• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.47-53
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• 2015

Design parameters required for Methane/oxygen bipropellant small-rocket-engine were derived through a theoretical performance analysis. The theoretical performance of the rocket engine was analyzed by using CEA and optimal propellant mixture ratio, characteristic length, and optimal expansion ratio were calculated by assuming chemical equilibrium. A coaxial-type swirl injector was chosen because of its outstanding atomization performance and high combustion efficiency compared to other types of injector and also a bell nozzle with 80% of its full length was designed. The rocket engine configuration with 1.72 MPa of chamber pressure, 0.18 kg/s in total propellant mass flow, and O/F ratio of 2.7 was proposed as a ground-firing test model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2011

In addition to the previous study for development of a 1,200 N-class bipropellant rocket engine with concentrated hydrogen peroxide, the effect of characteristic length and thrust measurement were experimentally evaluated. Tests with characteristic lengths of 0.95, 1.07, and 1.20 m were performed and $C^*$ and Isp efficiencies were increased as increasing characteristic length. The maximum $C^*$ and Isp efficiencies were 98.4% and 93.1% respectively. Based on the evaluation of the designed engine, the optimized characteristic length was proposed in using the engine adapted decomposed hydrogen peroxide and the engine performance at vacuum-level was evaluated using thrust and Isp efficiency at the designed equivalence ratio. As a result, 218.4 s at sea-level, 253.3 s at vacuum-level, and vacuum thrust of 1035.3 N can be estimated.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.300-309
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• 2017

A spacecraft obtains a reaction momentum required for an orbit correction and an attitude control by exhausting a combustion gas through a small thruster in space. If the exhaust plume collides with spacecraft surfaces, it is very important to predict the exhaust plume behavior of the thruster when designing a satellite, because a generated disturbance force/torque, a heat load and a surface contamination can yield a life shortening and a reduction of the spacecraft function. The purpose of the present study is to ensure the core technology required for the spacecraft design by analyzing numerically the exhaust gas behavior of the 10 N class bipropellant thruster for an attitude control of the spacecraft. To do this, calculation results of chemical equilibrium reaction between a MMH for fuel and a NTO for oxidizer, and continuum region of the nozzle inside are implemented as inlet conditions of the DSMC method for the exhaust plume analysis. From these results, it is possible to predict a nonequilibrium expansion such as a species separation and a backflow in the vicinity of the bipropellant thruster nozzle.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.66-68
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• 2011

Chollian is a geostationary satellite, and its bipropellant propulsion system is mainly composed of one main engine for orbit transfer and fourteen thrusters for on-station operations. The Chollian was launched successfully at Kourou Space Center in French Guiana. After it separated from the launcher, the propulsion system was initialised automatically. Then three times of main engine firing were successfully performed, and the target obit insertion was accomplished. This paper details the major CPS events during LEOP phase for the Chollian satellite.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.155-158
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• 2008

Development of Moon Explorer-1 (orbiter) is supposed to be commenced in 2017 and launched in 2020. In case of Moon Explorer-2 (lander), it would be slated to start in 2021 and launch in 2025. For this reason it is taken for granted to investigate a fundamental propulsion system for a Moon Explorer. In this paper conceptual feasibility and comparison studies are proposed for the propulsion system applicable to a Moon Explorer. Availability of monopropellant/bipropellant/electric propulsion system is compared and analysed as well with precedents overseas. As a result possible candidates for a Moon Explorer propulsion system are suggested.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.41-45
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• 2009

The small-sized bi-propellant thruster using a high concentrated hydrogen peroxide and kerosene as the oxidizer and fuel was designed and fabricated in this study. The water cold-flow test was performed to verify the performance characteristics of the injector. The mixing head assembly used in this model thruster was designed as a structure to combine igniter, injectors and film cooling, which are capable of regulating each mass flowrate. This maximize the experimental verification and efficiency of the design optimization. Finally, the mass flowrate and spray pattern of injector were evaluated by the hydraulic test. Therefore, the design validity of the mixing head was verified.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.22-29
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• 2009

Development of Moon Explorer-1 (orbiter) is supposed to be commenced in 2017 and launched in 2020. In case of Moon Explorer-2 (lander), it would be slated to start in 2021 and launch in 2025. In this paper conceptual feasibility studies are conducted for the propulsion system applicable to a Moon Explorer. In the first place the availability of monopropellant/bipropellant/electric propulsion system is examined with domestic as well as overseas precedents. Secondly ${\Delta}V$ is estimated by the mission analysis and the propellant budget is calculated accordingly. Subsequently feasibility of a chemical propulsion system for a Moon Explorer is evaluated.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.75-88
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• 2023

In this paper, the atomization characteristics of bi-swirl coaxial injectors for a 420 N-class bipropellant thruster were investigated. Three types of injectors, namely closed-type, open-type, and screw-type, were manufactured and designed to have the same spray angle and injection pressure drop. Water was used as a simulant, and cold-flow tests were conducted under ambient temperature and pressure conditions. Since the inner and outer injectors were designed to be the same type, only the inner fuel injectors that were easy to measure were used. Using a phase doppler particle analyzer, the velocity and diameter of atomized droplets were measured. Closed-type swirl injector exhibited droplet distributions with relatively high velocities and small SMD compared to the other two injectors. Open-type swirl injector formed droplets with reverse velocities in the center region and had a large recirculation zone. Screw-type swirl injector showed a sharp decrease in droplet velocity and size with radial distance from the liquid film breakup point. For the same design requirements, the closed-type swirl injector has superior atomization performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.163-170
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• 2011

Applicability of regenerative cooling in 2,500 N-class bipropellant thruster using hydrogen peroxide and kerosene was considered for improvement performance and application in various missions. Calculation was performed by one dimensional approach using hydrogen peroxide as a coolant. In designed regenerative cooling thruster, heat flux at nozzle throat was estimated at 18 ~ 20 $MW/m^2$. Designed cooling channel width and height were 2.5 mm and 0.5 mm, respectively. Based on designed cooling channel configuration, flat plate model was manufactured and tested for estimation of pressure drop in cooling channel, and CFD analysis was compared with the test result. The maximum error between CFD analysis and experimental result was approximately 13% and average error was approximately 5%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.120-130
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• 2013

A study was conducted for the performance characteristics of methane taking recently the limelight in the world as a next-generation propellant, with the survey for state of the art in the development of methane/oxygen rocket engine being accompanied. Liquid methane as a rocket fuel has the favorable characteristics such as non-toxic, low cost, regenerative cooling capability, and potential for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). The combination of liquid methane and liquid oxygen also provides the excellent performance including high specific impulse and low system mass. For these reasons, many researches have been actively carried out on the methane/oxygen engine, nevertheless, its technology readiness level is not that high enough just yet. Therefore, it is judged that it is the time to mitigate the technical gap with the space technology of advanced countries through a swift onset of the development of methane rocket engine.