A rocket engine propulsion system having improved engine performance is described herein. The rocket engine propulsion system includes an axial counterbalance to reduce or eliminate axial thrust exerted on components of a turbopump. The axial counterbalance can allow for a larger range of axial thrust forces while coupling this ability to a rotational speed (e.g., rotations per minute, or RPM) of a shaft. The axial counterbalance includes a protrusion on that extends circumferentially around a shaft that mates with a protrusion on a swing arm. The swing arm is rotatably attached to a bracket which is constrained by a static support.

A rocket engine propulsion system having improved engine performance is described herein. The rocket engine propulsion system includes an axial counterbalance to reduce or eliminate axial thrust exerted on components of a turbopump. The axial counterbalance can allow for a larger range of axial thrust forces while coupling this ability to a rotational speed (e.g., rotations per minute, or RPM) of a shaft. The axial counterbalance includes a protrusion on that extends circumferentially around a shaft that mates with a protrusion on a swing arm. The swing arm is rotatably attached to a bracket which is constrained by a static support.

Devices and methods of rocket propulsion are disclosed. In one aspect, a staged combustion liquid rocket engine with preburner and turbopump unit (TPU) integrated into the structure of the combustion chamber is described. An initial propellant mixture is combusted in a preburner combustion chamber formed as an annulus around a main combustion chamber, the combustion products from the preburner driving the turbine of the TPU and subsequently injected into the main combustion chamber for secondary combustion along with additional propellants, generating thrust through a supersonic nozzle. The preburner inner cylindrical wall is shared with the outer cylindrical wall of the engine's main combustion chamber and the turbine is axially aligned with the main combustion chamber. Liquid propellants supplied to the engine are utilized for regenerative cooling of the combustion chamber and preburner, where the liquid propellants are gasified in cooling manifolds before injection into the preburner and main combustion chamber.

Devices and methods of rocket propulsion are disclosed. In one aspect, a staged combustion liquid rocket engine with preburner and turbopump unit (TPU) integrated into the structure of the combustion chamber is described. An initial propellant mixture is combusted in a preburner combustion chamber formed as an annulus around a main combustion chamber, the combustion products from the preburner driving the turbine of the TPU and subsequently injected into the main combustion chamber for secondary combustion along with additional propellants, generating thrust through a supersonic nozzle. The preburner inner cylindrical wall is shared with the outer cylindrical wall of the engine's main combustion chamber and the turbine is axially aligned with the main combustion chamber. Liquid propellants supplied to the engine are utilized for regenerative cooling of the combustion chamber and preburner, where the liquid propellants are gasified in cooling manifolds before injection into the preburner and main combustion chamber.

A turbojet engine capable of operation in an Air Turbo Rocket (ATR) mode includes a compressor, a rotatable turbine wheel comprising turbine blades, a non-rotating guide vane ring comprising guide vanes, a turbine shaft configured to power said compressor, a combustor, a gas generator, and a main combustor. The main combustor is configured to combust hot, fuel rich gas from the gas generator in air compressed by the compressor. Hot, fuel rich gas from the gas generator is directed towards the turbine blades by a directing means.

A turbojet engine capable of operation in an Air Turbo Rocket (ATR) mode includes a compressor, a rotatable turbine wheel comprising turbine blades, a non-rotating guide vane ring comprising guide vanes, a turbine shaft configured to power said compressor, a combustor, a gas generator, and a main combustor. The main combustor is configured to combust hot, fuel rich gas from the gas generator in air compressed by the compressor. Hot, fuel rich gas from the gas generator is directed towards the turbine blades by a directing means.

The present invention relates to a propellant feed system for a rocket engine including a jet pump including a motive inlet for receiving a gaseous propellant, a driven inlet for receiving a liquid propellant, and an outlet for ejecting a mixed stream of the gaseous propellant and the liquid propellant. The propellant feed system further includes a heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy from a combustion chamber to the liquid propellant or the mixed stream, thereby transforming the liquid propellant or the mixed stream into the gaseous propellant. The propellant feed system further includes a pump configured to pump the liquid propellant or the mixed stream into the heat exchanger.

The present invention relates to a propellant feed system for a rocket engine including a jet pump including a motive inlet for receiving a gaseous propellant, a driven inlet for receiving a liquid propellant, and an outlet for ejecting a mixed stream of the gaseous propellant and the liquid propellant. The propellant feed system further includes a heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy from a combustion chamber to the liquid propellant or the mixed stream, thereby transforming the liquid propellant or the mixed stream into the gaseous propellant. The propellant feed system further includes a pump configured to pump the liquid propellant or the mixed stream into the heat exchanger.

The invention relates to a thrust chamber device, comprising a thrust chamber with a thrust space that has a first portion, a second portion adjoining the first portion, and a third portion adjoining the second portion, wherein the thrust space is delimited in all three portions by an outer nozzle wall with an outer thrust space surface, which outer thrust space surface tapers in the first and second portion toward the third portion and in the third portion expands away from the second portion, wherein a narrowest point is formed at the transition from the second portion to the third portion, wherein the first portion is delimited by an inner nozzle wall with an inner thrust space surface, and wherein the thrust chamber device comprises a regenerative cooling unit for cooling the inner nozzle wall and the outer nozzle wall with a coolant.

A swirl preburner that includes a first core defining a first swirl chamber having a first swirl chamber first end and a first swirl chamber second end, the first swirl chamber comprising a first diameter at the first swirl chamber first end and a second smaller diameter at the first swirl chamber second end that is smaller than the first diameter; and a second core defining a second swirl chamber having a second swirl chamber first end and a second swirl chamber second end, the second swirl chamber comprising a third diameter at the second swirl chamber first end and a fourth smaller diameter at the second swirl chamber second end that is smaller than the third diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the third diameter and larger than the fourth smaller diameter.