Liquid Propellants Characteristics

LRT 2010 3.1

= spontaneously ignitable as fuel and oxidizer come in contact with each other
simplified propulsion system, but more hazardous storage
N
2
O
4
(NTO)
(NTO)
Chemical Propulsion Propulsion Concepts
Staged Combustion Space Shuttle Main
Engine
LRT 2010 3.2
Expander
Cycle 2
Low Pressure Pumps 1&11 produce a
primary pressure of 18 bar in order
to avoid cavitations on the turbo
pump fans.
18 bar
2 bar
440 bar
H
2
gas H
2
gas
LOX 300
bar
18 bar
6 bar
Pressure
powers turbo
pumps
LOX 500 bar
After regenerative cooling of
the nozzle, the entire H
2
flows
through both pre-burner units,
in which only a part of the H2
is combusted. The heated gas
powers the turbo pump fans
and hence reaches the main
combustion chamber.
Expander
Cycle 1
Chemical Propulsion Propulsion Concepts
Space Shuttle Main Engine - SSME
LRT 2010 3.3
LH
2
turbo pump
Chemical Propulsion Propulsion Concepts
Space Shuttle Main Engine SSME
LRT 2010 3.4
LOX turbo pump
LOX Inlet
LH
2
Inlet
Chemical Propulsion Propulsion Concepts