A COMPACT HEAT EXCHANGER/REACTOR FOR ENDOTHERMIC FUELS

AIRCRAFT DESIGNED FOR FLIGHT IN THE MACH 3-6 RANGE MUST INCORPORATE ACTIVE COOLING IN THE TURBORAMJET PROPULSION SYSTEM. THE REQUIRED COOLING CAN BE PROVIDED BY AN ENDOTHERMIC REACTION OF THE FUEL. ENDOTHERMIC-FUEL REACTORS MUST BE SMALL AND LIGHT. HEAT TRANSFER TO THE LOW THERMAL-CONDUCTIVITY, CERAMIC, CATALYST SUPPORT IS A MAJOR LIMITATION TO THE REACTOR DESIGN. TDA RESEARCH PROPOSES TO FABRICATE AND TEST A UNIQUE, HIGH THERMAL-CONDUCTIVITY CATALYST/METAL STRUCTURE. TDA RESEARCH HAS PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED DURABLE CATALYSTS BONDED TO METAL HEAT TRANSFER SURFACES FOR ENDOTHERMIC METHANOL DISSOCIATION. DATA FROM THE CATALYST TESTING WILL BE USED TO DESIGN A SCALED-UP ENDOTHERMIC REACTOR FOR FABRICATION AND TESTING IN PHASE II.