24-10-2012, 01:07 PM
Boiling Heat Transfer Torpedo
ABSTRACT
This patent application discloses a system for a torpedo that creates and maintains a vapor cavity to reduce drag and
increase propulsion efficiency. The system has a source of gas venting gas at a nose portion of the vehicle to create a gas/vapor
cavity on the nose portion and an adjacent hull of the vehicle. A thermal engine propelling the vehicle through ambient water
creates waste heat for heating the hull to raise the temperature of the gas/vapor cavity extending over it. A pump aft on the
vehicle recirculates a portion of the gas/ vapor cavity as recirculated gas to the nose portion. The velocity of the recirculated
gas of the gas/vapor cavity is controlled by the pump to be virtually the same as the relative flow rate of the ambient water
along an interface boundary between the gas/vapor cavity and the ambient water. (4 figures)