Rocket Propulsion

Thrust Equation
Energy Equation
Isentropic Flow
Exit Velocity
Specific Impulse
MAE 2
2
MAE 2
Thrust Equation
Fuel and an oxidier are !urned inside the com!ustion cham!er to yield a high"
temperature# high"pressure mixture of gases that expand through a con$ergent"
di$ergent nole%
T =thrust
dm/ dt =mass flow rate (fuel + oxidizer)
V
e
=exhaust exit velocity
Thrust Equation& T =V
e
dm
dt
p
0
, T
0
V
0
0
M
t
=1
M
e
1
com!ustion
cham!er
throat
exit
'
MAE 2
Energy Equation
The first law of thermodynamics (eeps trac( of energy in the flow%
Energy is changed when heat is added or ta(en away%
Energy is changed if wor( is done on )or !y* the system%
The energy equation relates temperature and $elocity at two points along a
streamline%
c
p
T
1

1
2
V
1
2
=c
p
T
2

1
2
V
2
2
c
p
=specific heat at constant pressure
c
p
=1008
J
kg K
=6006
ft lb
slug R
o

for air
c
p
=
R
1
and
+
MAE 2
Isentropic Flow
Expansion of fluid in the roc(et nole is assumed to !e isentropic%
Isentropic flow is !oth adia!atic and re$ersi!le%
An adia!atic process has no heat added or ta(en away%
A re$ersi!le process has no friction or dissipati$e effects%
In an isentropic flow# the properties at two points along a streamline are related !y
the following equations&
p
2
p
1
=

p
2
p
1
=

T
2
T
1

/1
=ratio of specific heats
,
MAE 2
Exit Temperature and Velocity
From the energy equation )com!ustion*&
c
p
T
1

1
2
V
1
2
=c
p
T
2

1
2
V
2
2
c
p
T
0
=c
p
T
e

1
2
V
e
2
c
p
=specific heat at constant pressure
=ratio of specific heats (propellants)
T
0
, p
0
=combustion chamber temperature pressure
T
e
, p
e
=exit temperature pressure
V
e
=exit velocity
p
2
p
1
=

T
2
T
1

/1
From the isentropic flow equations )nole*&
T
e
T
0
=

p
e
p
0

1/
-om!ine to yield&
V
e
2
=
2 RT
0
1
[
1

p
e
p
0

1/
]
c
p
=
R
1
.
MAE 2
Specific Impulse
/oc(et engine performance is usually defined !y its specific impulse%
Assume that the exit pressure is the same as the am!ient pressure%
V
e
2
=
2 RT
0
1
[
1

p
e
p
0

1/
]
I
sp
=
1
g
0
2 RT
0
1
[
1

p
e
p
0

1/
]
I
sp

V
e
g
0
g
0
=!ravity at sea"level
note& g
0
acts as a normaliing factor
so that I
sp
has units of time )sec*
1
MAE 2
Rocket Fuel om!inations
Fuel"2xidier Flame Exit Specific /atio of 3as
Temperature Velocity Impulse Specific -onstant
)4* )m5s* )s* 6eats )75(g54*
4erosene"2xygen '8++"',,, 2199 2+0"29, 8%2+ '90
6ydrogen"2xygen 2.9:"',81 '1.0 '.0"'9+ 8%2. :'+
6ydrogen"Fluorine '9.:"+1,. '11+ '9,"':0 8%'' 100
6ydraine )Mono* 81,0 " 2'0 8%21 .+0

I
sp R
V
e
T
0
9
MAE 2
Resources
;ig ;ang Theory
http&55www%youtu!e%com5watch<$=2>rldp2?6@
SpaceA Engine Failure
http&55www%youtu!e%com5watch<$=d$TIh:.otBw