RU2747888C1 - Launch complex and method for launching light and medium-class space rockets without using the 1st stage - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: space rockets.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to ground complexes for launching space rockets. The launch complex includes a vertical shaft, in the lower part of which there are conical charges of solid propellant surrounded by water, and slotted holes for horizontal injection of water into the shaft. Above the shaft, there are annular cavities for water. The mine contains a solid-propellant upper stage with a capsule installed on it, which includes a launch vehicle and a payload. When the rockets are launched, due to the combustion of the fuel of the conical charges and the engine of the upper stage, a large amount of dry superheated steam is formed from the water in the lower part of the shaft and in the annular cavities. The action of the high pressure of the vapor-gas mixture imparts a velocity equivalent to that imparted by the first stage of the rocket to the capsule when it leaves the mine. Subsequent acceleration is carried out by the launch vehicle engine.

EFFECT: invention is aimed at increasing efficiency of the vapor-gas mixture for accelerating the capsule by intensifying the vaporization by the products of solid fuel combustion. Advantages of the invention: cheap and environmentally friendly consumables (water and SP) are used for the launch, simplicity and reliability of the design, quick preparation of the launch complex for subsequent launches.

2 cl, 2 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of space technology.

This invention is based on the patent for invention No. 2733449 dated 01.10.2020 "Launch complex and method for launching carrier rockets without using the 1st stage" (prototype), however, this invention has been modified in the design of the launch complex and capsule, the powder accelerator is excluded , a different layout of movable structural elements used when launching carrier rockets (LV) is used.

The aim of the invention is to increase the mass of the payload launched into the near-earth orbit of the LV of light and medium class while facilitating and simplifying the layout of the movable structural elements proposed in the above invention, increasing the reliability and environmental friendliness of the launch, reducing the cost of launching a unit of payload into space.

The purpose of the invention is achieved by the fact that a launching complex with a circular cross-section for launching space rockets is built in a vertical shaft erected in the slope of a mountain by superimposing one on top of the other factory-made parts, and the space between the walls of the shaft and the parts is filled with concrete, which provides the launching complex with the necessary strength and sustainability.

The vertical shaft of the shaft along the entire height above the technological opening is equipped with annular cavities for filling them with water. The volume of water poured into the cavity is calculated for the excess of thermal energy coming from the jet stream of the upper stage (engine on TPT) necessary to maintain the steam-gas mixture in the maximum working condition.

Solid propellant (TPT) in the form of cones is placed in the lower part of the shaft. The space between the cones is filled with water. Additionally, water is injected in the horizontal plane from slotted holes located on the inner surface of the shaft above the TRT cones. Above the slotted holes on the stops, an upper stage and a capsule are installed, in which the launch vehicle with a liquid propellant rocket engine and a payload is located.

The purpose of the invention is achieved in that the launch of the LV is carried out as follows: first, the cones of the TRT are ignited, and then the rocket engine of the upper stage is started. The energy and a large volume of high-temperature combustion products of the TRT cones and the engine on the TRT of the upper stage transfer water into dry superheated water vapor, which leads to a rapid increase in the pressure of the superheated steam-gas mixture in this zone.

When the design pressure of the vapor-gas mixture is reached, the booster block and the capsule begin to move up the shaft of the mine.

The upper stage also performs the function of sealing against the penetration of the vapor-gas mixture to the capsule.

To maintain the required pressure when the capsule moves upward in the rapidly growing volume under the accelerating capsule, an increasing volume of hot water is injected into the zone above the burning cones of the TPT, which instantly turns into dry superheated water vapor and maintains the required temperature and pressure of the superheated steam-gas mixture, which allows the necessary acceleration of the capsule at the beginning of the upward movement and to obtain additional energy for acceleration due to the conversion of water in the inner cavities of the shaft into steam.

To achieve this goal, the pressure of the superheated vapor-gas mixture obtained by converting water into dry superheated water vapor from the combustion energy of the TRT cones and the engine of the upper stage, as well as a large volume of gaseous combustion products, is used as the initial means of imparting acceleration to the capsule with the launch vehicle.

The second force is the jet thrust of the upper stage engine.

As a third force, the increase in pressure of the vapor-gas mixture is used, obtained from the transformation of the calculated volume of water in the cavities along the entire height of the shaft shaft, from the energy of high-temperature gases when the accelerating block and capsule move up the shaft of the shaft.

As the fourth force after exiting the shaft of the mine, separating the upper stage and dropping the capsule, only the liquid-propellant rocket engine is used, accelerating it to the speed required to launch the payload into space.

The main objective of the invention is to achieve the maximum possible speed and acceleration when the capsule exits the shaft of the shaft, for further acceleration by the liquid-propellant rocket engine of the LV up to the speed required to bring the payload into the calculated orbit.

