Preliminary design and testing of a 7 kN LOX/methane thruster
- Paper number
IAC-06-E2.1.08
- Author
Mr. Maurits Mostert, Technical University of Delft (TUDelft), The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Mr. Steven Engelen, Technical University of Delft (TUDelft), The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Mr. Barry Zandbergen, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
- Year
2006
- Abstract
A preliminary design study has been undertaken of a 7 kN liquid oxygen (LOX)/methane thruster. This thruster (tagged DEIMOS II, which stands for Delft Experimental Methane Oxygen propulsion System) is intended to be used as part of the propulsion system for an amateur rocket under development by the Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering society (DARE). This rocket should break the amateur world altitude record (116 km). The requirements, design considerations, calculations and results of the preliminary design study and tests are described in this paper. Key design issues relate to the injection/manifold system and the cooling system. Test results of an already built GOX/methane technology demonstration engine (DEIMOS I), which will undergo its 3rd period of testing in May 2006 will be also be taken into account. Specific attention will be paid to the quality of the injection system, cooling system and nozzle of the engine. In addition a manifold/injector assembly will be built and tested. Several showerhead and impinging injector elements are put to the test, resulting in a final selection for the DEIMOS II thruster.
- Abstract document