Modular simulation software development for liquid propellant rocket engines based on MATLAB Simulink

Abstract

Focusing on Liquid Propellant Rocket Engine (LPRE) major components, a steady state modular simulation software has been established in MATLAB Simulink. For integrated system analysis, a new algorithm dependant on engine inlet mass flow rate and pressure is considered. Using the suggested algorithm, it is possible to evaluate engine component operation, similar to the known initial parameters during hot fire test of the engine on stand. As a case study, the reusable Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) has been selected and the simulation has been performed to predict engine's throttled operation at 109 percent of the nominal thrust value. For this purpose the engine actual flow diagram has been converted to 34 numerical modules and the engine has been modelled by solving a total of 101 steady state mathematic equations. The mean error of the simulation results is found to be less than 5% compared with the published SSME data. Using the presented idea and developed modules, it is possible to build up the numerical model and simulate other LPREs.