A self-contained device for pumping supersonic gas flows. WATER POWER CONTROL VALVEThe pumping dev consists of a chemically activated material capable of chemical reaction with the gas mixture to be pumped, thermal ballast material, a hermetically sealable vessel for containing the chemically active material, and internal surfaces to provide gas flow passages. The internal gas flow passages are geometrically prescribed to accept a supersonic gas flow, to induce a stable normal shock, to diffuse the subsonic flow obtained after the normal shock, and to distribute the low velocity, subsonic gas flow to the reactive chemical pump material.
In accordance with this invention, a minimum length and minimum volume pumping system for chemical lasers is provided in which the supersonic flow passage at the inlet is generally rectangular and streamlined to the location defining a maximum internal flow area. The boundaries of this expanding flow section are porous to facilitate boundary layer removal by suction, or by other proven techniques. Balance ValvesThe chemical pump material contained above and below the expanding flow region is pressure and mass flow isolated from all chemical pump material contained in the main pump section which is downstream of the maximum flow area section. The gas flow cross-section area is subsequently gradually reduced by introducing a transverse, sinusoidal surface with amplitude which increases with axial distance downstream of the maximum flow area. Chemical pump material is contained above the upper sinusoidal surface and below and lower sinusoidal surface.Instrument Manifolds The chemical pump material for this pump, typically calcium powder, has mixed with it a thermal ballast material, typically alumina, graphite, or other refractories. The heterogeneous mixture of active material and thermal ballast material is formatted in pressed pellets with shapes selected to provide controlled surface to volume ratio, controlled mass means diffusion distance, and macroporosity of the aggregated shapes. The mass ratio of thermal ballast material to chemically active material, typically calcium, is a variable which is selected to provide the desired continuous run time capability for the pump. The chemical pump when installed in a system accepts a low pressure supersonic flow, induces a stable normal shock in the expanding flow section which incorporates boundary layer removal or control techniques, diffuses the subsonic flow downstream of the normal shock, and distributes the subsonic flow to the active pump material in the main section of the pump.

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2011-12-14

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