Liquid Propellant

Rockets An Overview
by Nicholas Ha

Outline
1. Intro
2. History
3. Operation
4. Parts
a.
b.

fuel types
different parts

5. Applications
6. Conclusion
7. d'Alembert
8. von Karman

History of Rockets
Hero of Alexandria
Chinese scientists
Tsiolkovsky's

theories
20th century led by
Germany, Russia,
and US

Pros and Cons of Liquid Fuel

Pros

Cons

more efficient
throttle control
better performance
reusable

complex design
fuel problemso
o
o
o

cryogenic
undense
hazardous
evaporation

What is a Liquid Fueled Rocket?

injector

fuel

oxidizer

chamber
turbopumps

Rocket Basics

Reaction
inside
combustion
chamber
produces
thrust out
nozzle

http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/rocket1.gif
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ig12OU89Hc/T90yd4RE-EI/AAAAAAAABgk/r42zrxeXLn0/s1600/inside+a+rocket+engine.jpg

Equations

Tsiolkovskyo V=Ve*ln(Mo/M)
exhaust velocityo sqrt(2CpT)
specific impulseo Force/mass
o force/weight

Optimizing a Rocket
efficiency, performance,
speed, simplicity,
vs
weight, complexity,
safety, cost.

Liquid Fueled Rocket: Parts

Body, fuel tank, pipes, pressure tanks,
turbopumps, injectors, combustion chamber,
igniter, cooling jacket, nozzle...

Problems to Consider

Design
o
o
o

weight
leaking
balance

Operational
o
o
o

toxicity
evaporation
pogo/cavitation

Propellant- fuel/combustibles

the one that burns

o
o
o

LH2
Kerosine/RP-1
Hydrazine, N2H4

different fuels- different

characteristics.
o physical
o chemical

Propellant- oxidizers

the one that allows for burning

doesn't have to be pure oxygen
o
o
o
o
o

LOX
nitric acid NO3
nitrogen tetroxide-N2O4
hydrogen peroxide- H2O2
F2 and OF2

Fuel properties

Oxidant

Fuel

Density

Combustio Exhaust
n Temp (K) Velocity
(K)

LOX

LH2

.32

3,251

4,550

LOX

RP-1

1.03

3,701

3,580

F2

H2

.52

4,258

4,790

N2O4

Hydrazine

1.2

3,398

3,420

Other Fuels

monopropellants- single tank, self

decomposition with catalyst.
o

hydrazine, hydrogen peroxide, nitrous oxide

tri-propellants- mix of H2, petroleum, and

LOX.
o

H2 fixes exhaust, and petroleum fixes some of the

weight issue.

Fuel tanks

must be strong yet lightweight

o

oxygen poses problems

special designs- e.g cryogenic,

pressurized,
also may have a tank of non
reactive gas for pressure.

Turbopumps

pressurizes
propellant
pretty complicated
uses some fuel

Injectors

 Combustion Chamber
surrounded by coolant jacket

Ignition

pyrotechnic
igniter
spark plug

Cooling Systems

can get > 3,000K

outer coolant jacket
regenerative
coolingo

fuel is pumped
through and used
again

tubes make it more

uniform

Conclusion

Rockets took us pretty far

Improvements to be made
Future is promising

Jean Le Rond d' Alembert

(1717-1783)
mathematician,
scientist,
philosopher,
writer

Early Life

1717
illegitimate child,
adopted
heir of a lot of
money
tried a lot of stuff,
liked medicine, then
math

Some achievements

math contributions at 22
d'Alembert's principle
partial differential
equations
integral calculus
d' Alembert's paradox

Encyclopedie
numerous high positions
music theory

Engineer,
mathematician,
physicist.

Theodore von Karman

( 1881-1963)

Bio

Born in Hungary in 1881

Great education
Student of Prandtl
emigrated to US in 1930
Created scientific organizations
Directed GALCIT, helped Caltech
Helped during War
Jet Propulsion Labs

Contributions/Legacy

aerodynamics
o

supersonic

astronautics
boundary layers, viscosity
Swept wing aircraft
helped Caltech Labs

1st National Medal of

Thanks for
watching!

References
"Jean Le Rond D'Alembert (French Mathematician and Philosopher)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 02 Aug. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/13787/Jean-Le-Rond-dAlembert>.
"Theodore Von Krmn." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 08 Jan. 2012. Web. 02 Aug. 2012.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_von_Karman

Turner, Martin J. Chichester: Springer Praxis, 2005. Print.

Melek, Pashayev N. I., and W. E. Jones. Liquid Propellant Engines. [S.l.]: Pergamon, 1962. Print.
Krzycki, Leroy J. HOW to DESIGN, BUILD and TEST SMALL LIQUID-FUEL ROCKET ENGINES.
Print.

China Lake, CA: Rocketlab, 1967.

"Hard Start." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Apr. 2012. Web. 26 July 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_start>.
"Liquid-propellant Rocket." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 July 2012. Web. 24 July 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquidpropellant_rocket>.
Braeunig, Robert A. Basics of Space Flight: Rocket Propellants. Rockets and Space Technology. 2008. 25 July 2012.
Tega Jessa "Liquid Fuel Rocket " Universe Today N p 21 July 2009 Web 24 July 2012 <http://www universetoday com/34656/liquid-fuel-

References Cont.
Bellis, Mary. "How a Liquid Propellant Rocket Works." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2012.
<http://inventors.about.com/od/rstartinventions/a/SolidPropellant_2.htm>.
Brain, Marshall. "How Rocket Engines Work." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2012.
<http://science.howstuffworks.com/rocket5.htm>.
Barry, Patrick L. "Building a Better Rocket Engine." NASA Science. N.p., 20 Sept. 2009. Web. 24 July 2012. <http://science.nasa.gov/sciencenews/science-at-nasa/2005/14oct_betterrocket/>.
"Monopropellant." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 July 2012. Web. 26 July 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopropellant>.
"Nitrogen Tetroxide." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 07 June 2012. Web. 26 July 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_tetroxide>.
"Hard Start." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Apr. 2012. Web. 27 July 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_start>.
"Astronuc" "LOX/LH2." Web log post. Everything Science. N.p., 22 Apr. 2005. Web. 26 July 2012. <http://www.everythingscience.com/sci/Forum/Itemid,82/topic,6042.0>.
Images
(1)Turner, Martin J. Chichester: Springer Praxis, 2005. Print.
(2)Melek, Pashayev N. I., and W. E. Jones. Liquid Propellant Engines. [S.l.]: Pergamon, 1962. Print.
(3)"Ch1." Ch1. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 July 2012. <http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4221/ch1.htm>.

Images
(1)Turner, Martin J. Chichester: Springer Praxis, 2005. Print.
(2)Melek, Pashayev N. I., and W. E. Jones. Liquid Propellant Engines. [S.l.]: Pergamon, 1962. Print.
(3)"Ch1." Ch1. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 July 2012. <http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4221/ch1.htm>.
(4)"Liquid Propellant Rocket Cross View Diagram." Nomenclature, Teardown, Exploded Diagram. N.p., n.d.
Web. 30 July 2012. <http://www.nomenclaturo.com/liquid-propellant-rocket-cross-view-diagram.html>
goddard http://www.sciencephoto.com/image/334337/530wm/S0600041Dr_Robert_H_Goddard_s_rocket_flight_of_26_8_37-SPL.jpg
tsiol
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/files/2008/08/eq1.jp
chinese http://www.wpclipart.com/space/rocketry/Chinese_fire_arrow_2.png.html
saturn v
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Apollo_15_launch.jpg
http://www.suntrek.org/images/multi-stage-rockets.jpg
mono http://images.books24x7.com/bookimages/id_10779/fig4-17.jpg
dlambert
http://www.lib-art.com/imgpainting/7/6/31167-jean-le-rond-d-alambert-la-tour-maurice-quentin-de.jpg

Images cont.
ssme
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Shuttle_Main_Engine_Test_Firing.jpg/250pxShuttle_Main_Engine_Test_Firing.jpg
saturn v stage http://www.airfix.com/_assets/images/Saturn-V-stages_1.jpg
von karman http://s3.amazonaws.com/findagrave/photos/2002/346/7936_1039796619.jpg
swept wing http://tanks45.tripod.com/Jets45/Histories/Hawker-P_1040/P.1052_2.jpg
muitistage
http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/var/sciencelearn/storage/images/contexts/rockets/sci-media/images/saturn-vstage-separation/563018-1-eng-NZ/Saturn-V-stage-separation_full_size_landscape.jpg
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/saturn5_apollo11.gif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atlantis_taking_off_on_STS-27.jpg
coolant
http://home.manhattan.edu/~mohammad.naraghi//rte/fig1.jpg
pump
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/A317.jpg
pump2 http://airandspace.si.edu/images/collections/media/ful/A19790951000d3.jpg