A gas turbine engine includes a first shaft coupled to a first turbine and a first compressor, a second shaft coupled to a second turbine and a second compressor, and a third shaft coupled to a third turbine and a fan assembly. The turbine engine includes a heat rejection heat exchanger configured to reject heat from a closed loop system with air passed from the fan assembly, and a combustor positioned to receive compressed air from the second compressor as a core stream. The closed-loop system includes the first, second, and third turbines and the first compressor and receives energy input from the combustor.

The present disclosure provides a variable section nozzle for an aircraft nacelle having a longitudinal axis. The variable section nozzle includes movable doors and at least one displacement device for displacing the movable doors between a reduced section position and a larger position. The movable doors include at least one first guide device and at least one second guide device, each operable to guide the displacement of the doors relative to a fixed structure of the nozzle. The second guide device is disposed downstream relative to the first guide device and each of the first and second guide devices provide a curvilinear path. In one form, the curvilinear paths are substantially circular and define a circular arc.

The present disclosure provides a variable section nozzle for an aircraft nacelle having a longitudinal axis. The variable section nozzle includes movable doors and at least one displacement device for displacing the movable doors between a reduced section position and a larger position. The movable doors include at least one first guide device and at least one second guide device, each operable to guide the displacement of the doors relative to a fixed structure of the nozzle. The second guide device is disposed downstream relative to the first guide device and each of the first and second guide devices provide a curvilinear path. In one form, the curvilinear paths are substantially circular and define a circular arc.

An electrothermal device (1, 100) includes a primary chamber (2) having an anode nozzle (6) provided with an inlet passage (7), a cathode tip (9) at least partially inserted into the inlet passage (7), and a primary air inlet (10) leading into the inlet passage (7), and a voltage generator (11) arranged between the anode nozzle (6) and the cathode tip (9) in such a way as to generate an electric arc (12) on the path of the primary air flow (13) injected into the primary chamber (2). It includes a secondary chamber (3) wherein a secondary air flow (15) circulates in a heat exchange relation with the heated primary air flow (14) from the primary chamber (2), the secondary air flow (15) having a lower temperature than the heated primary air flow (14) leaving the primary chamber (2).

An electrothermal device (1, 100) includes a primary chamber (2) having an anode nozzle (6) provided with an inlet passage (7), a cathode tip (9) at least partially inserted into the inlet passage (7), and a primary air inlet (10) leading into the inlet passage (7), and a voltage generator (11) arranged between the anode nozzle (6) and the cathode tip (9) in such a way as to generate an electric arc (12) on the path of the primary air flow (13) injected into the primary chamber (2). It includes a secondary chamber (3) wherein a secondary air flow (15) circulates in a heat exchange relation with the heated primary air flow (14) from the primary chamber (2), the secondary air flow (15) having a lower temperature than the heated primary air flow (14) leaving the primary chamber (2).

An optical heat exchanger and an associated system and method are provided to allow a vehicle, such as an unmanned air vehicle, a rocket or the like, to deliver more payload at a lower cost. The optical heat exchanger includes a support surface defining a plurality of tapered openings. Each tapered opening tapers from the first size proximate an outwardly facing end of the opening to a second smaller size proximate an inwardly facing end of the opening. The inwardly facing end of each tapered opening is in communication with the propellant. The optical heat exchanger also includes a plurality of lenses with each lens positioned proximate the outwardly facing end of a respective opening. Each lens is configured to receive an electromagnetic energy beam and concentrate the majority of the electromagnetic energy beam through the inwardly facing end of the respective tapered opening, thereby heating the propellant.

An optical heat exchanger and an associated system and method are provided to allow a vehicle, such as an unmanned air vehicle, a rocket or the like, to deliver more payload at a lower cost. The optical heat exchanger includes a support surface defining a plurality of tapered openings. Each tapered opening tapers from the first size proximate an outwardly facing end of the opening to a second smaller size proximate an inwardly facing end of the opening. The inwardly facing end of each tapered opening is in communication with the propellant. The optical heat exchanger also includes a plurality of lenses with each lens positioned proximate the outwardly facing end of a respective opening. Each lens is configured to receive an electromagnetic energy beam and concentrate the majority of the electromagnetic energy beam through the inwardly facing end of the respective tapered opening, thereby heating the propellant.

A gas turbine engine includes a first shaft coupled to a first turbine and a first compressor, a second shaft coupled to a second turbine and a second compressor, and a third shaft coupled to a third turbine and a fan assembly. The turbine engine includes a heat rejection heat exchanger configured to reject heat from a closed loop system with air passed from the fan assembly, and a combustor positioned to receive compressed air from the second compressor as a core stream. The closed-loop system includes the first, second, and third turbines and the first compressor and receives energy input from the combustor.

A gas turbine engine includes a first shaft coupled to a first turbine and a first compressor, a second shaft coupled to a second turbine and a second compressor, and a third shaft coupled to a third turbine and a fan assembly. The turbine engine includes a heat rejection heat exchanger configured to reject heat from a closed loop system with air passed from the fan assembly, and a combustor positioned to receive compressed air from the second compressor as a core stream. The closed-loop system includes the first, second, and third turbines and the first compressor and receives energy input from the combustor.

A spacecraft is propelled by a high energy beam propulsion device that emits a high energy beam, such as a neutron beam, from the spacecraft. The high energy beam propulsion device has a neutron beam source and a neutron beam generator that emits the neutron beam through a magnetic coil. The magnetic coil may be a discrete coil or extend over a length of the neutron beam length. The magnetic coil may be self-contained and utilize natural magnets or may be a powered magnet, wherein the magnetic field is produced by a flow of electrical current. The neutron source may be powered or self-contained and utilizes neutron emitting materials including Californium-252, Cesium-137, and Polonium-Beryllium.