Abstract: Cryogenic propellant tank (1) for a spacecraft engine, comprising an external enclosure (10) defining an internal volume, characterized in that the internal volume of the tank comprises a primary volume (V1) and a secondary volume (V2) connected to the primary volume (V1) via a valve (20) configured to selectively allow a passage of fluid from the primary volume (V1) to the secondary volume (V2), or to isolate the secondary volume (V2) from the primary volume (V1), the primary volume (V1) having a primary orifice (11) adapted to be connected to a first pressurization source (41), the secondary volume (V2) having a supply orifice (4) adapted to be connected to a supply line of a spacecraft engine (30), and a secondary orifice (12) adapted to be connected to a second pressurization source (42).

Abstract: Cryogenic propellant tank (1) for a spacecraft engine, comprising an external enclosure (10) defining an internal volume, characterized in that the internal volume of the tank comprises a primary volume (V1) and a secondary volume (V2) connected to the primary volume (V1) via a valve (20) configured to selectively allow a passage of fluid from the primary volume (V1) to the secondary volume (V2), or to isolate the secondary volume (V2) from the primary volume (V1), the primary volume (V1) having a primary orifice (11) adapted to be connected to a first pressurization source (41), the secondary volume (V2) having a supply orifice (4) adapted to be connected to a supply line of a spacecraft engine (30), and a secondary orifice (12) adapted to be connected to a second pressurization source (42).

Abstract: The device comprises a primary heater (58) suitable for heating the propellant coming from the tank (16) prior to it being reintroduced into its tank. The primary heater uses the heat of combustion from the engine (10) and the device further comprises a secondary heater (66) having its source of heat independent from the operation of the engine, the secondary heater being arranged downstream from the primary heater (58) in order to heat the propellant between its outlet from the primary heater and being reintroduced into the tank. The device also has means (62) between the feed to the primary heater (58) and the return of the propellant to the tank for putting the propellant under pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to the aerospace field, and in particular to the field of vehicles propelled by rocket engines. In particular, the invention relates to a feed circuit (6) for feeding a rocket engine (2) at least with a first liquid propellant, the feed circuit including at least one first heat exchanger (18) suitable for being connected to a cooling circuit (17) for cooling at least one heat source in order to cool said heat source by transferring heat to the first propellant, and, in addition, downstream from said first heat exchanger, a branch passing through a second heat exchanger.

Abstract: After filling a tank (18) with liquid oxygen (20) that is to be used to feed a rocket engine (10) with oxidizer, but prior to causing the engine (10) to operate, the tank is pressurized by injecting gaseous nitrogen (N) into the tank. While the engine (10) is in operation, liquid oxygen (20) is taken off, the taken-off oxygen is heated so as to obtain gaseous oxygen, and the gaseous oxygen is injected into the gas blanket (42) of the tank, with the pre-pressurization nitrogen forming a nitrogen buffer (40) between the liquid oxygen present in the gaseous oxygen tank injected into the gas blanket.

Abstract: A device heating a fluid and usable in a rocket launcher to pressurize a liquefied propellant. The device includes a first burner performing first combustion between a limiting propellant and an excess propellant; a first heat exchanger in which first burnt gas from the first combustion transfers heat to the fluid; at least one second burner into which both the first burnt gas and some limiting propellant are injected to perform second combustion between the limiting propellant and at least a portion of unburnt excess propellant present in the first burnt gas. The second burnt gas from the second combustion flows through a second heat exchanger to transfer heat to the fluid. Burnt gas from each combustion flows in respective burnt gas tubes within a common overall heat exchanger including the heat exchange units, the gas transferring heat to the fluid, the fluid flowing between the burnt gas tubes.

Abstract: An assembly including a cryogenic fluid tank for a space vehicle and a thermal protection system for a cryogenic fluid tank of the space vehicle, the system including: a shell adapted to surround the cryogenic fluid tank, the shell being dimensioned to define an inside space between the shell and the tank; and an injector for injecting a cooling fluid spray into the inside space; the cooling fluid being injected into the inside space in the liquid state at a temperature that is adapted to ensure that the cooling fluid picks up the heat flux reaching the cryogenic fluid tank, thereby causing the cooling fluid to vaporize, the shell having a plurality of orifices adapted to allow the cooling fluid in gaseous form to leave inside space through the shell.

Abstract: A cryogenic thruster assembly including: a reignitable main thruster; a first cryogenic tank connected to the main thruster to feed the main thruster with a first propellant; a first gas tank; at least one settling thruster; and a first feed circuit for feeding the first gas tank. The feed circuit of the first gas tank is connected to the first cryogenic tank and includes a heat exchanger for using heat given off by the at least one settling thruster to vaporize a liquid flow of the first propellant as extracted from the first cryogenic tank to feed the first gas tank with the first propellant in the gaseous state. A method feeds the first gas tank with the first propellant in the gaseous state.

