Optical heat exchanger and associated method
First Claim
1. A system for heating a propellant, the system comprising:
- a vehicle carrying the propellant;
an optical heat exchanger carried by the vehicle, wherein the optical heat exchanger comprises;
a support structure defining a plurality of tapered openings, wherein each tapered opening tapers from a first size proximate an outwardly facing end of the opening to a second size, smaller than the first size, proximate an inwardly facing end of the opening; and
a plurality of lenses, each lens positioned proximate the outwardly facing end of a respective tapered opening,wherein each lens is configured to receive an electromagnetic energy beam and to concentrate and focus a majority of the electromagnetic energy beam through the inwardly facing end of the respective tapered opening without contacting side surfaces of the support structure that define the respective tapered opening, the side surfaces extending between the outwardly facing end and the inwardly facing end of the respective tapered opening, such that the electromagnetic energy beam propagates through the respective tapered opening after having been focused by the respective lens so as to heat the propellant.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical heat exchanger and an associated system and method are provided to allow a vehicle, such as an unmanned air vehicle, a rocket or the like, to deliver more payload at a lower cost. The optical heat exchanger includes a support surface defining a plurality of tapered openings. Each tapered opening tapers from the first size proximate an outwardly facing end of the opening to a second smaller size proximate an inwardly facing end of the opening. The inwardly facing end of each tapered opening is in communication with the propellant. The optical heat exchanger also includes a plurality of lenses with each lens positioned proximate the outwardly facing end of a respective opening. Each lens is configured to receive an electromagnetic energy beam and concentrate the majority of the electromagnetic energy beam through the inwardly facing end of the respective tapered opening, thereby heating the propellant.
9 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for heating a propellant, the system comprising:
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a vehicle carrying the propellant; an optical heat exchanger carried by the vehicle, wherein the optical heat exchanger comprises; a support structure defining a plurality of tapered openings, wherein each tapered opening tapers from a first size proximate an outwardly facing end of the opening to a second size, smaller than the first size, proximate an inwardly facing end of the opening; and a plurality of lenses, each lens positioned proximate the outwardly facing end of a respective tapered opening, wherein each lens is configured to receive an electromagnetic energy beam and to concentrate and focus a majority of the electromagnetic energy beam through the inwardly facing end of the respective tapered opening without contacting side surfaces of the support structure that define the respective tapered opening, the side surfaces extending between the outwardly facing end and the inwardly facing end of the respective tapered opening, such that the electromagnetic energy beam propagates through the respective tapered opening after having been focused by the respective lens so as to heat the propellant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification