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Assignment (COSFAP)
Assignment (COSFAP)
𝑭 𝑰𝒕 𝑽𝒆𝒇𝒇
𝑰𝒔𝒑 = = =
𝒎̇𝒈 𝒎𝒑 𝒈 𝒈
Where, 𝒎̇ = mass flow rate of propellant
𝒎𝒑 = mass of the propellant
𝑰𝒕 = total Impulse
𝑽𝒆𝒇𝒇 = effective exhaust velocity
A higher 𝐼𝑠𝑝 means the less propellant mass needed to produce the same
thrust or the higher the exhaust velocity. It can be used to compare rockets of
different sizes and to describe how well a rocket or jet engine performs.
2. Thrust (F) – Thrust is the force that pushes a rocket forward. It is calculated
by multiplying the mass flow rate of the propellant by its exhaust velocity. A
general thrust equation for an airbreathing engine is given by:
𝑭 = 𝒎̇𝒆 𝒖𝒆 − 𝒎̇𝒊 𝒖𝒊 + (𝑷𝒆 − 𝑷𝒊 ) 𝑨𝒆
Where, 𝒎̇𝒆 = exit mass flow rate
𝒎̇𝒊 = inlet mass flow rate
𝒖𝒆 = exit velocity
𝒖𝒊 = inlet velocity
𝑷𝒆 = exit pressure/atmospheric pressure
𝑷𝒊 = inlet pressure
For rocket, 𝑷𝒊 = 𝟎 (𝑣𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒), 𝒎̇𝒊 𝒖𝒊 = 𝟎 (𝑛𝑜 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡)
Equation becomes,
𝑭 = 𝒎̇𝒆 𝒖𝒆 + 𝑷𝒆 𝑨𝒆
For a constant thrust and negligible start and stop transients, then
𝑰𝒕 = 𝑭𝒕
Where, b = burning time
Total impulse is used to calculate how high a rocket can be propelled. It is
also used to compare launch vehicles and individual stages.
4. Effective exhaust velocity (𝑽𝒆𝒇𝒇 ) – It's defined as the ratio of the thrust
generated to the mass rate of consumption of fuel or propellant carried
within the rocket.
𝑭
𝑽𝒆𝒇𝒇 =
𝒎̇
9. Mass ration (MR) – Mass ratio is defined as the final mass (𝒎𝒇 ) after
rocket operation (or after propellants were consumed) divided by the initial
mass (𝒎𝟎 ) before rocket operation:
𝒎𝒇
𝑴𝑹 =
𝒎𝟎
10. Propellant mass fraction (𝝃) – It is the ratio of propellant mass (𝒎𝒑 )) to
the initial mass (𝒎𝟎 ):
𝒎𝒑
𝝃=
𝒎𝟎
Q2. Brief description on solid propellants.
Solid propellants rockets are the oldest type of rocket. They are relatively
simple in construction. The term motor is used for solid rocket, while the term
engine is used for liquid rocket. Solid rocket engines are used on air-to-air and
air-to-ground missiles and on model rockets and as boosters for satellite
launchers. A simple solid rocket motor consists of a casing, propellant charge
(identified as grain), igniter, and nozzle. This grain contains both of the solid
fuel and solid oxidizer components combined within a cylindrical combustion
chamber or case. The propellant is casted into the rocket shell having a central
cavity of different shapes including star shaped that serves as combustion
chamber. Thrust-burning time profile depends on this cavity. A liner provided
between the case and the propellant protects the case from high temperatures
developing inside the propellant layers. An electrical signal is sent to the igniter
which creates hot gases that ignite the main propellant grain. Once the flame
front is established, combustion is self-sustaining. The rate of burning is
proportional to the exposed surface area. As the propellant burns, a “flame
front” is produced which moves into the propellant until all the propellant is
burned. The hot exhaust gases produced in combustion are used to propel the
rocket.
Solid propellant must have the following features:
1. High chemical energy to generate maximum thrust and specific impulse.
2. High density to enable packing a large quantity of propellant in a small
volume.
3. Low molecular weight thus the exhaust gases achieve high acceleration.
4. Easy to ignite.
5. Burns steadily at predictive rate.
6. Easy to fabricate.
7. Smoke-free and nontoxic.
There are basically three types of propellant grains, namely:
1. Homogeneous or colloidal propellants - Fuel and oxidizer are contained in
the same molecule which decomposes during combustion. Typical examples are
nitro-glycerine (NG) and nitrocellulose (NC). Most propellants are double based
(few single-based and triple-based propellants are found). Double-based
propellants are combinations of nitro-glycerine (NG) and nitrocellulose (NC),
with small quantity of additives. It has nontoxic and smokeless exhausts.
2. Composite or heterogeneous propellants - These are mixtures of oxidizing
crystals and a powered fuel (usually aluminium) held together in a binder
(synthetic rubber or plastic). Sometimes light metal powders are added to
increase the energy of the combustion process and fuel density. They are more
stable than homogenous and preferred in long-term stored rockets. However,
addition of light metals makes their exhaust toxic and smoky.
3. Composite modified double-based propellants - They are a heterogeneous
combination of the double-based homogenous (colloidal) propellants and
composite propellants.
Advantages:
Compact and smaller in size compared with liquid rocket.
Do not require propellant feeding system or turbopumps as liquid off rocket.
High thrust-to-weight ratio.
Require little maintenance.
Safe and reliable and thus can sit for years before firing.
Disadvantages:
Once ignited cannot be shut.
Used only once