News Firms team up to power new age of steam in space

[Notebook]

Two hi-tech Westcott based companies are working together to develop steam technology for satellites.
SteamJet Space Systems and Total Carbide will work together on producing a steam-fuelled propulsion system which will be used on small satellites including miniature CubeSats.

https://www.westcottvp.com/news-and...am-in-space?modal_newsletter_signup_success=1

https://steamjet.space/#mission

Nice website...

 

[jedidia]

Huh... How much more efficiency compared to a cold-gas jet can you possibly get this way?

 

[Notebook]

I've no idea. Maybe they have a very efficient way of boiling water in a vacuum?

 

[jedidia]

Maybe they have a very efficient way of boiling water in a vacuum?

Well, boiling water in a vacuum isn't exactly difficult, but there's not that much pressure you gain from that (or it won't boil, because there's no vacuum anymore, obviously) Guess I should read the article more closely.

 

[Notebook]

There's not much info there, in fact none I can see!

Maybe they have a patent or technique that will make it viable.

It caught my attention as Westcott Business Park is Reaction Engines home, so I keep an eye on neighbours.
Its also the historic home of the UK rocket engine programme. And a base in Orbiter...

 

[dbeachy1]

When I read this thread title, my first thought was that the astronauts on the ISS now have access to Steam games. :lol:

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, boiling water in a vacuum isn't exactly difficult, but there's not that much pressure you gain from that (or it won't boil, because there's no vacuum anymore, obviously) Guess I should read

the article more closely.

AFAIR, there is an old technology called Resistojets, that operate by heating already vaporizing water (like a super heater in a steam boiler) electrically for using it as some sort of high-massflow electric thruster.



Which would be nice because water is a common waste product on manned spacecraft. But that technology was already used on Vela satellites.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

They merely show a drawing of a tank connected with two pipes to a "System" with an orifice that may be a nozzle. Pretty thin on any information about how it works.


It says the system power is 20-40W and does not involve any pressurized systems. My bet is that it holds a small mass of water in a capillary tube and simply dumps a lot of power into it, basically causing a mini-steam explosion on demand. If the capillary tube is small enough the surface tension and exposed surface area of water could be such to limit the rate of evaporation. Maybe the water is metered into the capillary tube with something like an ink-jet printer nozzle.