ME 239: Rocket Propulsion

Introductory Remarks
J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.

University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Propulsion
Propulsion: The act of changing a body’s motion from mechanisms providing force to that body
Jet Propulsion: Reaction force imparted to device by momentum of ejected matter

Air-Breathing (Ducted) Propulsion: Devices that use surrounding medium as the “working fluid” along
with some amount of stored fuel
Rocket Propulsion: Produces thrust by ejecting stored matter
University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks
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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Propulsion Systems
Jet Propulsion

Air-Breathing Propulsion Rocket Propulsion

Turbomachinery Pure-duct Liquid Solid

Based Based • Saturn V • Shuttle Side
• Turbojet • RAMJET • NASA SLS Boosters
• Turbofan • SCRAMJET
• Turboprop

Combinations of both ducted and rocket systems may be attractive for some applications
University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks
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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Propulsion

Energy sources in propulsion systems can vary:

• Chemical Energy
• Solar Radiation Energy
• Nuclear Energy
• Electrical Energy

Regardless of energy source, all basically rely on adding energy to a mass of propellant
thereby accelerating it to generate thrust (force)

Propellant: Ejected stored matter that causes thrust

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Air Breathing Propulsion

Air breathing propulsion systems use oxygen in atmospheric air to burn

fuel stored on the vehicle

• Turbojet
• Turbofan (High BR, Low BR, Afterburning)
• Turboprop
• RAMJETS
• SCRAMJETS

University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Air Breathing Propulsion: Gas Turbine Systems
Gas Generator

The basis of turbojet, turbofan, and turboprop propulsion is the gas generator

• Supplies high-temperature, high-pressure gas

• Stand alone, most of the energy of this device is used
to drive turbines
• Turbine rotational energy is converted into electricity

University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Air Breathing Propulsion: Gas Turbine Systems
Turbojet

By adding an inlet and a nozzle a turbojet can be constructed

• Gas generator still supplies high-temperature,

high-pressure gas
• Some of the energy of this device is used to
drive turbines and auxiliary systems
• Most of the energy in the high-temperature,
high-pressure gas is allowed to flow to the
nozzle
• Nozzle accelerates flow to high velocity to
impart thrust

Propulsive Efficiency
A measure of how effectively engine power is used to propel aircraft

= =
1
+ −
2
University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks
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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Air Breathing Propulsion: Gas Turbine Systems
Turbojet

University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Air Breathing Propulsion: Gas Turbine Systems
Turbofan
The propulsive efficiency of a turbojet can be improved by extracting a portion of the
energy from the engine’s gas generator to drive a ducted propeller called a fan

Wasted KE in exit propellant gases varies as a first

power with and as a square of velocity

= =
1
+ −
2

With a turbo fan the net effect of increasing the mass flow rate and decreasing the exit
velocity is to reduce wasted KE and improve

University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Air Breathing Propulsion: Gas Turbine Systems
Turbofan

Turbofans can be High Bypass Ratio which

are normally used for commercial
transport…

University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Air Breathing Propulsion: Gas Turbine Systems
Turbofan

… or they can be of Low Bypass Ratio

which are normally used for higher-speed
military aircraft.

When even more aircraft velocity is

needed an afterburner can be outfitted at
a cost of significantly lowering engine
efficiencies

University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Air Breathing Propulsion: Gas Turbine Systems
Turboprop

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Air Breathing Propulsion: Ducted Systems

M>1

M<1 RAMJET
Mach Number
Increasing

M>1
Design Point

M<1

SCRAMJET
M>>1

M>1

University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Air Breathing Propulsion: Ducted Systems
RAMJET

RAMJET propulsion is not a new Rocket Boosted

concept Mach 2.51 Ramjet
Interceptor Missile
Circa 1956

University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Air Breathing Propulsion: Ducted Systems
RAMJET

•SR-71 Blackbird used a combined

Turbojet-Ramjet propulsion system
•Top speed around Mach 3.2

University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Air Breathing Propulsion: Ducted Systems
SCRAMJET

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion

Many ways to classify rocket propulsion

Energy Source Function Type of Vehicle

• Chemical • Booster Stage • Aircraft
• Nuclear • Sustainer/Upper Stage • Missile
• Solar • Attitude Control • Assisted Take-off
• Orbit Station Keeping • Space Vehicle

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion
• Another Classification is method of producing thrust and focus of this course

• A majority of systems utilize the thermodynamic expansion of a gas

• Here, the internal energy of gas is converted into kinetic energy

• This thermodynamic approach uses the same generic equipment:

High energy Flow expansion

gases and acceleration

Thrust Throat Throat Nozzle

Chamber Section Thrust Section
-or- Chamber
Nozzle
Combustion
Chamber

Other methods for producing thrust exist but will receive minor coverage in this class

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion: Chemical Rocket Propulsion

Throat
O2 Section

Combustion/Thrust
Nozzle
Chamber

H2 Almost all
chemistry happens
here!

An understanding of how to make use of chemical energy from various fuel/oxidizer sources is
important.

It is also useful to grasp the concept of equilibrium chemistry and frozen flow analysis which will be
covered as well.

