Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation

Other

The Boeing Company

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.

Robert E Drubka

Nelson Edwin Jones

James B Blackmon, Jr

James Bertram Blackmon

R Andrew Gerrick

Michael Leslie Hand

John Stephen Kirby

Brian Seaworth

Thomas Ingersoll

Dave Johnson

Gary Glover

A high concentration central receiver system and method provides improved reflectors and a unique heat removal system. The central receiver has a plurality of interconnected reflectors coupled to a tower structure at a predetermined height above ground for reflecting solar radiation. A plurality of concentrators are disposed between the reflectors and the ground such that the concentrators receive reflective solar radiation from the reflectors. The central receiver system further includes a heat removal system for removing heat from the reflectors and an area immediately adjacent the concentrators. Each reflector includes a mirror, a facet, and an adhesive compound. The adhesive compound is disposed between the mirror and the facet such that the mirror is fixed to the facet under a compressive stress.

Thermally controlled solar reflector facet with heat recovery

A method and high concentration central receiver system provide improved reflectors and a unique heat removal system. The central receiver has a plurality of interconnected reflectors coupled to a tower structure at a predetermined height above ground for reflecting solar radiation. A plurality of concentrators are disposed between the reflectors and the ground such that the concentrators receive reflective solar radiation from the reflectors. The central receiver system further includes a heat removal system for removing heat from the reflectors and an area immediately adjacent the concentrators. Each reflector includes a mirror, a facet, and an adhesive compound. The adhesive compound is disposed between the mirror and the facet such that the mirror is fixed to the facet under compressive stresses.

A power system provides various levels of electrical power at various radio frequencies to specific input locations of a neutral particle beam accelerator system. Both the power system and the accelerator system are mounted on a space platform. The power system includes separate modules mounted on two hinged members of the platform. The modules utilize turbines, generators and fuel cells to provide the needed electrical power which is amplified to the desired levels required by the accelerator system. In addition, a fuel cell is utilized to power a pulse drive motor to drive the generators during turbine start up in order to provide high voltage output power during the start up. A regenerator produces hydrogen and oxygen from the water effluent produced by the fuel cells and the combustors which powers the turbines thereby recycling the fuel and working fluid and consequently making the power system generally non-contaminating and fuel efficient. A thermal management subsystem circulates hydrogen through both the accelerator and power systems, and the hydrogen is utilized as both a coolant and a fuel/working fluid for power production thereby enhancing the energy efficiency of the power system.

Modular, hybrid power system

A fluid ejection nozzle is disclosed which facilitates a wide distribution of fluid therefrom and which permits the fluid flow rate to be easily adjustable. The nozzle is particularly adapted to a heat rejection system useful in a space environment. The nozzle includes a flow distributor positioned within an orifice of the nozzle housing which is comprised of a tongue member and an attached flow control block. Adjustment screws mounted through the nozzle housing permit axial movement of the flow distributor within the housing, thus controlling the flow rate of the fluid even to the extent of total shut-off. The tongue member is shaped to widely disperse the fluid, and includes turbulence generators such as roughening or ridges for facilitating its dispersion.

Turbulent droplet generator with boom mounted pitot pump collector

A heat pipe radiator coating of a fibrous material provides protection for the radiator, such as a heat pipe, pumped loop, etc., while allowing good emissivity and heat rejection. Fibers are constructed from fiberglass, glass, quartz, saphire, diamond, carbon carbon, tantalum, stainless steel, aluminum, beryllium, and copper, and may be coated with a variety of metallic materials.

Advanced survivable radiator

Disclosed is an advantageous system for heat rejection especially useful in the space environment.

Growing community of inventors

Huntington Beach, CA, United States of America

Robert E Drubka