Analysis of the Theoretical Performance Characteristics for Methane-fuel Bipropellant Rocket Engine

Abstract

A set of preliminary design parameters for the bipropellant rocket engine using liquid methane-fuel as green propellant were derived through a theoretical performance analysis. Chemical equilibrium analysis utilizing CEA was conducted for the prediction of combustion performance: combustion characteristics according to the O/F ratio and chamber pressure variation were investigated. For a determination of chamber-characteristic length, the vaporization time of fuel-droplet with various performance parameters was calculated by applying Spalding's 1-D droplet vaporization model. Finally, the preliminary design specification of methane-bipropellant rocket engine, which is to be performance-tested under the ground firing condition, was proposed. 친환경 추진제인 액체메탄을 연료로 사용하는 이원추진제 로켓엔진의 이론성능분석을 통해 엔진의 설계변수를 도출하였다. 엔진의 연소성능 예측을 위해 CEA를 활용한 화학평형해석을 수행하였으며, 추진제 혼합비 및 연소실 내부압력에 따른 연소성능 특성을 고찰하였다. 엔진의 특성길이 도출을 위해 1차원 액적기화모델을 적용하여 성능변수 변화에 따른 추진제의 기화시간을 계산하였으며, 지상연소 이론성능분석을 통해 메탄 이원추진제 로켓엔진의 설계제원을 제시하였다.