CN211819718U - Nitrous oxide engine - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides a nitrous oxide engine. The nitrous oxide engine includes: the decomposition chamber is internally provided with a catalyst and is provided with a nitrous oxide inlet; a heating device for heating the catalyst in the decomposition chamber. The utility model provides a nitrous oxide engine can regard as the substitute of the poisonous propellant of present mainstream to improve nitrous oxide engine's low temperature environmental suitability.

Description

Nitrous oxide engine

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a power equipment technical field particularly, relates to a nitrous oxide engine.

Background

Self-pressurized rocket propellants have recently become of increasing interest to researchers. In particular, nitrous oxide is used as a liquid oxidizer for rocket self-pressurization. Nitrous oxide has a saturated vapor pressure (P) of about 730psi (5.03 MPa) at room temperature_V). Some important thermodynamic properties of nitrous oxide are shown in table 1. This makes nitrous oxide an attractive rocket power system propellant because it can be discharged from the tank without the need for complex pressurization systems or turbo pumps (hence the name self-pressurization). Nitrous oxide is easy to store, relatively non-toxic and easy to control. Thus, conventional oxidizers and single-component propellants commonly used in current launching systems (e.g., Liquid Oxygen (LOX), dinitrogen tetroxide (N)₂O₄) Hydrazine (N)₂H₄) It is generally considered a safe alternative.

TABLE 1N₂Important thermodynamic properties of O

However, it should be noted that the use of nitrous oxide, as with all propellants, has its associated risks and should therefore always be considered. In particular, nitrous oxide decomposition is an exothermic reaction. In some cases, the continuous decomposition reaction can result in an increase in the pressure of the storage vessel leading to explosion. Such explosions have occurred in rocket power systems in the past and have even caused death of personnel. However, with proper precautions and controls, nitrous oxide can be safely used.

Conventional engines used for controlling satellite orbit or attitude control, etc., can be classified into monopropellant engines (using a single propellant) and bipropellant engines (using a propellant containing an oxidizer and a fuel).

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a conventional one-component engine. The engine 1 generates thrust by feeding propellant into a combustion chamber 3 through an electromagnetic valve 2. For the traditional propellant, namely hydrazine, hydrazine is catalytically decomposed by a catalyst 4 to generate pyrolysis gas which is sprayed out from an engine spray pipe to generate thrust.

The conventional engines described above use highly toxic propellants. Therefore, when the power system composed of these engines is operated on the ground, environmental protection and safe disposal are indispensable, and the catalyst is also contaminated. Researchers throughout the world are currently working on developing liquid engines that can use low or no toxicity propellants.

In addition, hydrazine is currently used as the mainstream propellant for satellite and spacecraft attitude control monopropellants, which has problems with high freezing points (about 1 ℃). When the satellite or spacecraft is used in a low temperature space environment, it is necessary to provide heating or thermal insulation means to the entire propellant supply system to prevent the hydrazine from freezing in the low temperature environment, rendering the engine inoperative.

Nitrous oxide solves the above problems very well and can react with many hydrocarbon fuels, such as ethanol, methane, propane, etc.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The main object of the present invention is to provide a nitrous oxide engine, which can reduce and finally eliminate the toxicity of the liquid propellant, and improve the low temperature environment adaptability of the power system.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a nitrous oxide engine, comprising: the decomposition chamber is internally provided with a catalyst and is provided with a nitrous oxide inlet; a heating device for heating the catalyst in the decomposition chamber.

Further, the heating device is an electric heating device.

Further, the heating device includes: a first heater disposed inside the decomposition chamber, the first heater containing the catalyst therein; a first power supply coil connected with the first heater to supply power to the first heater.

Further, the heating means includes a second power supply coil for directly heating the catalyst in the decomposition chamber.

Further, the decomposition chamber includes one-level decomposition chamber and second grade decomposition chamber that communicate with each other, the volume of one-level decomposition chamber is less than the volume of second grade decomposition chamber, one-level decomposition chamber with all placed in the second grade decomposition chamber the catalyst, heating device is used for right in the one-level decomposition chamber the catalyst heats.

Further, the heating device includes: the second heater is sleeved on the periphery of the primary decomposition chamber; a third power supply coil for supplying power to the second heater.

