Closed-loop cooling system for a hydrogen/oxygen based combustor
First Claim
1. An apparatus for cooling a hydrogen/oxygen based combustor for an underwater vessel, said apparatus comprising:
- a combustor having a combustion chamber in which a combustion reaction of hydrogen and oxygen produces steam;
a condenser for condensing the steam from the combustion chamber to water; and
means for injecting the water from the condenser into the combustor to absorb heat from the combustion chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A closed-loop cooling system is provided for a hydrogen/oxygen based combustor. A combustion reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the combustor produces steam. The steam is used to generate work from a turbine shaft, which is used to drive a propulsion system for the underwater vessel. After the steam passes through the turbine, the steam is cooled back to liquid water by a condenser that uses a seawater cooling loop to cool the steam into cold water. The cold water is then injected into the combustor, and pumped into passages along the walls of the combustor, thus absorbing the heat. The cold water absorbs this heat until it becomes hot water or steam, which is then injected into the combustor with the hydrogen and oxygen to act as a diluent, thus reducing the reaction temperature of the hydrogen/oxygen combustion reaction. The reaction produces more steam, and the cycle repeats.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for cooling a hydrogen/oxygen based combustor for an underwater vessel, said apparatus comprising:
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a combustor having a combustion chamber in which a combustion reaction of hydrogen and oxygen produces steam;
a condenser for condensing the steam from the combustion chamber to water; and
means for injecting the water from the condenser into the combustor to absorb heat from the combustion chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A closed-loop cooling method for cooling a hydrogen/oxygen based combustor for an underwater vessel, the method comprising:
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initiating a combustion reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in a combustion chamber in said combustor to form steam;
condensing the steam from the combustion chamber into water; and
injecting the water into the combustor to absorb heat from the combustion chamber. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification