VAPAK-technology

How does VAPAK work? I am trying to imagine how it feeds NO2 or any other propellant without any moving part.



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

When the vapour pressure of the liquid propellant at the top of the tank exceeds the chamber pressure, the liquid can be pushed out of the tank by its own vapour instead of a seperate pressurizing gas. If needed, keeping the top of the tank warmer than elsewhere can achieve this without boiling occuring before the chamber. The only real moving part is the valve that allows the flow.

Hello, nihiladrem,

Thank You Very Much for the explanation. This sounds to me as if it is very simple and is a much less expensive method than pumps etc. and especially less expensive than I thought.

I asked for it because of the CXV-cost-thread in the Financial Barrier-section.



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

According to Air Launch LLC's document "" ( ) .

This sounds as if VAPAK provides flexibility at a very high level.

Air Launch LLC also list and says that .

Very useful interesting information.

What about it?



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

On high thrust application a heat exchanger may be used. Portions of both the Fuel and Oxidizer flow through heat exchangers attached to the thrust chamber and then back to their tanks as gases.

This can provide very high pressure but will require quite heavy tanks.

Both AirLaunch and CVX seem to use quite low pressure Thrust Chambers which will lower their ISP by 50s or so from turbopump designs.