The technical result of the invention consists in the use of a large volume of gaseous combustion products of the TRT cones and the engine on the TRT of the upper stage and their thermal energy to convert water into a steam state, multiplying in volume (at atmospheric pressure, about 1.425 m ^{3 of} dry saturated steam is obtained from 1 kg of water) , and the thermal energy from the combustion of 1 kg of TRT converts about 30 kg of water into steam.

The pressure of the superheated steam-gas mixture obtained during the evaporation of the estimated volume of water from the combustion of the required amount of TPT in the bottom of the mine, and the energy of high-temperature combustion products of the upper stage engine and its jet thrust, make it possible to provide the primary acceleration of the capsule with the launch vehicle in the shaft of the mine to a speed that allows using only a liquid-propellant rocket engine, launch a payload into outer space without using the 1st stage.

The novelty of the method, in contrast to the prototype, consists in obtaining and using an additional source of energy from the conversion into steam of the calculated volume of water placed in the cavities of the walls of the mine from high-temperature combustion products of the upper stage engine when moving up the shaft of the mine.

Reactive thrust of the upper stage engine, high-temperature combustion products of the engine and water converted into a vaporous state from the cavities of the shaft wall during the movement of the capsule with the launch vehicle in the shaft of the shaft provide an increase in the pressure of the superheated steam-gas mixture. This state is sufficient to impart the necessary acceleration to the capsule with the launch vehicle in the shaft of the mine, with the subsequent acceleration of the launch vehicle by the liquid engine to a speed sufficient to bring the payload into the near-earth orbit.

FIG. 1 shows the main elements of the claimed device with a simplified layout, FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of cavities for water and the position of the upper stage and the launch vehicle when moving up the shaft of the mine.

1. Mine.

2. Solid propellant.

3. Water.

4. Upper stage (rocket engine on TRT).

5. Capsule.

6. Booster rocket with a liquid propellant engine.

7. Payload.

8. Closed technological opening.

9. Capacity for water.

10. Water conduit.

11. Water heating chamber.

12. Flat holes for water injection.

13. Cavities for water in the shaft of the mine.

The launch complex, built on the side of the mountain, consists of a round vertical shaft of mine 1 (booster section), in the lower part of which TRT 2 is located, in the form of cones with fuses at the top, the space between which is filled with water 3 so that their upper part did not touch the water. At the design height, above the TRT 2 cones, an upper stage 4 is placed on the stops, a movable capsule 5 is installed on it, in which there is a LV stage 6 with a liquid-propellant rocket engine and a payload 7 placed into orbit.

At the level of the surface (terrain), a shut-off technological opening 8 of the calculated size is made, which is advisable to be made of 2 halves: the upper part for installing the upper stage and the capsule, preparation and refueling of the RN 6, and the lower part for access to the base of the shaft of the mine, installation of TRT cones, checking of the placed equipment, as well as for emergency release of TRT combustion products in the event of an emergency situation, in order to avoid loss of launch vehicle and payload.

The calculated volume of water comes from the tank 9 located on the same mountain, through the water conduit 10, through the preheating chamber 11 to flat holes 12 located at different levels along the inner surface in the lower part of the mine, for injecting water in the horizontal plane into the zone above the burning cones TRT to transform it into a state of dry superheated steam.

To create the additional pressure necessary to give the capsule with the launch vehicle the required speed and acceleration when it leaves the shaft of the mine, the calculated volume of water in the annular cavities of the 13 walls of the mine is converted into dry superheated steam, located along the entire height of the mine above the technological opening, from energy of high-temperature combustion products of the upper stage.

The launch complex consists of the following operations:

1. Preparation for launching through a closed opening:

- installation of TRT cones in the lower part of the shaft;

- installation on special stops of the upper stage and capsules with a launch vehicle on it;

- filling the LV with fuel and oxidizer;

- filling the bottom of the mine and cavities in the shaft with hot water;

- closure of the upper and lower parts of the technological opening in the shaft of the mine.

2. Ignition of the upper parts of the TRT and the beginning of the conversion of water into water vapor at the bottom of the mine.

3. Launching the rocket engine of the upper stage.

4. Injection of water through the slot holes into the area above the cones of the TRT and the increase in the pressure of the vapor-gas mixture in the bottom of the shaft to the calculated value.

5. The beginning of the movement of the upper stage and the capsule up the shaft of the mine.

6. Conversion of water from the cavities in the walls of the mine into steam from the high-temperature gases of the upper stage engine.

7. Acceleration of the capsule in the shaft of the mine to the maximum possible speed and acceleration.

8. Separation of the capsule from the booster block after exiting the shaft.

9. Starting the liquid engine RN.

10. Acceleration of the LV to a speed that ensures the launch of the payload into the near-earth orbit.

The principle of operation of the device and the implementation of the method.

In the lower part of the shaft of the shaft 1 there is an estimated amount of TRT 2 made in the form of cones, the space between which is filled with water 3 so that it does not touch the upper part of the TRT 2 with fuses.

