Patent — available for licensing
Cladding and Freeform Deposition for Coolant Channel Closeout
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
Low-cost, large-scale liquid rocket engines with regeneratively cooled nozzles will enable reliable and reduced-cost access to space. Coolant, contained under high pressure, circulates through a bank of channels within the nozzle to properly cool the nozzle walls to withstand high temperatures and prevent failure. It has been a challenge to affordably manufacture and close out the intricate nozzle channels. As such, NASA developed a robust and simplified additive manufacturing technology to build the nozzle liner outer jacket to close out the channels within and contain the high-pressure coolant. The new Laser Wire Direct Closeout (LWDC) capability reduces the time to fabricate the nozzle and allows for real-time inspection during the build. One variation enables a bimetallic part (copper/super-alloy, e.g.) to help optimize material where it is needed. The manufacturing process has been demonstrated on a series of different alloys. Hot-fire testing is complete—the parts were exposed to extreme combustion chamber temperatures and pressure conditions for 1,000+ seconds. Micro-graph examination of the hot-fired test article has verified that the coolant channel closeout bonds are reliable and that there is very little deformation to the coolant channels. The picture above was taken during the hot-fire testing of a nozzle.