Snecma

Olivier Dobek

Noël David

Daniel Le Dortz

Nicolas Ravier

A cyrogenic-propellant rocket engine includes: at least a first tank for a first liquid propellant; a second tank for a second liquid propellant; a third tank for an inert fluid; an axisymmetrical nozzle including a combustion chamber, a device for injecting first and second liquid propellants into the combustion chamber, a nozzle throat, and a divergent section; and a heater device including at least one duct for conveying the inert fluid and arranged outside the nozzle in immediate proximity thereof, but without making contact therewith, to recover energy of thermal radiation emitted when the rocket engine is in operation and to heat the inert fluid.

Rocket engine with cryogenic propellants

A cryogenic-propellant rocket engine includes: at least a first tank for a first liquid propellant; a second tank for a second liquid propellant; a third tank for an inert fluid; an axisymmetrical nozzle including a combustion chamber, a device for injecting first and second liquid propellants into the combustion chamber, a nozzle throat, and a divergent section; and a heater device including at least one duct for conveying the inert fluid and arranged outside the nozzle in immediate proximity thereof, but without making contact therewith, to recover energy of thermal radiation emitted when the rocket engine is in operation and to heat the inert fluid.

A rocket engine with an extendible exit cone including an exhaust nozzle for gas from a combustion chamber, the nozzle presenting a longitudinal axis having a first portion defining a nozzle throat and a stationary first exit cone segment, at least one extendible second exit cone segment of section greater than the section of the stationary first exit cone segment, and an extension mechanism for extending the extendible second exit cone segment, the mechanism being located outside the first and second exit cone segments. A rigid thermal protection shield is interposed between the extension mechanism and the stationary first exit cone segment. The thermal protection shield presents a convex wall on its face facing towards the stationary first exit cone segment.

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Saint Cyr l'Ecole, France

Olivier Dobek