Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle comprises a propellant tank for providing a supply of propellant, a propellant heater, and an exhaust nozzle. The propellant tank is in fluid communication with the propellant heater and is configured for providing a flow of propellant to the propellant heater. The propellant heater is in fluid communication with the propellant tank and the nozzle and initially comprises a supply of oxidizer that is configured for reacting chemically with the propellant to produce heat. The propellant heater is further configured for receiving a beam of microwave energy and facilitating transmission of the beam of microwave energy to the propellant. The nozzle is in fluid communication with the propellant heater and is configured for receiving a flow of propellant from the propellant heater, for accelerating the propellant, and for expelling the propellant so as to produce thrust.

Abstract: A fused material deposition microwave system and method include at least one high power microwave source, at least one deposition nozzle having adjustable outlet diameter for depositing one or more materials, a waveguide for guiding microwave energy to the deposition nozzle to melt the materials, and a material source to supply one or more materials to the deposition nozzle. The system and method further include a controller for controlling the deposition nozzle, microwave energy, and material source according to a computer-aided manufacturing set of instructions to deposit and fuse molten material on a workpiece. The system and method provide improvements in additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects that are particularly beneficial for manufacturing objects made of metals and ceramics.

Abstract: A system for receiving energy from an electromagnetic energy beam, and for transferring the received energy to a working fluid as thermal energy, comprises a heat exchanger body that defines a path for the working fluid. The heat exchanger body comprising a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material. A method for configuring a heat exchanger for receiving energy from an electromagnetic energy beam, and for transferring the received energy to a working fluid as thermal energy, includes providing a heat exchanger body, the heat exchanger body comprising a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material, the CMC material comprising a SiC matrix. The method also includes introducing a concentration of dopant into the SiC matrix, wherein the dopant is selected to facilitate absorption of energy from the electromagnetic energy beam, and wherein the concentration is suitable to achieve a desired rate of energy absorption from the electromagnetic energy beam.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a 3-dimensional object comprises a print head that is configured and disposed for depositing one or more material layers in a prescribed manner on a printing table. At least one of the material layers comprises two or more materials. A source of microwave energy is disposed and configured for directing a beam of microwave energy toward the work-piece in a prescribed manner. A controller is operatively coupled to the print head and the source of microwave energy. The controller is configured for causing the print head to deposit the one or more material layers in the prescribed manner and for causing the source of microwave energy to direct the beam of microwave energy toward the work-piece in the prescribed manner. A method for manufacturing a 3-dimensional object comprises depositing one or more material layers in a prescribed manner on a printing table and directing a beam of microwave energy toward the work-piece in a prescribed manner.

Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle comprises a propellant tank for providing a supply of propellant, a propellant heater, and an exhaust nozzle. The propellant tank is in fluid communication with the propellant heater and is configured for providing a flow of propellant to the propellant heater. The propellant heater is in fluid communication with the propellant tank and the nozzle and initially comprises a supply of oxidizer that is configured for reacting chemically with the propellant to produce heat. The propellant heater is further configured for receiving a beam of microwave energy and facilitating transmission of the beam of microwave energy to the propellant. The nozzle is in fluid communication with the propellant heater and is configured for receiving a flow of propellant from the propellant heater, for accelerating the propellant, and for expelling the propellant so as to produce thrust.

Abstract: A system for transmitting energy comprises a controller operably coupled to a plurality of energy transmitters. Each of the transmitters comprises a microwave generator, a waveguide positioned for receiving the beam of electromagnetic energy from the microwave generator, an antenna positioned for receiving the guided beam of electromagnetic energy, and a radome disposed about the antenna. The microwave generator is configured for emitting a beam of electromagnetic energy. The waveguide is configured for receiving the beam of electromagnetic energy and emitting a guided beam of electromagnetic energy. The antenna is configured for forming a directional beam of microwave energy with a controlled phase, and the directional beam of microwave energy has controlled energy distribution properties. The controller is configured for modulating at least one attribute of the directional beam of microwave energy of each energy transmitter of the plurality of energy transmitters.

Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system comprises a propellant source, a microwave energy source; an ionizer, a heater, and a propellant accelerator. The ionizer is configured for receiving propellant and for also receiving microwave energy from the microwave energy source so as to produce ionized propellant. The heater comprises a heater shell that defines a plasma heating cavity and is configured for receiving the ionized propellant from the ionizer. The heater shell is configured to transmit microwave energy received from the microwave energy source to the ionized propellant in the plasma heating cavity and to thereby facilitate absorption of microwave energy by the ionized propellant to produce heated ionized propellant. The propellant accelerator is configured for receiving the heated ionized propellant from the heater, accelerating the heated ionized propellant to produce accelerated propellant, and expelling the accelerated propellant in a desired direction to impose a reaction force (i.e.