Abstract

GCI #291-V.3 This disclosure describes an adaptive transpiration-based thermal protection system (TPS) designed to address clogging, hot-spot formation, and lack of fault tolerance in conventional high-temperature protection systems. The invention replaces straight cooling pores with helically structured vortex microchannels that sustain swirling flow, generating centrifugal forces that reduce particulate deposition and maintain open flow paths under contaminated conditions. The system further incorporates pulsed flow actuation for active clearing of obstructions and a redundant manifold network enabling dynamic redistribution of coolant flow. Together, these features transform transpiration cooling from a passive process into an active, self-cleaning thermal management system. The design is compatible with high-temperature ceramic and composite materials and is applicable to reusable launch vehicles, hypersonic platforms, and other high heat-flux environments.

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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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