• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.78-84
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• 2007

In the regeneratively cooled combustion chambers of liquid rocket engine using hydrocarbon fuels, coking occurs as the wall temperature increases which results in compounds deposition on the wall of cooling channels. This phenomenon reduces cooling capability of the coolant which finally causes damage to the combustor by overheating of the chamber wall. In this paper, experiment results using an electrical heating equipment to simulate the regeneratively cooled channel are introduced and based on the results the compatibility of copper alloy with hydrocarbon fuel Jet A-1 is investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.113-126
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• 2021

In order to develop active cooling systems for a hypersonic cruise vehicle, a series of studies need to be preceded on regenerative cooling technologies by using endothermic reaction of liquid hydrocarbon aviation fuels. Among them, it is essential to scrutinize fluid flow/heat transfer/endothermic pyrolysis characteristics of supercritical hydrocarbons in a micro-channel, as well as to acquire thermophysical properties of hydrocarbon fuels in a wide range of temperature and pressure conditions. This study, therefore, reviewed those technologies and analyzed major findings in related research areas which have been carried out worldwide for the development of efficient operational regenerative cooling systems of a hypersonic flight vehicle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.24-34
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• 2022

In order to predict the cooling performance of a regenerative cooling channel using hydrocarbon fuel operating in the supercritical region, it is essential to predict the thermodynamic properties. In this study, a comparative analysis was performed on two-parameter equations of state (SRK(Soave-Redlich-Kwong), PR(Peng-Robinson) equations of state) and three-parameter equations of state (RK-PR equations of state) to appropriately predict density and specific heat according to the critical compressibility factor of polymer hydrocarbons. Representatively, n-dodecane fuel with low critical compressibility factor and JP-10 fuel with high critical compressibility factor were selected, and an appropriate equation of state was presented when predicting the thermodynamic properties of the two fuels. Finally, the prediction results of density and specific heat were compared and verified with NIST REFPROP data.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.303-306
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• 2008

After the successful flight test of X-43A, U.S. Airforce is developing missile-type X-51A SED (Scramjet Engine Demonstrator-Wave Rider). X-51A using PWR (Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne) X-1 hydrocarbon fueled scramjet engine will have a ground test in 2008 and flight test in 2009. Technologies established though the X-51A program will be transferred to DARPA's Falcon program developing HTV (Hypersonic Test Vehicle)-3X and HCV (Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle). Present paper is an overview of propulsion core technologies of X-51 such as regenerative cooling of engine structures and combustion using liquid/supercritical JP-7 fuel.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.98-109
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• 2021

Fundamental parameters describing overall operational characteristics of active cooling systems of a hypersonic flight vehicle are mainly classified into endothermic hydrocarbon fuels, regenerative cooling channels, and materials and system structures. Of primary importance is the improvement of endothermic performance of hydrocarbon aviation fuels in a series of studies developing efficient regenerative cooling systems. In a previous study, therefore, an extensive technical analysis has been carried out on thermal decomposition characteristics of liquid hydrocarbon fuels. As a subsequent study, catalytic cracking and steam reforming technologies have been reviewed to find a way for the improvement of endothermic reaction performance of hydrocarbon aviation fuels.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.100-109
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• 2006

In the regeneratively cooled combustion chambers using hydrocarbon fuels, coking occurs as the wall temperature increases which generates compounds deposition on the wall. This phenomenon reduces cooling capability of the coolant, finally it can cause damage to combustor by overheating of chamber wall. In this paper electrical heating equipment which is used for the coking experiments and the test results are introduced. The compatibilities of copper alloy with let A-1 were assessed at each condition based on the test results.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2010

As hypersonic flight speeds and engines efficiencies increase, heat loads on an aircraft and it's engine increase. Because the temperature of the air flow is too high to cool the aircraft structure at hypersonic flight speeds, it is essential to use the aircraft fuel as the primary coolant. Endothermic fuels are liquid hydrocarbon aircraft fuels which are able to absorb the heat loads by undergoing endothermic reactions, such as thermal and catalytic cracking. The endothermic reactions are improved by catalysts which change the extent of reaction and product distribution. At high temperature, liquid hydrocarbons would lead to coke formation that can reduce the effectiveness of heat exchanger and cause rapid degradation of the catalyst, thus endothermic capacity of endothermic fuels is limited to the temperature at which coke doesn't form. In this study, the essential cooling technologies by applying endothermic fuels and the properties of the endothermic fuels are described.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.56-61
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• 2021

In this study, Al₂O₃ and H-ZSM-5 were coated on the inner wall of the stainless steel tube for the stable use of liquid hydrocarbon fuel and an endothermic catalyst used as coolant for hypersonic flying vehicles. Coke production is inevitable by the endothermic decomposition reaction of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel, and Fe, Ni metals induce the production of the filamentous coke by using a stainless steel tube reactor as a cooling channel. By coating the stainless steel with H-ZSM-5, Fe and Ni metals are prevented from being directly exposed to the liquid hydrocarbon fuel, and the formation of the filamentous coke is inhibited. In addition, Al₂O₃ is coated between the stainless steel and H-ZSM-5 to enhance adhesion bond strength.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.81-124
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• 2020

In liquid oxygen/kerosene liquid rocket engines, kerosene is not only a propellant but also plays a role as a coolant to protect the combustion chamber wall from 3,000 K or more combustion gas. Since kerosene is exposed to high temperature passing through cooling channels, it may undergo heat-related chemical reactions leading to precipitation of carbon-rich solids. Such kerosene's thermal and fluidic characteristic test data are essential for the regeneratively cooled combustion chamber design. In this paper, we investigated foreign studies related to regenerative cooling channel and kerosene. Starting with general information on hydrocarbon fuels including kerosene, we attempted to systematically organize sedimentary phenomena on cooling channel walls, their causes/research results, coking test equipments/prevention methods, etc.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1-9
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• 2011

Researches on hypersonic aircraft technologies have been carried out to increase flight speeds. However, increase in flight speeds causes heat loads that could lead structural change of aircraft's component. Researches on cooling technologies using endothermic fuels are progressing in the USA, France and Russia to treat the heat loads. Endothermic fuels are liquid hydrocarbon aircraft fuels which are able to absorb the heat loads by undergoing endothermic reactions, such as thermal and catalytic cracking. In this study, methylcyclohexane, n-octane, and n-dodecane were selected as model endothermic fuels and experiments in endothermic properties were implemented. Experimental conditions were supercritical condition of each model fuels in which actual endothermic fuels were exposed. The object of this study is to identify endothermic properties of the model endothermic fuels and to predict endothermic properties of actual fuels such as kerosene fuels.