Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

Chapter 4. Rocket Thermochemistry

 Outline
Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

• Purpose
• Basics of Thermochemistry
– Absolute and relative enthalpies
– Heats of formation and reaction
– Heats of fusion and vaporization
• Determining products of combustion
– Equilibrium constant method
– Minimization of Gibbs free energy method
• Determining flame temperature
– The available heat method; Example
– Multi-phase flows
– Monopropellant decomposition
• Chemical kinetics
• Propellant characteristics and implications
• Key thermochemical parameters
• Modeling thermochemical processes in nozzles

2
 Standard Heats of Formation
Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

3
 Equilibrium constants - Example
Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

4
 Enthalpy table
Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

5
 Chemical Kinetics
Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

6
 Example: Delta II first stage
Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

Frozen
composition
Pinf = 655 psi

7
 Liquid propellants, examples
Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

8
 Thermochemical Processes in Nozzles, 1
Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

From Sutton, Table 5-3

9
 Thermochemical Processes in Nozzles, 2
Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

From Sutton, Table 5-3

10
 Thermochemical Processes in Nozzles, 3
Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

From Sutton, Table 5-3

11
 Thermochemical Processes in Nozzles, 4
Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

From Sutton, Table 5-3

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