TRT 2 is made in the form of cones so that the volume of their combustion constantly increases, and the heat energy released at the same time was sufficient to transfer the increasing amount of injected water into a state of dry superheated steam.

First, the ignition of the TRT 2 cones is carried out, and then the rocket engine of the upper stage 4 is started, the large volume and high temperature of the combustion products of which transfer the water 3 located in the lower part of the shaft of the mine and entering through the slot holes 12 into a state of dry superheated water vapor and rapid growth pressure of the vapor-gas mixture in this volume.

When the design pressure of the vapor-gas mixture in the bottom of the mine shaft is reached (acts as a pressure accumulator), the booster block 4 and capsule 5 begin to move up the shaft of mine 1. During the movement, cavities with water in the shaft of the mine alternately fall into the zone of high temperature of gases leaving from the engine of the upper stage 4 operating at maximum mode, transferring it to the state of an overheated steam-gas mixture, the pressure of which accelerates the capsule 5 in the shaft of the shaft 1 to the maximum speed and acceleration when leaving it.

After leaving the shaft of the shaft 1, the spent upper stage 4 and the capsule 5 are discarded, the liquid-propellant rocket engine RN 6 is launched, which accelerates it to the speed necessary to bring the payload 7 into the calculated orbit.

The claimed invention makes it possible to simplify the layout proposed in the prototype for light and middle class rockets, to increase the payload mass and launch reliability, and to reduce the time it takes to enter the design orbit.

The advantages of this layout:

1. Conversion of water in the cavities of the mine into steam not only increases the pressure of the vapor-gas mixture and accelerates the capsule in the shaft of the mine, but also reduces the temperature of the gases in it, extending the service life of the inner coating of the shaft of the mine.

2. Cheap and environmentally friendly consumables (water and TRT) are used for the launch.

3. The proposed invention has a wide range of improvement, first of all, by replacing the TRT as a source of energy for converting water into superheated steam, which will allow the launch to be stopped, if necessary, without loss of PH and payload, since it is impossible to stop the TRT combustion after its ignition.

4. The experience gained in the course of practical launches by the proposed method can also be used to launch heavy and super-heavy LV.

The proposed invention can be implemented most efficiently when the following recommendations are followed:

- it is advisable to place a container for water on the same mountain to supply water to the bottom of the mine without additional pumps;

- in the upper part of the shaft (above the technological opening), annular cavities are filled with water before launching the launch vehicle, alternately from top to bottom, through the water conduit with a calculated volume of water, which, having filled one, begins to flow into the cavity below, etc. to the very bottom;

- to make cavities without sharp corners, which will allow the jet of high-temperature gases of the rocket engine to quickly “blow out” them to the zone of maximum temperature and instantly turn them into dry superheated steam;

- the volume of water poured into the cavity of the shaft of the mine to count on the excess of thermal energy coming from the jet stream of the upper stage engine necessary to maintain the steam-gas mixture in the maximum working condition;

- to smooth the amplitude of pressure pulsations during the instantaneous transition of water in the annular cavities to the state of steam, it is advisable to make them the same, small volume along the entire height of the mine, and the distance between them from the minimum in the lower part to the maximum in the upper, based on the amount of excess thermal energy coming from the jet jet of the engine per unit of distance traveled;

- it is advisable to use distilled (desalinated) water used at start-up to prevent the formation of scale on the walls of the mine;

- it is advisable to heat the water used in the start-up process to a temperature close to boiling;

- to exclude (minimize) the appearance of condensate from hot water on the walls of the mine (especially in winter), it is advisable to warm up the shaft with hot air before starting;

- flat slotted holes instead of nozzles for water injection in the lower part of the mine should be used in order to exclude them from entering the “locking” mode that occurs when water goes into a state of steam before leaving the nozzles;

- the engine on the TRT (upper stage) after exiting the shaft of the mine can be used for additional acceleration of the capsule from the launch vehicle until the TRT is completely burned out.

Claims (2)

1. Launch complex for launching space rockets of light and medium class without using the first stage, including a circular vertical shaft with a closed technological opening located at the terrain level in cross-section, while solid rocket fuel in the form of cones is placed in the lower part of the shaft, the space between which is filled with water, and slot holes are installed on the inner surface of the shaft above the cones for additional injection of water in the horizontal plane, above the slot holes on the stops there is a booster block with a capsule installed on it, consisting of a launch vehicle with a liquid propellant rocket engine and launched into a near-earth orbit payload, and the shaft of the shaft is equipped with annular cavities for water along the entire height above the technological opening. 2. A method for launching light and middle class space rockets without using the first stage, which consists in using a large volume of combustion products and energy of solid rocket fuel to transfer water into dry superheated water vapor in the bottom part and from the cavities of the shaft of the mine, while the formed steam-gas mixture under high pressure give the initial acceleration to the capsule with the launch vehicle and the payload in the shaft, followed by acceleration and launching of the payload into low-earth orbit by the liquid-propellant rocket engine of the launch vehicle.

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