We normally assume frozen flow conditions

• Whatever chemical equilibrium chemistry occurs in the thrust chamber maintains through the
nozzle expansion process
• No chemical reactions through nozzle
• This is a valid assumption as characteristic flow time much shorter than the chemical reaction time
University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks
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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion: Chemical Rocket Propulsion
Energy form high pressure Throat section is generally
combustion hottest part of motor
Reacting gases reach high
temperatures
2500°C → 4100°C Gases expanded and
[4500°F → 7400°F] accelerated to high velocities
Exit velocity,
1800 → 4300 m/s
[5900 ft/s → 14,100 ft/s]
Melting point of steel: ~1500°C

LOx-LCH4 Hot Test

NASA Glenn Research Center

• Obviously, it is necessary to appropriately insulate/cool surfaces exposed to high-

temperature gases
• Exotic materials (ceramics) and cooling methods (fuel nozzle cooling) often necessary
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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion: Chemical Rocket Propulsion
Classes of Chemical Rocket Propulsion Devices
Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines: liquid propellants fed under pressure from stored tanks
into thrust chamber

Bipropellant System: consists of a liquid oxidizer (i.e.

LOx) and a liquid fuel (liq. hydrogen, kerosene, etc.)

Monopropellant system: uses a liquid that contains

both oxidizing and fuel species

Orbital Sciences Anteres launch

using two Aerojet AJ26-62 liquid fuel
motors

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion: Chemical Rocket Propulsion
Liquid Fuel Rocket Propulsion Devices

The system here depicts a gas pressure fed

liquid bi-propellant system

These are adequate and quite common on

low-thrust systems:
• Attitude control thrusters
• Micro-thrusters

University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion: Chemical Rocket Propulsion
Liquid Fuel Rocket Propulsion Devices

• Launch systems, however, consume massive

amounts of fuel/oxidizer
• High mass flow delivery to thrust chamber
required
• Turbo-pumps are normally required for
these high-thrust systems

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion: Chemical Rocket Propulsion
Liquid Fuel Rocket Propulsion Devices
Saturn V used five F1 bi-propellant liquid rocket
motors for boost

F-1 engine - the most powerful single-nozzle, liquid-

fueled rocket engine ever developed

Each F-1 engine consumed 3945 lb/sec of O2 oxidizer

and 1738 lb/sec of kerosene fuel

Doing the math, the five total thrusters consumed

about 13 metric tons of propellant per second
during boost.

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion: Chemical Rocket Propulsion
Solid Fuel Rocket Propulsion Devices

Propellant to be burned is in combustion chamber (also

known as the case)

Grain: solid propellant charge containing all chemical

elements for complete burning

Burning occurs on exposed internal surfaces of the grain

within the perforation. ESA Ariane 5 launch using two solid
fuel motors and one liquid fuel
Solid propellant systems are generally more simple than liquid motor for boost
systems as there are no fuel feed systems of valves

University of Vermont ME 239: Rocket Propulsion -Introductory Remarks

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion: Chemical Rocket Propulsion
Solid Fuel Rocket Propulsion Devices

Combustion Throat Nozzle

Chamber Combustion Section Section
Chamber

Throat
Section
Nozzle
Section

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion: Chemical Rocket Propulsion
Solid Fuel Rocket Propulsion Devices

But, as grain is consumed over time of burn the exposed surface area changes

Different grain geometries can be designed to meet mission objectives

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion: Chemical Rocket Propulsion
Solid Fuel Rocket Propulsion Devices

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Rocket Propulsion: Non-chemical Rockets
For this course we will mainly focus on rocket propulsion with chemical reactions as energy
sources (some various energy source concepts will be presented near semester’s end)

Combustion/Thrust
Chamber

Nozzle

Throat
Section

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.
Course Outline
• Propulsion systems overview (Ch. 1 + supplemental notes)

• Definitions and fundamentals: thrust, efficiency, exhaust velocity, performance measures (Ch. 2 + supplemental
notes)

• Nozzle theory and thermodynamic relations: isentropic flow, ideal and real nozzles, performance parameters,
variable thrust (Ch. 3 & 20 + supplemental notes)

• Flight performance: ideal space flight, forces and motion relations, flight and maneuvers for different vehicles,
stability (Ch. 4 + supplemental notes)

• Chemical rocket performance: background and fundamentals, combustion, expansion process, thermochemical
calculations (Ch. 5 + supplemental notes)

• Liquid propellant rocket fundamentals: propellants and feed systems, flow and pressure balance, engine cycles, (Ch.
6 + supplemental notes)

• Engine Systems, controls, and integration (Ch. 11)

• Solid propellant rocket fundamentals: propellant burning rate, performance relations, applications, (Ch. 12 & 13 +
supplemental notes)

• Electric propulsion: ideal flight performance, electro-thermal thrusters, micro-thrusters, non-thermal electric
thrusters, applications (Ch. 17 + supplemental notes)

• Ducted propulsion: scramjet fundamentals and performance (supplemental notes)

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Mechanical Engineering J. M. Meyers, Ph.D.