Lesson 9 Solid Rocket Propulsion Basics.ppt

Lesson 9: Solid Rocket Propulsion Basics Dr. Andrew Ketsdever Solid Rocket Motors A solid rocket motor is a system that uses solid propellants to produce thrust Advantages High thrust Simple Storability High density Isp Disadvantages Low Isp (compared to liquids) Complex throttling Difficult to stop and restart Safety Solid Rocket Motors Solid rocket motors are used for Launch vehicles High thrust (high F/W ratio) High storage density Ballistic Missiles Propellant storability Excellent aging Quick response storability high F/W ratio) Solid Rocket Motor Components Thermal Insulation Design involves: Analysis of combustion chamber environment Stagnation temperature Stagnation pressure Propellant gases (material compatibility) Selection of insulation material Material thickness determination for various areas of the motor case For the cylindrical part of the case, the walls are only exposed to hot combustion gases at the end of the burn The Nozzle The design of the nozzle follows similar steps as for other thermodynamic rockets Throat area determined by desired stagnation pressure and thrust level Expansion ratio determined by ambient pressure or pressure range to allow maximum efficiency Major difference for solid propellant nozzles is the technique used for cooling Ablation Fiber reinforced material used in and near the nozzle throat (carbon, graphite, silica, phenolic) Ablation Meteorite Re-entry speed of 10 - 20 km/sec Extreme heating in the atmosphere Ablation and internal energy modes cooled the meteorite through its fall Ablation gas cloud Dissociation Internal energy deposition Stony-Iron Classification (95% of all meteorites) Ignition System Large solid motors typically use a three-stage ignition system Initiator: Pyrotechnic element that converts electrical impulse into a chemical reaction (primer) Booster charge Main charge: A charge (usually a small solid motor) that ignites the propellant grain. Burns for tenths of a second with a mass flow about 1/10