PSG Institute of Technology and Applied Research, Coimbatore

GAS DYNAMICS AND JET PROPULSION

(COMPRESSIBLE FLUID FLOW)

SPACE PROPULSION (BASICS)

Avinash Kumar R
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
PSG iTech, Coimbatore – 641062
Ph: 8943057433
Email: [email protected]
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UNIT – V SPACE PROPULSION

1. Types of rocket engines and propellants.

Characteristic velocity – thrust equation
2. Theory of single and multistage rocket
propulsion
3. Liquid fuel feeding systems
4. Solid propellant geometries
5. Orbital and escape velocity
6. Rocket performance calculations

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ROCKET PROPULSION

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Liquid Propellant Rockets
Rocket engines in which liquid fuels and oxidizers are used
are known Is liquid propellant rocket engines

The propellants are fed into the thrust chamber (combustor or

combustion chamber) from their containers for combustion or
chemical reaction

For better mixing and efficient combustion the fuel and the
oxidizer are atomised through the injectors. The feed system
regulates the optimum mixture ratio for a given set of propellants

Some commonly used liquid fuels are liquid hydrogen, UDMH

(Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine), hydrazine, alcohol etc.

The oxidizers used are liquid oxygen, red fuming nitric acid (RFNA),
liquid fluorine etc.
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Solid Propellant Rockets

Solid fuel (plastic or resin

material.)

oxidizer (nitrates,
perchlorates, etc.)

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Hybrid Propellant Rockets
Some fuel-oxidizer combinations for
hybrid propellant rockets arc:

Beryllium hydride (Be-H2) — Fluorine

(F2)

Lithium hydride (Li H) Chlorine

Trifluoride (CIF3)

Lithium hydride (Li H) — Nitrogen

tetroxide N204)

Hydrocarbon (CH2)n — Nitrogen

tetroxide (N204)

Hypergolic propellants

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Hybrid rockets would be prefered over other types in view of
their simplicity and other advantages some of which are
given .here:
1. Thrust control is comparatively easier because only the flow
of the liquid oxidizer need be regulated.
2. Since the fuel and the oxidizer are kept separate the chemical
deterioration that occurs in solid propellant rockets is absent
here.
3. Hybrid rockets are lighter compared to the corresponding
liquid propellant type on account of less elaborate propellant
pumping equipment and higher fuel density.
4. There is greater choice in the selection of fuel grain
configuration compared to the solid propellant rockets.
5. In case of an accident or crash the explosion (if any) is less
destructive compared to the liquid propellant rocket engines.

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Nuclear Propellant Rockets

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Electrical Rockets

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 Liquid Propellant Rocket Engine
The main components of a liquid propellant rocket engine are the
fuel and oxidizer tanks, gas pressure or turbopump feed system, the
injectors, combustion chamber or the combustor (also known as
thrust chamber) and the exhaust nozzle

In the most widely used bipropellant system two propellants (fuel

and oxidizer) are injected into the combustion chamber for the
release of the thermochemical energy; this develops high
temperature and pressure in the combustion chamber required for
expansion of gases to high velocity through the exhaust nozzle

Many combinations of the fuel and oxidizer require ignition while

others (called hypergolic) do not

Some chemicals decompose with the generation of heat; such

substances can be used as monopropellants in rocket propulsion.
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However, the choice of choosing a bipropellant combination is
very wide compared to the monopropellants

Both "storable" and cryogenic propellants are used in liquid

rocket engines

Storable propellants (fuels and oxidizers), can be stored in the

liquid state at normal ambient temperatures whereas cryogenic
Propellants (at very low temperature) require special
arrangements for storage and handling.

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Cryogenic propellants are in the gaseous state at normal
temperatures and require extremely low temperature to maintain
them in the liquid state

They release much higher heat energy in the thrust chamber and
offer better performance compared to the storable type

Some commonly used cryogenic propellants are liquid oxygen,

hydrogen, fluorine and ammonia.

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Properties of Liquid Propellants
Energy released during combustion per unit mass of the propellant
combination should be high

High density propellants are preferred; they require smaller tanks

and structures offering lower values of the mass ratio and
aerodynamic drag

The propellants should have lower freezing point; this makes the
handling of propellants, particularly cryogenic propellants easier in
various rocket component

They must be non-corrosive so that their handling is easier and

less demanding on materials used in various parts of the rocket.

They should be chemically stable.

