Booster rocket engine using gaseous hydrocarbon in catalytically enhanced gas generator cycle

1. A process for delivering a propellant combination to a rocket engine comprising the steps of:

providing a flow of a hydrocarbon propellant fuel;

raising the pressure of said hydrocarbon propellant fuel;

cracking the hydrocarbon propellant fuel in a cracker;

introducing the cracked hydrocarbon propellant fuel into a combustion chamber of the rocket engine;

introducing an oxidizer into said combustion chamber; and

providing heat from a turbine drive exhaust to help drive the cracking process.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said hydrocarbon propellant fuel flow providing step comprises providing a flow of kerosene.

3. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said pressure raising step comprises passing said flow of hydrocarbon propellant fuel through a boost pump and then through a first stage of a turbopump.

4. A process according to claim 3 , further comprising using a portion of said flow of hydrocarbon propellant fuel to drive a turbine driving said boost pump.

5. A process according to claim 4 , further comprising routing said hydrocarbon propellant fuel used to drive said turbine from an exhaust of said turbine into said flow of hydrocarbon propellant fuel via a jet pump nozzle.

6. A process according to claim 1 , further comprising using said flow of said hydrocarbon propellant fuel to cool a thrust chamber and a nozzle of said rocket engine prior to introducing said flow of said hydrocarbon propellant fuel to said cracker.

7. A process according to claim 6 , wherein said step of using said flow of said hydrocarbon propellant fuel to cool said thrust chamber and said nozzle comprises passing said flow of said hydrocarbon propellant fuel into channel walls and then into a manifold positioned above a lower skirt.

8. A process according to claim 1 , further comprising using a portion of said flow of hydrocarbon fuel propellant to film cool the combustion chamber.

9. A process according to claim 1 , further comprising using said turbine drive exhaust exiting said cracker to cool a lower section of a nozzle of said engine.

10. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said cracked fuel introducing step comprises introducing said cracked fuel in a liquid form into an injector head having a coaxial injector element and allowing said fuel in liquid form to travel down a center of said coaxial injector head and allowing said fuel in liquid form to expand and become a hydrocarbon containing vapor in said combustion chamber.

11. A process according to claim 1 , further comprising diverting a portion of said fuel exiting said cracker to a gas generator to provide energy to drive a turbine of a main turbopump.

12. A process according to claim 11 , further comprising controlling fuel flow from said cracker and thereby turbopump speed and engine thrust.

13. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said oxidizer introducing step comprises passing said oxidizer through a boost pump and then through a main turbopump prior to introducing said oxidizer into an injector head.

14. A process according to claim 13 , further comprising a flow of said oxidizer through said injector head to cool a faceplate of said injector head.

15. A process according to claim 13 , further comprising diverting a portion of said oxidizer exiting said turbopump to a gas generator.

16. A system for delivering a propellant combination to a rocket engine comprises:

means for providing a flow of a hydrocarbon propellant fuel;

means for raising the pressure of the hydrocarbon propellant fuel;

a cracker for cracking the hydrocarbon propellant fuel;

means for introducing the cracked hydrocarbon propellant fuel into a combustion chamber of the rocket engine;

means for introducing an oxidizer into the combustion chamber; and

means for providing heat from a turbine drive exhaust to help drive the cracking process.

17. A system according to claim 16 , wherein said hydrocarbon propellant fuel flow providing means comprises means for providing a flow of kerosene.

18. A system according to claim 16 , wherein said pressure raising means comprises a boost pump and a turbopump through which said flow of hydrocarbon propellant fuel flows.

19. A system according to claim 18 , further comprising means for using a portion of said flow of hydrocarbon propellant fuel to drive a turbine driving said boost pump.

20. A system according to claim 19 , further comprising means for routing said hydrocarbon propellant fuel used to drive said turbine from an exhaust of said turbine into said flow of hydrocarbon propellant fuel via a jet pump nozzle.

21. A system according to claim 16 , further comprising means for using said flow of said hydrocarbon propellant fuel to cool a thrust chamber and a nozzle of said rocket engine prior to introducing said flow of said hydrocarbon propellant fuel to said cracker.

22. A system according to claim 21 , wherein said means for using said flow of said hydrocarbon propellant fuel to cool said thrust chamber and said nozzle comprises means for passing said flow of said hydrocarbon propellant fuel into channel walls and then into a manifold positioned above a lower skirt.

23. A system according to claim 16 , further comprising means for using a portion of said flow of hydrocarbon fuel propellant to film cool the combustion chamber.

24. A system according to claim 16 , further comprising means for using said turbine drive exhaust exiting said cracker to cool a lower section of a nozzle of said engine.

25. A system according to claim 16 , wherein said cracked fuel introducing means comprises means for introducing said cracked fuel in a liquid form into an injector head having a coaxial injector element, for allowing said fuel in liquid form to travel down a center of said coaxial injector head and for allowing said fuel in liquid form to expand and become a hydrocarbon containing vapor in said combustion chamber.

26. A system according to claim 16 , further comprising means for diverting a portion of said fuel exiting said cracker to a gas generator to provide energy to drive a turbine of a main turbopump.

27. A system according to claim 26 , further comprising means for controlling fuel flow from said cracker and thereby turbopump speed and engine thrust.

28. A system according to claim 16 , wherein said oxidizer introducing means comprises means for passing said oxidizer through a boost pump and then through a main turbopump prior to introducing said oxidizer into an injector head.

29. A system according to claim 28 , further comprising means for creating a flow of said oxidizer through said injector head to cool a faceplate of said injector head.

30. A system according to claim 29 , further comprising means for diverting a portion of said oxidizer exiting said turbopump to a gas generator.