Abstract: The device comprises a primary heater (58) suitable for heating the propellant coming from the tank (16) prior to it being reintroduced into its tank. The primary heater uses the heat of combustion from the engine (10) and the device further comprises a secondary heater (66) having its source of heat independent from the operation of the engine, the secondary heater being arranged downstream from the primary heater (58) in order to heat the propellant between its outlet from the primary heater and being reintroduced into the tank. The device also has means (62) between the feed to the primary heater (58) and the return of the propellant to the tank for putting the propellant under pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of rocket engines, and more particularly to a system for feeding a rocket engine (2) with propellant, the system comprising a first tank (3), a second tank (4), a first feed circuit (6) connected to the first tank (3), and a second feed circuit (7) connected to the second tank (4). In order to cool the propellant contained in the second tank (4), the first circuit (6) includes a branch (12) passing through a first heat exchanger (14) incorporated in the second tank (4). The invention also provides a method of feeding the rocket engine (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to the aerospace field, and in particular to the field of vehicles propelled by rocket engines. In particular, the invention relates to a feed circuit (6) for feeding a rocket engine (2) at least with a first liquid propellant, the feed circuit including at least one buffer-tank (20) for said first liquid propellant and a first heat exchanger (18) that is incorporated in said buffer tank (20) and suitable for being connected to a cooling circuit (17) for cooling at least one heat source in order to cool said heat source by transferring heat to the first propellant.

Abstract: The invention relates to the aerospace field, and in particular to the field of vehicles propelled by rocket engines. In particular, the invention relates to a feed circuit (6) for feeding a rocket engine (2) at least with a first liquid propellant, the feed circuit including at least one first heat exchanger (18) suitable for being connected to a cooling circuit (17) for cooling at least one heat source in order to cool said heat source by transferring heat to the first propellant, and, in addition, downstream from said first heat exchanger, a branch passing through a second heat exchanger.

Abstract: A device heating a fluid and usable in a rocket launcher to pressurize a liquefied propellant. The device includes a first burner performing first combustion between a limiting propellant and an excess propellant; a first heat exchanger in which first burnt gas from the first combustion transfers heat to the fluid; at least one second burner into which both the first burnt gas and some limiting propellant are injected to perform second combustion between the limiting propellant and at least a portion of unburnt excess propellant present in the first burnt gas. The second burnt gas from the second combustion flows through a second heat exchanger to transfer heat to the fluid. Burnt gas from each combustion flows in respective burnt gas tubes within a common overall heat exchanger including the heat exchange units, the gas transferring heat to the fluid, the fluid flowing between the burnt gas tubes.

Abstract: A cryogenic thruster assembly including: a reignitable main thruster; a first cryogenic tank connected to the main thruster to feed the main thruster with a first propellant; a first gas tank; at least one settling thruster; and a first feed circuit for feeding the first gas tank. The feed circuit of the first gas tank is connected to the first cryogenic tank and includes a heat exchanger for using heat given off by the at least one settling thruster to vaporize a liquid flow of the first propellant as extracted from the first cryogenic tank to feed the first gas tank with the first propellant in the gaseous state. A method feeds the first gas tank with the first propellant in the gaseous state.

Abstract: The rocket engine nozzle system comprises a set of individual nozzles distributed in a ring around a central core of axially symmetrical shape that presents a central axis. Each individual nozzle placed at the periphery of the central core comprises a circular section throat for receiving gas from a combustion chamber, and a diverging portion that is tangential to the central core. The diverging portion has an outlet section that presents first and second lateral sides that converge radially towards the central axis of the central core, a curved outer side having its convex side facing outwards, and an inner side situated in the vicinity of the central core.

Abstract: The rocket engine nozzle system comprises a set of individual nozzles distributed in a ring around a central core of axially symmetrical shape that presents a central axis. Each individual nozzle placed at the periphery of the central core comprises a circular section throat for receiving gas from a combustion chamber, and a diverging portion that is tangential to the central core. The diverging portion has an outlet section that presents first and second lateral sides that converge radially towards the central axis of the central core, a curved outer side having its convex side facing outwards, and an inner side situated in the vicinity of the central core.

Abstract: To control the separation of a hot gas ejection jet within a rocket engine nozzle, the device includes a jettisonable annular structure for placing around the outside wall of the nozzle at the gas cutlet section thereof, which structure defines a radial extension around the nozzle so that in the presence of an outlet jet coming from the nozzle, it creates a low pressure zone in the vicinity of the bottom face of the device, thereby displacing in the gas outlet direction jet separation from the interior wall of the nozzle.

Abstract: To control the separation of a hot gas ejection jet within a rocket engine nozzle, the device comprises a jettisonable annular structure for placing around the outside wall of the nozzle at the gas outlet section thereof, which structure defines a radial extension around the nozzle so that in the presence of an outlet jet coming from the nozzle, it creates a low pressure zone in the vicinity of the bottom face of the device, thereby reducing jet separation inside the nozzle.

Abstract: The downstream portion of the diverging part of the nozzle of the rocket engine is extended by an ejectable diffuser which, downstream from the zone where it is connected to the diverging part, presents a zone of smaller cross-section that acts during a first stage of flight in the presence of significant outside pressure to recompress the flow of hot gases and to prevent a flow separation from appearing along with the wall of the diverging part. The ejectable diffuser may have a streamlined throat which constitutes the zone of smaller cross-section.

Abstract: In a rocket engine nozzle with a selectively smaller outlet cross-section, the nozzle comprising a converging portion which receives the gases produced in a combustion chamber, a nozzle throat of small cross-section and a diverging part connected to the nozzle throat and terminating at its downstream portion in a gas jet outlet cross-section defining a high cross-section ratio, a releasable annular obstacle is connected to the downstream end of the diverging part so as to define at the outlet of the diverging part a zone of selectively smaller cross-section which ensures stability of the separation of the flow of hot gases relative to the wall of the diverging part during a first phase of flight.