University of Washington

Washington Research Foundation

Mathematical Sciences Northwest, Inc.

Abraham Hertzberg

Adam P Bruckner

David A Russell

Carl Knowlen

Arthur T Mattick

David W Bogdanoff

David J Shaw

Keith A McFall

Walter Christiansen

Apparatus and method for initiating pyrolysis of a feedstock by establishing a continuous, standing shock wave. Several embodiments of a shock wave reactor (10, 100, 150) are disclosed; each is connected to receive an ethane feedstock and a carrier fluid comprising superheated steam. The feedstock and the carrier fluid are pressurized so that they expand into parallel supersonic streams that mix due to turbulence within a mixing section (36) of a longitudinally extending channel (12) of the shock wave reactor. The carrier fluid heats the ethane feedstock as it mixes with it, producing a mixture that flows at supersonic velocity longitudinally down the channel. A gate valve (44) disposed downstream of the channel provides a controlled back pressure that affects the position of the shock wave and the residence time for the reaction. The shock wave rapidly heats the mixture above a pyrolysis temperature, producing a desired product by cracking the feedstock. Rapid heating of the mixture enables a residence time in the pyrolysis section of only 5 to 50 milliseconds. By varying the position of the shock wave, the residence time is controlled as required to obtain maximum yield from different feedstocks. Downstream of the pyrolysis section, the mixture is quenched, cooling and terminating the pyrolysis reaction. The relatively short residence time and the control of its duration with a resolution in the microsecond range are substantial advantages of the shock wave reactor.

Method for initiating pyrolysis using a shock wave

Apparatus for initiating pyrolysis of a feedstock by establishing a continuous, standing shock wave. Several embodiments of a shock wave reactor (10, 100, 150) are disclosed; each is connected to receive an ethane feedstock and a carrier fluid comprising superheated steam. The feedstock and the carrier fluid are pressurized so that they expand into parallel supersonic streams that mix due to turbulence within a mixing section (36) of a longitudinally extending channel (12) of the shock wave reactor. The carrier fluid heats the ethane feedstock as it mixes with it, producing a mixture that flows at supersonic velocity longitudinally down the channel. A gate valve (44) disposed downstream of the channel provides a controlled back pressure that affects the position of the shock wave and the residence time for the reaction. The shock wave rapidly heats the mixture above a pyrolysis temperature, producing a desired product by cracking the feedstock. Rapid heating of the mixture enables a residence time in the pyrolysis section of only 5 to 50 milliseconds. By varying the position of the shock wave, the residence time is controlled as required to obtain maximum yield from different feedstocks. Downstream of the pyrolysis section, the mixture is quenched, cooling and terminating the pyrolysis reaction. The relatively short residence time and the control of its duration with a resolution in the microsecond range are substantial advantages of the shock wave reactor.

Apparatus for initiating pyrolysis using a shock wave

A method and apparatus for initiating a ram acceleration of a projectile that is at rest. A projectile (34) is positioned in a starting chamber (14) of a launch tube (12). Starting chamber (14) is either filled with a gas at a relatively low pressure or is substantially evacuated. A wave reflection disk (42/42') is positioned a short distance behind the projectile. Downstream of the starting chamber are a plurality of segments, including a first segment (16), which is filled with a combustible gas mixture at a substantially higher pressure than that in the starting chamber. The first segment is separated from the starting chamber by a pair of thin membranes (20a and 20b). These membranes have a characteristic burst pressure that is about midway between the differential pressure in the first segment and the starting chamber. To initiate the ram acceleration process, fluid between the two membranes is exhausted to the atmosphere, sequentially exposing them to a differential pressure that exceeds their burst pressure. Bursting of these membranes enables the combustible gas mixture to expand unsteadily from the first segment into the starting chamber. An expansion wave produced by the expanding combustible gas mixture passes the projectile and reflects from the wave reflection disk as a shock wave. The wave reflection disk converts the kinetic energy of the expanding gas into thermal energy, at a temperature sufficient to initiate combustion of the mixture. The shock wave propagates downstream from the wave reflection disk, attaches to the projectile, and establishes a stable, thermally choked ram acceleration of the projectile down the launch tube. As the combustible gas mixture burns behind the projectile, the resulting pressure wave accelerates the projectile down the bore of the tube into successive combustible gas-filled segments.