Further, the nitrous oxide inlet comprises: a first inlet arranged at one end of the primary decomposition chamber far away from the secondary decomposition chamber; a second inlet disposed at an end of the primary decomposition chamber adjacent to the secondary decomposition chamber; and the third inlet is arranged at one end of the secondary decomposition chamber close to the primary decomposition chamber and is communicated with the primary decomposition chamber.

Further, the second heater is made of an oxidation-resistant material, and the surface of the oxidation-resistant material is coated with a high-heat-resistance material.

Further, the oxidation-resistant material is a SiC material.

Further, the high heat-resistant material is ceramic.

Use the technical scheme of the utility model, the utility model discloses a single unit engine passes through the catalyst and decomposes the high temperature oxygen nitrogen mist that can produce and exceed 1000 ℃, and the spray tube through the nitrous oxide afterbody discharges, produces thrust. Compared with the prior art, the method adopts Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and dinitrogen tetroxide (N)₂O₄) Hydrazine (N)₂H₄) As the structure of the propellant, the single-component nitrous oxide engine can reduce and finally eliminate the toxicity of the liquid propellant and improve the low-temperature environment adaptability of the nitrous oxide engine.

In addition to the above-described objects, features and advantages, the present invention has other objects, features and advantages. The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the invention without unduly limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a prior art mono-component engine;

figure 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a single unit engine of a first embodiment of the invention;

figure 3 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a single unit engine of a second embodiment of the invention;

fig. 4 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a single unit engine of a third embodiment of the invention.

Wherein the figures include the following reference numerals:

10. a decomposition chamber; 11. a primary decomposition chamber; 12. a secondary decomposition chamber; 13. a nitrous oxide inlet; 131. a first inlet; 132. a second inlet; 133. a third inlet; 20. a heating device; 21. a first heater; 22. a first power supply coil; 23. a second power supply coil; 24. a second heater; 25. a third power supply coil; 30. a catalyst.

Detailed Description

It should be noted that, in the present invention, the embodiments and features of the embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in conjunction with embodiments.

In order to make the technical solution of the present invention better understood, the technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by a person skilled in the art without creative efforts shall belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," and the like in the description and claims of the present invention and in the drawings described above are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances for describing embodiments of the invention herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprises," "comprising," and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements is not necessarily limited to those steps or elements expressly listed, but may include other steps or elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

It is noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments according to the present application. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, and it should be understood that when the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" are used in this specification, they specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, devices, components, and/or combinations thereof, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Referring to fig. 2 to 4, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a nitrous oxide engine is provided, preferably, the nitrous oxide engine in the present embodiment is a one-component engine. Nitrous oxide has the possibility of realizing a deep space exploration task of about 223.15K in a low-temperature environment in the near future. The freezing point of nitrous oxide is 183K. Thus, when nitrous oxide is used as a propellant in a low temperature environment, there is no need to use a heating and thermal insulation device in the propellant supply system of the engine. Nitrous oxide is used as a propellant for a single-unit engine and has the same working principle with a hydrazine single-unit engine, the catalyst needs to be heated, and in the working process of the engine, the catalyst is prevented from generating local stress and being damaged due to the fact that the temperature gradient inside and outside the catalyst is excessively changed. The nitrous oxide monopropellant engine requires a heating device 20.

Specifically, the nitrous oxide engine in the present embodiment includes a decomposition chamber 10 and a heating device 20.

Wherein, a catalyst 30 is contained in the decomposition chamber 10, and a nitrous oxide inlet 13 is arranged on the decomposition chamber 10; the heating device 20 is used to heat the catalyst 30 in the decomposition chamber 10.

In actual use of the nitrous oxide engine in the present embodiment, nitrous oxide enters the decomposition chamber 10 from the nitrous oxide inlet 13, and the catalyst 30 in the decomposition chamber 10 is heated by the heating device 20. The catalyst 30 of the present invention is a substance capable of decomposing nitrous oxide into gaseous oxygen and gaseous nitrogen with high efficiency. For example, the catalyst 30 support is a catalyst using aluminum, magnesium, and rhodium. Alternatively, the catalyst 30 of the present invention may also suitably use noble metals such as rhodium, ruthenium and palladium, and the catalyst carrier is selected from SiO₂Or Al₂O₃. Using these catalysts, nitrous oxide can be decomposed into gaseous oxygen and gaseous nitrogen at near 100% efficiency. The catalyst 30 in the utility model is designed into a honeycomb or porous form, and the catalyst can catalyze and decompose the mixed gas with the nitrogen oxide content of 2% -3%.

Preferably, the engine of the present invention uses a rhodium catalyst with alumina as a carrier, wherein the alumina carrier has a ceramic honeycomb structure. Nitrous oxide has a stable chemical nature, does not cause harm to the human body when inhaled in small amounts, and is also approved as a food additive. When the nitrous oxide is used as a propellant of a mono-component engine, the fuel gas generated by catalytic decomposition is non-toxic. Based on the relatively high saturated vapor pressure of nitrous oxide (e.g., about 0.64Mpa at-223.15K and about 7.25Mpa at 309K), the use of pressurized gas may not be required when nitrous oxide is used as a propellant in conventional engines, and nitrous oxide itself may be used as the pressurized gas.

The utility model discloses a single unit engine decomposes through catalyst 30 and can produces the high temperature oxygen nitrogen mist that exceeds 1640 ℃, discharges through the spray tube of afterbody, produces thrust. Compared with the prior art, the method adopts Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and dinitrogen tetroxide (N)₂O₄) Hydrazine (N)₂H₄) As for the structure of the propellant, the single-component nitrous oxide engine in the embodiment can reduce and finally eliminate the toxicity of the liquid propellant, and improve the low-temperature environment adaptability of the nitrous oxide engine.

Preferably, the heating device 20 in this embodiment is an electric heating device, which is convenient for being connected with a power generation system on the rocket to realize a heating function and is convenient for control. Of course, in other embodiments of the present invention, the heating device 20 can be further configured as other heating devices convenient for operation and control, as long as the other deformation modes under the concept of the present invention are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

The following description of the single component nitrous oxide engine of the present invention with reference to specific embodiments is as follows:

referring to fig. 2, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a catalyst 30 is disposed in the decomposition chamber 10, and the heating device 20 includes a first heater 21 and a first power supply coil 22, wherein the first heater 21 is disposed in the decomposition chamber 10, and the catalyst 30 is disposed in the first heater 21; the first power supply coil 22 is connected to the first heater 21 to supply power to the first heater 21.

The first heater 21 is attached to the inside of the decomposition chamber 10 of the nitrous oxide engine in the present embodiment. When the external first power supply coil 22 is energized, the first heater 21 is operated to heat the catalyst 30, thereby enabling the catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide entering from the nitrous oxide inlet 13 to be efficiently performed.

Nitrous oxide engines work as follows: first, the catalyst 30 is heated by the internal first heater 21. The catalyst 30 in the decomposition chamber 10 is sufficiently heated, and nitrous oxide is supplied into the decomposition chamber 10 from the nitrous oxide inlet 13, catalytically decomposed to generate high-temperature gas, and ejected from the nozzle outlet at the tail of the decomposition chamber 10 to generate thrust.

The first heater 21 in this embodiment is made of an oxidation-resistant material, and the surface of the oxidation-resistant material is coated with a high heat-resistant material. Preferably, the oxidation-resistant material is a SiC material, and the high heat-resistant material is a high heat-resistant material such as ceramic. The silicon carbide (SiC) has high oxidation resistance and heat resistance, the applicable temperature can reach about 1600 ℃, the service environment of the engine is conveniently met, and the service life of the engine is prolonged.

Referring to fig. 3, according to a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a nitrous oxide engine, the structure of the nitrous oxide engine in this embodiment is substantially the same as that in the first embodiment, except that the structure of the heating device in this embodiment is different from that in the first embodiment, specifically, the heating device 20 in this embodiment includes only the second power supply coil 23 without providing the first heater 21, and in actual use, the second power supply coil 23 in this embodiment is used for directly heating the catalyst 30 in the decomposition chamber 10.

As can be seen, the catalyst 30 in the decomposition chamber 10 of the nitrous oxide engine in the present embodiment heats the decomposition catalyst directly using the second power supply coil 23, so that the catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide can be effectively achieved.

The operation of the nitrous oxide engine proceeds as follows: first, the catalyst 30 provides a preheating power supply; the catalyst 30 in the decomposition chamber 10 is sufficiently heated, and the nitrous oxide inlet 13 feeds nitrous oxide to the decomposition chamber 10, catalytically decomposes the high-temperature fuel gas with the catalyst 30, and is ejected from the engine tail nozzle to generate thrust.

