Catalog Data: Credits: 3.

Analysis and design of rocket engines including liquid, solid, hybrid, and advanced propulsion systems. Lecture: 3. Pre-requisites: AE 4451 Jet Propulsion

Worried about Prerequisites? Check out

Jet Propulsion http://www.adl.gatech.edu/classes/ae4451/ High Speed Aerodynamics/Compressible Flow http://www.adl.gatech.edu/classes/ae3021/ Introduction to Aerospace Engineering http://www.adl.gatech.edu/classes/dci/intro/dci01a.html

SATURN V

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/rdyne/sightsns

Welcome to AE6450 Rocket Propulsion Fall 2004 Georgia Institute of Technology School of Aerospace Engineering

Announcements etc.

Lecture presentations (slides in pdf) and the course outline/ syllabus are at http://www.adl.gatech.edu/classes/ae6450/ Eventually, more detailed notes and other announcements, assignments, Links to resources etc. will appear at either/both of these sites. Your instructor is Dr. Narayanan M. Komerath, Professor, School of Aerospace Engineering. [email protected] I check e-mail a lot more frequently than I check my office voice-mail, 404-894-3017.

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

Section 1. Rocket Engine Basics

In this section we will cover: Types of rocket engines The rocket equation, and a simple solution process for a launch to orbit. Simple orbital mechanics considerations related to mission requirements. Calculation of rocket thrust via momentum equation Definition of Isp, thrust coefficient, c*, Ideal expansion, over/under expansion Typical nozzle designs

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

Rocket Engines
A Rocket carries with it all of the propellant mass which is accelerated to produce thrust. Jet engines are generally considered to be those which combine stored propellant with atmospheric gases. There are some propulsion systems which combine airbreathing and rocket propulsion. A rocket engine includes means for heating propellant and accelerating it into an exhaust. We consider several types of rockets briefly: Cold gas thrusters Chemical thrusters monopropellant bipropellant (Liquid) solid propellant hybrid Nuclear Solar thermal Electric At the end we also consider propellantless means of Propulsion, as opposed to rockets. Test of the crew escape system used on the Apollo Launcher. Source: Boeing/Rocketdyne Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

Cold Gas Thrusters

Energy comes from high gas storage pressure expelled via a simple blow-down system. Typical propellants (pressurized) include He and N2.

Features: Low thrust Low performance Simple and cheap No need for a heat addition system Non-toxic (e.g.: rendezvous with ISS) Used primarily for attitude control.
Courtesy, U. Queensland, HYSHOT Flight Program http://www.mech.uq.edu.au/hyper/hyshot/hyshot_thruster.jpg www.mech.uq.edu.au/ hyper/hyshot/ .. approx. 300N of thrust w/ bottle pressure of 21MPa. .. could also turn valve on and off reliably in 1 ms.

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

Chemical Thrusters
Energy from chemical decomposition or reaction generates thermal energy used to expand the gas Monopropellant single working fluid converted to gases in the presence of a (metallic or thermal ) catalyst. For example,

H 2O2
or

1 H 2O + O2 catalyst = Platinum 2

3N 2 H 4

al _ ceramic _ pellets _ with _ iridium

4 NH 3 + N 2

In the above reaction, the hydrazine decomposes to ammonia and nitrogen. The ammonia further decomposes in an endothermic reaction to form nitrogen and hydrogen. This is a simple, but rather low-performance thruster. Hydrazine is storable for long missions, but is toxic to humans.

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

Example: Monopropellant engine assembly for the Cassini Mission.

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/Spacecraft/propulsion.shtml Text: The monopropellant tank assembly (MTA) mounts externally to the PMS cylindrical structure and utilizes a propellant management diaphragm to contain gaseous helium on one side and purified hydrazine on the other side. The hydrazine is expelled, as required, to feed the four thruster cluster assemblies during the performance of attitude control maneuvers and functions. Courtesy, NASA

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

Bipropellant liquid thrusters

Very common type of rocket with separately stored oxidizer and fuel. Examples include: LOX/LH2, LOX/RP, N2O4 / N2H4 . Bipropellant thrusters can achieve high performance, but are complex and weight more. They enable throttling and control over a wide range of thrust. Rocketdyne (Rockwell) F-1 engine. LOX/RP1

Space Shuttle Main Engine: LOX/LH2

http://www.seas.upenn.edu/courses/meam203/class/ssme.jpg http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/rdyne/sightsns/images/ssmetest.gif

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

Bipropellant Apogee Engine (ETS-VI)

http://www.wtec.org/loyola/satcom/c2_s5b.htm

http://www.atlanticresearchcorp.com/docs/space_biprop6.shtml

Biprope llant Engine Exampl es

Courtesy wtec

LEROS 20H Station Keeping Thruster: Dual mode attitude control engine. Nominal thrust of 5 lbf (22 N). Uses a high temperature Platinum/Rhodium alloy in its chamber and delivers Isp > 308 seconds steady state, without throughput limitation operating on hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide propellants. Courtesy Atlantic Research Co.

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

Solid-propellant thrusters
Fuel and oxidizer are premixed into a rubbery mixture (example: Aluminum fuel and ammonium perchlorate oxidizer). The solid propellant generates a mixture of gases when burned. Solid thrusters are Storable Simple, low-cost Deliver high energy density (i.e., high values of density*(square of specific impulse) Performance is moderate, Hard to control/ throttle (usually little control once lit) Exhaust can be toxic and corrosive (e.g., chlorine)

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

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Example: Space Shuttle Solid Booster

http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v1p56.jpg

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

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Star-Grained Solid Rocket Motor

http://www.nf.suite.dk/stargrain/

After 1 minute of burn

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

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Hybrid Thrusters
Use a solid fuel (a plastic-like hydrocarbon polymer) and a liquid or gaseous oxidizer (typically LOX or H2O2 ).

Higher performance than solids Controllable and can be throttled by varying liquid flow rate. Uneven burning Significant Inert mass (unburned propellant).

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

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Nuclear Thrusters
Use nuclear energy source to heat a working fluid to high temperature, and exhaust the fluid through a nozzle (typically hydrogen). High performance High reactor/ shielding mass required against radiation emission Political/ environmental issues

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

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http://lifesci3.arc.nasa.gov/SpaceSettlement/teacher/lessons/contributed/thomas/Adv.prop/scntr.gif

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

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Solar Thermal

Like nuclear thrusters, but use solar energy either directly or indirectly to heat a working fluid (typically hydrogen). Not enough power for constant burns (impulsive thrust generation)

Source: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center http://www.msfc.nasa.gov

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

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Electric Thrusters

Uses a magnetic fluid or electric field to accelerate ions (typically Argon, Krypton, Cesium or Cobalt) to very high exhaust velocity Very high performance (specific impulse above 2000 seconds) Usable only in low-thrust applications Note: energy source can be solar (SEP) or nuclear (NEP) Resistance thrusters?

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

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Propellantless Space Propulsion

Tethers Sails - Solar sails use the solar wind (high speed charged particles emitted from the Sun) to provide momentum for outbound trajectories. Magnetic sails use magnetic fields instead of a physical fabric to capture the solar wind. rotating (momentum exchange catch and throw) electrodynamic (uses Earths magnetic field)

Solar Sail Propulsion. Courtesy NIAC http://www.niac.usra.edu

M2P2 propulsion: courtesy Dr. Winglee, U. Washington and NIAC. http://www.niac.usra.edu

Copyright 2004 Narayanan Komerath

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