Multiple pintle nozzle propulsion control system

摘要

A rocket motor assembly is provided with multiple pintle nozzles and a controller for adjusting the pintle position in the nozzles to generate a thrust differential, while maintaining the combustion pressure at equilibrium pressure by maintaining the sum of the throat areas of all of the pintle nozzles constant, for example. In this manner, proportional thrust control and very high response times are achieved. The controller also includes a pressure correction circuit that senses any difference between the actual combustion chamber pressure and the selected equilibrium pressure upon which the thrust differential was based, converts that to an error value, and sends a command signal to each pintle actuator so that each pintle position is adjusted an equal amount to compensate for the sensed pressure difference and maintain the combustion chamber pressure at the selected equilibrium pressure.