Method and apparatus for zero velocity start ram acceleration

A method and apparatus for supersonically accelerating a projectile in a thermally choked subsonic combustion mode. A projectile (50) is initially preaccelerated using either a tank (24) of compressed helium or a chemical propellant charge preaccelerator (152). The projectile enters a portion of a tube (22) filled with a combustible mixture (54) of a gaseous fuel and an oxidizer and is propelled by a ram acceleration process as the mixture burns. In several different embodiments, various devices are used to control the velocity of a shock wave generated as the projectile enters the combustible mixture and the dynamic impulse pressure immediately behind the projectile, so that the shock wave attaches to the projectile along an aft portion, thereby establishing a stable subsonic combustion zone along the aft end (64) of the projectile, in which combustion of the gaseous fuel accelerates the projectile down the bore of the tube. In one embodiment, a perforated sabot (52) is used to propel the projectile during preacceleration. The sabot has a plurality of passages (114) extending longitudinally between its front and rear surfaces, which are initially closed with a thin plate (110) during the preacceleration of the projectile. However, the plate is dislodged as the projectile enters the combustible mixture, allowing the dynamic pressure of the shock wave caused by the sabot to dissipate through the open passages.

Method and apparatus for initating stable operation of a ram accelerator

A projectile is initially accelerated to a supersonic velocity and then injected into a launch tube filled with a gaseous propellant. The projectile outer surface and launch tube inner surface form a ramjet having a diffuser, a combustion chamber and a nozzle. A catalytic coated flame holder projecting from the projectile ignites the gaseous propellant in the combustion chamber thereby accelerating the projectile in a subsonic combustion mode zone. The projectile then enters an overdriven detonation wave launch tube zone wherein further projectile acceleration is achieved by a formed, controlled overdriven detonation wave capable of igniting the gaseous propellant in the combustion chamber. Ultrahigh velocity projectile accelerations are achieved in a launch tube layered detonation zone having an inner sleeve filled with hydrogen gas. An explosive, which is disposed in the annular zone between the inner sleeve and the launch tube, explodes responsive to an impinging shock wave emanating from the diffuser of the accelerating projectile thereby forcing the inner sleeve inward and imparting an acceleration to the projectile. For applications wherein solid or liquid high explosives are employed, the explosion thereof forces the inner sleeve inward, forming a throat behind the projectile. This throat chokes flow behind, thereby imparting an acceleration to the projectile.

Apparatus and method for the acceleration of projectiles to

An energy storage and conversion system utilizes unique heat exchange media for storing and transferring heat. In one embodiment, a refractory material is heated to the molten state by a solar furnace. The refractory material is stored in its molten form and metered to a direct-contact heat exchanger. It is fed into the heat exchanger in a plurality of streams that break into a plurality of droplets. The droplets flow through the heat exchanger in countercurrent relationship with a relatively inert gas such as argon or nitrogen. The gas is heated and expanded through an expansion engine to convert the thermal energy to mechanical energy which in turn can be utilized to produce electricity, for example. The refractory can be sufficiently cooled in the heat exchanger to fuse into beads, which can be easily recycled to the solar furnace.

Heat transfer and storage system

A weapons system is described in which an explosive shell, fired from a cannon or other launch device, is precisely guided to a target to ensure a sure hit and kill capability. A shell having no on-board guidance mechanisms or propulsion devices, but having its tail section coated with a material vaporizable by a laser is employed. A laser beam is directed toward a target, and the shell is fired into the beam toward the target. The vaporization of the coating on the tail of the shell by the laser beam generates forces which, due to the aerodynamic design of the shell and the shaping of the energy distribution within the laser beam, maintain the shell in the path defined by the laser beam to guide the shell into contact with the target.

Weapons system

A method for continuously carrying out the chemical synthesis of a gas in a wave reactor apparatus of the type wherein reactant gases subjected to compression waves generated by a driver gas may be heated to extremely high temperatures very rapidly and then cooled at extremely rapid rates with very precise control over reaction parameters. The method includes the step of removing the exhaust driver gas from the tubes of the wave reactor at a pressure greater than that which it had upon entering the tubes of the wave reactor prior to compression of the reactant. The driver gas is recirculated without the addition of heat or pump work other than that originating with the reactant gas stream. Apparatus for performing the above method is disclosed including a multi-tube rotor of novel physical dimension and a conduit and manifold system for recirculating the driver gas between tubes of the wave reactor. Particularly disclosed is a conduit and manifold system for staged recirculation of the driver gas.

Growing community of inventors

Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Abraham Hertzberg