• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.437-441
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• 2008

A non-toxic Post Boost Stage(PBS) with LOX/Ethanol engine was successfully demonstrated at the Tomioka Facility of IHI Aerospace. IHI Aerospace has researched and developed the nontoxic propulsion systems and the LOX/Ethanol is one of the most attractive non-toxic bipropellant candidates. ${\rho}ISP$ of LOX/Ethanol is higher than ${\rho}ISP$ of the other non-toxic bipropellants as LOX/HC or $LOX/LH_2$. The authors studied the combustion characteristics of LOX/Ethanol propellant with the engine designed for LOX/LNG propellant. Also the injector with a built-in igniter was designed and examined its feasibility, ignition and combustion characteristics. We have demonstrated Post Boost Stage with future LOX/Ethanol engines. This propulsion system is targeted for expandable vehicle upper stage to accelerate delta-V to reach the required orbit. PBS Demonstration Model is designed as a test stand to evaluate feed system for integrated propulsion system and also to demonstrate Integrated Vehicle Health Management(IVHM) technique using local valve control and also valve behavior-monitoring capability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.854-856
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• 2011

A vent relief valve for oxidizer tank has been designed for liquid propellant feeding system of the space launch vehicle. The vent relief valve ensures oxidizer tank ventilation during filling and its protection from overpressure after filling. Tank ventilation during filling is ensured by vent valve and tank protection is ensured by combined operation of relief valve and vent valve. Numerical analysis predicted that pneumatic behavior and dynamic characteristics met the valve requirements. After manufacturing the prototype model, we have been conducting the tests to evaluate the performance of the vent relief valve.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.84-89
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• 2011

A Xenon Feed System (XFS) has been developed for hall-effect thruster to small satellite space-propulsion system applications. The XFS delivers low pressure gas to the Anode and Cathode of thruster head unit from a xenon storage tank. Accurate throttling of the propellant mass flow rate is independently required for each channel of the thruster head unit. The mass flow rate to each channel is controlled using the accumulator tank pressure regulation through a micron orifice and isolation valve. This paper discusses the Xenon Feed System design including the component selections, performance estimation and functional test.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.721-724
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• 2011

A system to pressurize propellants stored in propellant tanks is necessary to feed liquid-propellants into combustion devices at the required pressure and flowrate without having cavitation in turbo-pumps. A pressurization system can be categorized into pre-pressurization stage and main-pressurization stage. This report is regarding to a main-pressurization system. Pressurization methods for propellant tanks are divided into pressurant gas generating method and pressurant gas feeding method. One of pressurant gas generating methods uses the vaporized oxygen gas from cryogenic liquid oxygen and non-flammable gas. In this report, both advantages and disadvantages for pressurization methods and types of pressurization systems are compared. Especially the characteristics and principle of pressurization system using impulsive control strategy applied in launch vehicles are introduced. Additionally the structure, schematics, and specifications of heat exchanger, which is one of main units in pressurization system are also discussed. This paper can be utilized to generate the conceptual requirements and to design preliminary configuration of pressurization system during the development of launch vehicle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

An active anti-ship missile decoy system was designed conceptually to analyze propulsion system requirements and feasibility to use a liquid bi-propellant rocket engine. Overall mass, size, and shape were assumed referring to specifications of Nulka which was developed by US and Australia in 1990s. The propulsion system was assumed to be a 1,000 N-class $H_2O_2$/kerosene rocket engine with a pressurized feed system. A three-degree-of-freedom optimal trajectory was calculated based on the assumptions, and mass budget was designed from the calculation results. It was found that the requirements for the propulsion system is that it shall be operated more than 100 sec; it shall be re-ignitable; it shall have a throttle capability of a range from 35% to 100% when the maximum thrust at sea level is 1,000 N.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.788-794
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• 2002

In liquid rocket engine, propellant feed rate is proportional to approximately square root of the pressure difference between injector head and combustion chamber. This ΔP depends on the engine design, but in general on the order of 50psi. However, during ignition period, especially for the pressurized feed system, combustion chamber pressure is almost atmospheric and large ΔP causes over flow of propellants which may lead to catastrophic accident due to hard start. Hard start may be prevented by applying cavitating venturi or/and two step ignition. In cavitating venturi, evaporated propellants near the venturi throat become chocked and flow rate depends on only upstream condition. In two step ignition propellants are supplied to the liquid engine in two different flow rate. First step, to avoid hard start, small amount of propellants are supplied to build up chamber pressure in safe zone, then full propellants to ensure design pressure. In this study, both cavitating venturi and two step ignition method were used for the hot test and hard start problem was completely solved.

• 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.44-47
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• 2004

Vortexing might occur during draining from tanks which reduces the rate of outflow. This phenomenon has practical relevance in the fuel feed system in space vehicles and rockets. Due to environmental disturbances rotational motion can be generated in the liquid-propellant tank, which in turn can affect the rate of outflow to the engines. The phenomenon is initialized by rotating the fluid In the experimental tank. The dip quickly develops into a vortex with an air core, which extends to the bottom port, reducing the effective cross-sectional area of the drain outlet and consequently the flow rate. Flow characteristics are investigated using SPIV(Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry) method.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.55-59
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• 2008

It is very difficult to measure an accurate thrust for the performance test of liquid rocket engine. Liquid rocket engine is attached to the propellant feed system, control valve and many other safety systems. Without considering these effects, thrust data measured from the firing test is not reliable and meaningless. In this research, the modified thrust measurement system, which includes both all these side effects is developed for the verification of low thrust liquid rocket engine performance. In addition, reliability appraisal technique is studied to secure the reliability of thrust measurement system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.16-23
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• 2001

For liquid rocket engine test, one of most important design parameters to be measured is thrust. However, not like solid rocket motor, a liquid rocket engine is attached to the propellant feed system, control valve and many other safety systems. Without considering these effects, thrust data measured from firing test is not reliable and sometimes almost meaningless. In this research, new thrust measurement system, which includes all these side effects, was designed and fabricated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.38-44
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• 2000

In general liquid rocket nozzles are protected from hot combustion gas by regenerative cooling techniques. But due to the complexity of the cooling system, it causes increase of system cost and frequently source of the system malfunction. Recently, instead of regenerative cooing, ablative material are used to protect combustion chamber wall and nozzle. To determine the nozzle material erosion rate and erosion shape, more than 500 hot fire test were performed by using 100 lb thrust experimental liquid rocket. Test variable were propellant feed sequence, injector, position of igniter and liquid oxygen supply temperature.