The Vortex Cooled Chamber Wall Engine: A Tamed Tornado

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA452364 | Open PDF

Abstract:

The violent winds within tornadoes are among the most powerful forces on the face of the Earth. The Orbital Technologies Corporation ORBITECtm of Madison, WI has discovered a way to harness the forces of a powerful tornado-like vortex flow within a new rocket engine where the chamber walls are protected from the fierce heat of combustion by a vortex flow field. This tamed tornado exists today as the vortex cooled chamber wall VCCW rocket engine and is the focus of a 15-month, million-dollar study contract awarded in June 2005 to an Aerojet-led team including ORBITEC, Space SystemsLoral, and Microcosm. The California Space Authority worked to obtain support for this study through the office of Rep. Anna Eshoo D-CA, and the funding was derived from efforts of the U.S. Congress and Air Force supporting development of advanced launch vehicles.

Author(s):
Turner, Andrew E. ; Knuth, William H.
Author Organization(s):
AEROJET SACRAMENTO CA
Descriptive Note:
Journal article
Supplementary Note:
Prepared in cooperation with The Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC), Madison, WI. Submitted for publication in Space Times Magazine.
Pagination:
0003

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
AFRL-PR-ED-JA-2005-378
Contract/Grant Number(s):
FA9300-04-C-0008
Task Number(s):
03
Project Number(s):
5026
Monitor Series:
JA-2005-378, AFRL-PR-ED
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_3.2_Engagement; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_3.2.1_Kinetic Means; JCA_8_Building Partnerships
Communities of Interest:
Weapons Technologies
Descriptor(s):
*ROCKET ENGINES, *TORNADOES, VORTICES, CHAMBERS, FLOW FIELDS
Field(s)/Group(s):
Meteorology, Rocket Engines
Keyword(s):
*VORTEX FLOW, *VCCW(VORTEX COOLED CHAMBER WALL), WUAFRL502603BQ
Report Date:
2005 Nov 03
Creation Date:
2006 Aug 30