Reversible flow discharge orifice

摘要

A rocket engine fluid-flow system includes a pump fluidly interconnecting a fluid source to a combustion chamber. A nozzle is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and includes coolant tubes fluidly arranged between the pump and the combustion chamber. An orifice has a throat and is fluidly arranged between the pump and the coolant tubes. The orifice has entrance and exit ramps arranged on either side of the throat. The exit ramp has an exit ramp surface with a divergent angle that is less than a right angle. The entrance ramp provides a smooth approach to the orifice throat. In one example, the exit ramp includes an exit ramp surface having a divergent angle of 20-60°. The exit ramp radius is less than twice the throat radius in one example.

主权项

1. A fluid flow system comprising:
an orifice providing a throat having a throat radius, the orifice including entrance and exit ramps adjoining either side of the throat, the entrance ramp providing a smooth approach to the orifice throat, and the exit ramp including an exit ramp surface having a divergent angle of 20-60° and an exit ramp radius adjoining the exit ramp at a location near the throat, the exit ramp radius less than twice the throat radius; a shut-off valve having open and closed positions; a pump fluidly connected to the shut-off valve by a fluid passage, wherein a tube is arranged in the fluid passage, the tube includes the orifice; and wherein the pump is configured to convey a fluid through the orifice in a first direction with the shut-off valve in the open position, the fluid flows from the entrance ramp to the exit ramp in the first direction, and the pump is configured to reverse the flow of fluid through the orifice to a second direction opposite the first direction with the shut-off valve in the closed position.