffusing pressurant. Particularly, the integral component includes multiple elements manufactured as a single-piece structure, including an inner filter, outer shell, and flange. The inner filter includes micro-diamond holes that enable pressurant received at an opening of the inner filter to diffuse out of the inner filter and subsequently through holes positioned in a shell surface of the outer shell. The flange can position the diffuser such that the opening of the inner filter is in pressurant communication with a pressurant source (e.g., opening of a tank) enabling the diffuser to receive and diffuse pressurant in a predefined pattern. For example, when the diffuser is positioned inside a tank, the diffuser can have a frustum configuration that helps diffuse pressurant upwards towards inner sidewalls of a pressure vessel, tube or channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving pressurant at an inner filter of an integral component, wherein the pressurant is received via an opening at a first end of the inner filter, wherein the integral component is configurable for receiving and diffusing the pressurant and includes an outer shell positioned around the inner filter, and wherein the outer shell includes a shell surface having a first plurality of holes positioned between a first end and a second end of the outer shell; and   diffusing the pressurant received at the opening at the first end of the inner filter from the integral component, wherein diffusing the pressurant from the integral component comprises:
 initially diffusing the pressurant from the inner filter through a second plurality of holes positioned in the inner filter between the first end and a second end of the inner filter; and 
 subsequently diffusing the pressurant through the first plurality of holes in the shell surface of the outer shell. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing the pressurant to further diffuse outward at an upward angle from the integral component.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein causing the pressurant to further diffuse outward at the upward angle from the integral component involves using one or more of a lip extending around a perimeter of the second end of the outer shell, a conic surface angled away from the first end of the outer shell formed by the second end of the inner filter and the second end of the outer shell, and a frustum configuration formed by the outer shell. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the outer shell has a greater circumference than the second end of the outer shell such that the outer shell has a frustum configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more portions of the shell surface of the outer shell lacks respective holes of the first plurality of holes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein respective holes in the first plurality of holes in the shell surface of the outer shell are larger than respective holes in the second plurality of holes in the inner filter. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more holes in the first plurality of holes in the shell surface of the outer shell has a diamond configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more holes in the first plurality of holes in the shell surface of the outer shell has a teardrop configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the integral component further comprises:
 a flange coupled to the first end of the inner filter, wherein the flange is configurable for coupling the integral component such that the opening at the first end of the inner filter is in pressurant communication with a pressurant source.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the inner filter extends into an angled groove formed in the second end of the outer shell such that the angled groove closes the second end of the inner filter and prevents received pressurant from leaking out of the inner filter at the second end of the inner filter. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 generating, using a layer-upon-layer generation process, an integral component configurable for receiving and diffusing pressurant, wherein the integral component comprises:
 an outer shell having a shell surface positioned between a first end and a second end, wherein the shell surface includes a first plurality of holes; 
 an inner filter positioned inside the outer shell, wherein a first end of the inner filter extends through an opening in the first end of the outer shell and includes an opening for receiving pressurant, wherein a second end of the inner filter is coupled to the second end of the outer shell, and wherein the inner filter includes a second plurality of holes positioned between the first end and the second end of the inner filter such that pressurant received via the opening at the first end of the inner filter diffuses through the second plurality of holes and subsequently through the first plurality of holes in the shell surface of the outer shell; and 
 a flange coupled to the first end of the inner filter, wherein the flange is configurable for coupling the integral component such that the opening at the first end of the inner filter is in pressurant communication with a pressurant source. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating the integral component further comprises:
 generating the integral component such that a cross-sectional area of the inner filter is based on preventing choked flow conditions for the integral component.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating the integral component further comprises:
 generating the integral component such that a distance between the inner filter and the outer shell is based on a desired mass flow rate for the integral component.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating the integral component further comprises:
 generating the integral component such that a length between the first end of the inner filter and the second end of the inner filter is based on a desired mass flow rate for the integral component.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating the integral component further comprises:
 generating the integral component using a nickel-chromium-based super alloy.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating the integral component further comprises:
 generating the integral component with one or more fasteners for coupling the integral component inside a tank such that the pressurant received via the opening at the first end of the inner filter that diffuses through the second plurality of holes and subsequently through the first plurality of holes in the shell surface of the outer shell and further diffuses away from a liquid propellant surface toward one or more inner walls of the tank proximate the opening of the tank.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating the integral component further comprises:
 generating the integral component such that the first end of the outer shell has a greater circumference than the second end of the outer shell such that the outer shell has a frustum configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating the integral component further comprises:
 generating the integral component such that respective holes in the first plurality of holes in the shell surface of the outer shell are larger than respective holes in the second plurality of holes in the inner filter.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating the integral component further comprises:
 generating the integral component such that respective holes in the first plurality of holes in the shell surface of the outer shell are larger than respective holes in the second plurality of holes in the inner filter.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating the integral component further comprises:
 generating the integral component such that the second end of the inner filter extends into an angled groove formed in the second end of the outer shell such that the angled groove closes the second end of the inner filter and prevents received pressurant from leaking out of the inner filter at the second end of the inner filter.