Non-axisymmetric heat shield, a nozzle defined at least partially by the heat shield, an engine including the nozzle, and a vehicle including the engine
View Patent ↗A heat shield for protecting a windward side of a vehicle from a high enthalpy flow is disclosed. The heat shield includes a centerbody sidewall and a centerbody base extending aft of the centerbody sidewall. The centerbody sidewall and the centerbody base define a heat shield outer surface that is non-axisym metric. Also disclosed is an aerospike nozzle defined at least partially by the heat shield, an engine including a high pressure chamber and the aerospike nozzle, and a vehicle including the engine.
1. An aerospike nozzle, comprising:
a throat; and
a centerbody extending aft of the throat, the centerbody including:
a centerbody sidewall defining an expansion surface; and
a centerbody base extending aft of the centerbody sidewall;
wherein the centerbody sidewall and the centerbody base define a heat shield outer surface that is non-axisymmetric.
2. The aerospike nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the centerbody is a truncated toroidal aerospike.
3. An engine, comprising:
a high pressure chamber;
an aerospike nozzle that exhausts gas generated by the high pressure chamber, the aerospike nozzle including:
a throat; and
a centerbody extending aft of the throat, the centerbody including:
a centerbody sidewall defining an expansion surface; and
a centerbody base extending aft of the centerbody sidewall;
wherein the centerbody sidewall and the centerbody base define a heat shield outer surface that is non-axisymmetric.
4. A vehicle, comprising:
an engine including a high pressure chamber; and
an aerospike nozzle that exhausts gas generated by the high pressure chamber, the aerospike nozzle including:
a throat; and
a centerbody extending aft of the throat, the centerbody including:
a centerbody sidewall defining an expansion surface; and
a centerbody base extending aft of the centerbody sidewall;
wherein the centerbody sidewall and the centerbody base define a heat shield outer surface that is non-axisymmetric.
5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the vehicle is an upper stage rocket.
6. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the vehicle is an atmospheric re-entry vehicle.
7. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the centerbody is a truncated toroidal aerospike and the centerbody base partially defines an aft end of the vehicle.
8. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the vehicle includes a main body portion defining a forward end of the vehicle, and a base portion defining an aft end of the vehicle; and
wherein the main body portion is at least substantially axisymmetric relative to a main body centerline extending in a direction between a forward end of the main body portion and an aft end of the main body portion.
9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the heat shield outer surface is non-axisymmetric relative to the main body centerline.
10. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the heat shield outer surface is configured such that net aerodynamic forces acting on the centerbody during atmospheric re-entry are at an angle relative to the main body centerline.
11. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the heat shield outer surface is configured such that net aerodynamic forces acting on the centerbody generate lift during atmospheric re-entry at a zero angle of attack.
12. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the engine and the aerospike nozzle are configured such that the aerospike nozzle exhausts gas generated by the high pressure chamber in a direction toward the aft end of the vehicle.
13. The vehicle of claim 4 , further comprising a heat shield for protecting the aft end of the vehicle from a high enthalpy flow;
wherein the centerbody sidewall and the centerbody base are components of the heat shield.
14. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the centerbody sidewall and the centerbody base collectively form a blunt body.
15. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the centerbody sidewall includes a rigid wall with a cone shape.
16. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the centerbody sidewall has a truncated and oblique cone shape.
17. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the centerbody base has at least one of a semi-spherical shape, a frustoconical shape, a multi-conic shape, and an ellipsoidal shape.
18. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the centerbody sidewall and the centerbody base is actively cooled.
19. The aerospike nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the centerbody sidewall and the centerbody base collectively form a blunt body.
20. The aerospike nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the centerbody sidewall includes a rigid wall with a cone shape.
21. The aerospike nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the centerbody sidewall has a truncated and oblique cone shape.
22. The aerospike nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the centerbody base has at least one of a semi-spherical shape, a frustoconical shape, a multi-conic shape, and an ellipsoidal shape.
23. The aerospike nozzle of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the centerbody sidewall and the centerbody base is actively cooled.
24. The engine of claim 3 , wherein the centerbody sidewall and the centerbody base collectively form a blunt body.
25. The engine of claim 3 , wherein the centerbody sidewall includes a rigid wall with a cone shape.
26. The engine of claim 3 , wherein the centerbody sidewall has a truncated and oblique cone shape.
27. The engine of claim 3 , wherein the centerbody base has at least one of a semi-spherical shape, a frustoconical shape, a multi-conic shape, and an ellipsoidal shape.
28. The engine of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the centerbody sidewall and the centerbody base is actively cooled.