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Propellants should have low values of vapour pressure and
viscosity

Propellants must have higher specific heat and thermal

conductivity for better performance

They should not be poisonous and hazardous

Propellants chosen should be cheap and abundantly available

Products of combustion must have lower values of the molecular

weight and gas constant.

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 Propellant Feed System Read text book for explanations
Gas Pressure Feed System

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Turbopump Feed System Read text book for explanations

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Advantages
Liquid propellant engines can be reused after recovery.

They offer more flexible and greater control over the thrust

The propellants are not stored in the thrust chamber. Therefore,

aerodynamically and structurally better and safer thrust chambers,
can be designed

Higher values of specific impulse are obtained

Wreckage on account of some defect or malfunctioning is not sad-

den allowing time for corrective and rescue measures

It is much easier to stop the operation and Liquid propellant

rockets are more economical for long range space and military
operations
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Disadvantages

Liquid propellant rockets are more complicated compared to solid

propellant rocket and there is greater probability of problems arise
on account of malfunctioning of the turbo-pump system, valves,
leakage, vibrations etc

Many liquid propellants are cryogenic which require special

arrangements for heat insulation, solar radiation shields and
handling at low temperatures

There are additional handling and safety problems if the

propellants are poisonous and corrosive

They require propellant feed pumping system or tank

pressurization increasing the total weight of the rocket
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On account of lower density of the liquid propellants compared to
solid propellants, large storage space is required increasing the size
and weight of the structures

It takes much longer to design, manufacture and test liquid

propellant rockets. They cannot be mass produced in a short time
for military applications.

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SOLID PROPELLANT ROCKET MOTORS
Till recently solid propellant rockets were generally looked upon as
small engines or motors meant for short duration and small
operations

However, recent developments in solid propellants and design of

rockets have made it possible to develop large and long range solid
propellant rocket motors both for military and space applications

A cluster of several solid propellant rocket motors has been

employed in the first or booster stage of a number of large Multi-
stage rockets for space flights.

 Comparatively smaller rocket: motors have been used for JATO

aircrafts and missiles; they have also been employed in the upper
stages for propulsion of space vehicle.
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Solid Propellants

Two types of solid propellants (fuels and oxidizers) which are

widely used are:

(a) heterogeneous or composite propellants and

(b) Homogeneous mixtures of organic substances.

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Properties of Solid Propellants

It should be possible to produce propellants from abundantly avail-

able raw materials which are cheap and safe to handle

It should be easily possible and safe to grind, mix, heat, trim, pack
and store the propellants

Physical and chemical properties should not change considerably

during processing

Chemical reaction between the fuel and oxidizer must release large
amount of heat energy giving higher values of combustion
temperature and specific impulse

The useful properties of the propellants should not deteriorate

with time
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They should be chemically inert before ignition and not ignite with
slight impact, shock or pressure

The propellant grain must have high mechanical strength

The products of combustion or exhaust gases should be smokeless

and colourless

The fuel-oxidizer mixture should not experience any chemical

reaction (slow or brisk) with the atmospheric air and moisture

There should be no possibility of any slow undetected chemical

reaction between the various constituents of the propellant and with
the metallic liner or the case before ignition

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Advantages
Solid propellant rockets are simple in design and construction

They do not require feed system

They are comparatively lighter for short range and small size.

On account of high density much larger quantity of propellants can

be packed into a small space

Solid propellant rockets have much fewer and less frequent

servicing problems

Problems arising from the sudden emptying of propellant tanks are

absent
Vibration problems originating from turbo-pump and liquid flow
system are absent
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Disadvantages

In case of emergency it is difficult or almost impossible to turn off

the operation midway

Minor malfunctioning or accident generally leads to wreckage or

abandoning the mission

It is comparatively more difficult to control combustion and

regulate thrust

Solid propellant rockets have comparatively lower values of the

specific impulse

At the end of an operation the burnt up debries cannot be reused;

this renders large operations uneconomical
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Nozzle cooling is not possible

Long range large size solid propellant rockets are comparatively

heavier

Transportation and handling of these rockets before firing require

greater care because of the presence of propellants throughout

Refuelling in long duration mission is not possible

On account of the presence of solid particles in the high

temperature and high speed gases exhaust nozzle suffers erosion.

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 Self study topics

Read about liquid and solid propellants

3 liquid fuels and its oxidisers (Explanation needed)

3 solid fuels and its oxidisers

Applications of rockets

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