The heating uniformity of the catalyst 30 in this embodiment is better than that in the first embodiment, and the required electric power is small, but the processing and assembly are complicated.

Referring to fig. 4, according to a third embodiment of the present invention, a nitrous oxide engine is provided, which is different from the first and second embodiments in structure, specifically:

decomposition chamber 10 in this embodiment includes first order decomposition chamber 11 and second order decomposition chamber 12 that communicate with each other, and wherein, the volume of first order decomposition chamber 11 is less than the volume of second order decomposition chamber 12, and during the actual use, catalyst 30 has all been placed in first order decomposition chamber 11 and the second order decomposition chamber 12, and heating device 20 is used for heating the catalyst in the first order decomposition chamber 11.

Correspondingly, the heating device 20 in the present embodiment includes a second heater 24 and a third power supply coil 25, and when actually installed, the second heater 24 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the primary decomposition chamber 11; the third power supply coil 25 is used to supply power to the second heater 24.

To facilitate the transport of propellant nitrous oxide into the decomposition chamber 10, the nitrous oxide inlet 13 in this embodiment comprises a first inlet 131, a second inlet 132 and a third inlet 133.

Wherein, the first inlet 131 is arranged at one end of the primary decomposition chamber 11 far away from the secondary decomposition chamber 12; the second inlet 132 is disposed at one end of the primary decomposition chamber 11 adjacent to the secondary decomposition chamber 12; the third inlet 133 is provided at one end of the secondary decomposition chamber 12 adjacent to the primary decomposition chamber 11 and communicates with the primary decomposition chamber 11.

It can be seen that the nitrous oxide engine in the present embodiment includes a primary decomposition chamber 11 for generating pyrolysis gas, which is supplied to a secondary decomposition chamber 12 for heating a catalyst 30 in the secondary decomposition chamber 12. The primary decomposition chamber 11 is supplied with a small amount of nitrous oxide from the first inlet 131 to perform catalytic decomposition, and is connected to the secondary decomposition chamber 12. Since the flow rate required by the primary decomposition chamber 11 is small and the catalyst 30 is required to be small, the second heater 24 is powered by the third power supply coil 25 to realize heating, and the catalyst 30 in the primary decomposition chamber 11 is preheated by heat transfer, so that the catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide can be effectively realized.

The second heater 24 is made of an oxidation-resistant material, and the surface of the oxidation-resistant material is coated with a high heat-resistant material. Preferably, the oxidation resistant material is a SiC material and the high heat resistant material is a ceramic material. The first-stage decomposition chamber 11 is provided with a second inlet 132 at an end close to the second-stage decomposition chamber 12, and nitrous oxide is mixed with the fuel gas decomposed in the first-stage decomposition chamber 11 through the second inlet 132, and is conveyed to flow into the second-stage decomposition chamber 12 through a third inlet 133 to react with the catalyst 30 in the second-stage decomposition chamber 12. The amount of the catalyst 30 in the first-stage decomposition chamber 11 is small as long as the pyrolysis gas temperature is within 400 ℃. Therefore, with the design, the engine response is fast, the electric power adopted by the heating device 20 is small, and the energy consumption of the nitrous oxide engine can be effectively reduced.

The nitrous oxide engine in this example operates as follows: firstly, the third power supply coil 25 supplies power to the second heater 24 to realize heating, the catalyst 30 in the primary decomposition chamber 11 is preheated to a temperature of 210-; a small amount of nitrous oxide enters the primary decomposition chamber 11 from the first inlet 131 and catalytically reacts with the catalyst 30 in the primary decomposition chamber 11 to generate a small amount of pyrolysis gas; the pyrolysis gas mixes with nitrous oxide entering the second inlet 132; the gas is conveyed to the secondary decomposition chamber 12, and the catalyst 30 in the secondary decomposition chamber 12 is heated, so that nitrous oxide in the high-temperature mixed gas is catalytically decomposed to generate high-temperature catalytic decomposition gas, and the high-temperature catalytic decomposition gas is sprayed out from a spray pipe at the tail part of the engine to generate thrust.

Of course, in other embodiments of the present invention, which are not shown, the structure of the third embodiment can be further modified, and the heating devices 20 are disposed on the first-stage decomposition chamber 11 and the second-stage decomposition chamber 12, where the heating devices 20 can be any combination of the heating devices 20 in the first, second and third embodiments, and any other modifications under the concept of the present invention are within the protection scope of the present invention.

From the above description, it can be seen that the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention achieve the following technical effects:

the utility model discloses a nitrous oxide engine can be used to install in rocket, satellite, spacecraft etc to a driving system for controlling its track or attitude control, and this propellant can be stored under normal atmospheric temperature, low temperature, thereby can reduce and finally eliminate liquid propellant's toxicity, and improve nitrous oxide engine's low temperature environment adaptability.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, the relative arrangement of the components and steps, the numerical expressions, and numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention. Meanwhile, it should be understood that the sizes of the respective portions shown in the drawings are not drawn in an actual proportional relationship for the convenience of description. Techniques, methods, and apparatus known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail but are intended to be part of the specification where appropriate. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any particular value should be construed as merely illustrative, and not limiting. Thus, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that: like reference numbers and letters refer to like items in the following figures, and thus, once an item is defined in one figure, further discussion thereof is not required in subsequent figures.

Spatially relative terms, such as "above … …," "above … …," "above … …," "above," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one device or feature's spatial relationship to another device or feature as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is turned over, devices described as "above" or "on" other devices or configurations would then be oriented "below" or "under" the other devices or configurations. Thus, the exemplary term "above … …" can include both an orientation of "above … …" and "below … …". The device may be otherwise variously oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the orientation words such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" etc. are usually based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for convenience of description and simplification of description, and in the case of not making a contrary explanation, these orientation words do not indicate and imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore, should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention; the terms "inner and outer" refer to the inner and outer relative to the profile of the respective component itself.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention, and various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. A nitrous oxide engine, comprising:

the device comprises a decomposition chamber (10), wherein a catalyst (30) is contained in the decomposition chamber (10), and a nitrous oxide inlet (13) is formed in the decomposition chamber (10);

a heating device (20), the heating device (20) being used for heating the catalyst (30) in the decomposition chamber (10).

2. Nitrous oxide engine according to claim 1, characterized in that said heating means (20) is an electric heating means.

3. The nitrous oxide engine of claim 1, characterized in that said heating means (20) comprises:

a first heater (21), the first heater (21) being disposed inside the decomposition chamber (10), the first heater (21) containing the catalyst (30);

a first power supply coil (22), the first power supply coil (22) being connected with the first heater (21) to supply power to the first heater (21).

4. Nitrous oxide engine according to claim 1, characterized in that said heating means (20) comprise a second electric power supply coil (23), said second electric power supply coil (23) being adapted to directly heat said catalyst (30) inside said decomposition chamber (10).

5. The nitrous oxide engine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said decomposition chamber (10) comprises a primary decomposition chamber (11) and a secondary decomposition chamber (12) communicating with each other, a volume of said primary decomposition chamber (11) is smaller than a volume of said secondary decomposition chamber (12), said catalyst (30) is disposed in each of said primary decomposition chamber (11) and said secondary decomposition chamber (12), and said heating means (20) is configured to heat said catalyst (30) in said primary decomposition chamber (11).

6. The nitrous oxide engine of claim 5, characterized in that said heating means (20) comprises:

the second heater (24), the said second heater (24) is fitted over the periphery of the said first-class decomposition chamber (11);

a third power supply coil (25), the third power supply coil (25) being for powering the second heater (24).

7. The nitrous oxide engine according to claim 5, characterized in that said nitrous oxide inlet (13) comprises:

a first inlet (131), the first inlet (131) is arranged at one end of the primary decomposition chamber (11) far away from the secondary decomposition chamber (12);

a second inlet (132), said second inlet (132) being disposed at an end of said primary decomposition chamber (11) adjacent to said secondary decomposition chamber (12);

a third inlet (133), wherein the third inlet (133) is arranged at one end of the secondary decomposition chamber (12) close to the primary decomposition chamber (11) and is communicated with the primary decomposition chamber (11).

8. The nitrous oxide engine of claim 6, characterized in that, said second heater (24) is made of an oxidation resistant material, the surface of which is coated with a high heat resistant material.

9. The nitrous oxide engine of claim 8, wherein the oxidation resistant material is a SiC material.

10. The nitrous oxide engine of claim 8, wherein said high heat resistant material is a ceramic.

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