UNIT-I

HYPERSONIC AIRBREATHING PROPULSION

1) Write short note on hypersonic vehicle.

Hypersonic vehicle is a vehicle that travels with a mach number

greater than 4 or 5. It can be either airplane or missiles or spacecraft or
rockets and re-entry vehicles.
Some hypersonic vehicle has a special type of jet engines called as
supersonic combustion or scramjet.

2) Write the application of hypersonic vehicles?

 XB-70
 X-30
 X-43,Hyper X
 Commercial passenger Aircraft
 Military application
 Missile

3) What is meant by supersonic combustion?

Generally in air breathing engine the flow speed in a combustor

becomes faster as flight speed increases. The flow speed in a combustor
can be supersonic (over mach number-1).When the flight speed becomes
hypersonic (over mach no-5).

4) Define scramjet engine?

The air breathing engine being that flow speed in the combustor is
supersonic called scramjet engine.

5) List out issues in Hypersonic Air breathing propulsion?

 Combustor Design
 Fuel /cooling
 Injection/Mixing
 Shockwave-Boundary layer Interaction
 Variable Geometry Vs Fixed geometry
 Flight speed
6) What are the types of combustion chamber?

There are three types of combustion chamber such as

a) Can type

b) Annular type

c) Can –Annular type

7) What are the losses occurred in expansion process of scramjet engines?

 Under –expansion
 Failure to recombine dissociated species
 Flow angularity
 Viscous losses

8) List out the various methods of scramjet fuel injection?

 Parallel, Normal and Transverse Injection

 Ramp Injectors
 Strut injector
 Plasma injector
 Pylon injector
 Barbotage injection system
 Rectangular cavity flame holder
 Cavity-pylon flame holder
 Conventional- scale bluff –body flame holder
 Micro-flame holder
 Pulsed injector
 Upstream injector
 Cantilever fuel injectors.

9) What is the need for supersonic combustion?

 Speed Greater than mach number 5 are called Hypersonic. A regular

passenger plane files at 0.8 mach and military jet files at 2 mach.
 According to NASA it is “one of the greatest aeronautical research
challenges”
  Faster intercontinental travel
 Allow seamless entry to space and park at space station
 Defence field :Invisible spy planes and strategic bombers
 Reusable satellite &mission launchers.

10) Draw the types of combustors?

can type Can-Annular Annular

_ Casing

---- linear

+ Fuel injection

11) Define can –type combustor?

 Can–combustors are self –contained cylindrical combustion

chambers. Each “can” has its own fuel injector, igniter, liner and
casing.
 Can type combustors were most widely use in early gas turbine
engines.
 The pressure drop across the can is generally higher than other
combustors (on the order of 7%).

12) Define Annular type combustor?

 Annular combustors do away with the separate combustion zones and

simply have a continuous liner and casing in a ring (the annulus)
 There are many advantages to annular combustors including more
uniform combustion, shorter size and less surface area.
13) Write the categories of the Hypersonic propulsion?

 Liquid and solid –fuel rockets

 Ramjets
 Ducted Rockets
 Turbojets
 Scramjets
 Duel-combustion ramjet(DCR)

14) How the compression systems can be separated?

 The performance of such compression system can be separated into

two key parameters.
 Inlet capability
 Inlet efficiency

15) Write 2 common methods for determining the properties at the inlet
throat?

 Use an empirical relation for kinetic energy in combination with a

number of other parameters.
 Use CFD to perform a numerical simulation of the Fore body/inlet
flow field.

16) What are the issues in the design of scramjet?

 Inlet starting limits

 Boundary layer separation limits
 Minimization of external drag
 Performance at off-design Mach number

17) Write the Advantages and disadvantages of scramjet engine?

Advantage:

 Scramjet does not have any moving parts like compressor blades or
turbine blades.
 No used to carry oxidizer
 Due to less moving parts mechanical failures are avoided.
Disadvantages:

 A scramjet cannot produce efficient thrust unless boost up to high

speed (i.e.) mach number equal to 5.
 Testing scramjet design use extreme expensive hypersonic test
chamber.
 High maintenance cost.

18) Define Rocket propulsion?

The thrust required for the propulsion of rocket is produced by the

high velocity of gases leaving from the nozzle which is similar to the jet
propulsion.

19) Distinguish between Ramjet and scramjet?

Ramjet Scramjet
1. Ramjet can operate at high 1. Scramjet operates at
speeds; typically between hypersonic speed.
M=2.0 & 4.0 2. Scramjet also has no moving
2. It has no moving parts parts.

Unit 2
FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMICAL ROCKET PROPULSION

1) What are the types of chemical rockets?

 liquid propellant
  solid propellant
 hybrid propellant

2) Define specific impulse.

Thrust developed per unit weight flow rate.

Isp=F/W

Isp =F/m.g

3) Define thrust.

The force which propels the aircraft towards at a given speed. This
thrust mainly depends on velocity of gases at exit of nozzle.

4) Define Internal Ballistics.

In guns internal ballistics cover the time from the propellant ignition
until the projectile exits the gun barrel.

5) What are the types of ballistics.

There are three types of ballistics,

 Internal or Interior Ballistics

 External Ballistics
 Terminal Ballistics

6) What are the properties of liquid propellant?

 high calorific value

 density higher
 cheap and easily available
 easily ignitable

7) Write the application of rocket propulsion.

 space rockets
 military rockets
 booster rockets
  weather forecasting rockets

8) What are the types of igniters used in solid propellant ?

 pyrotechnic igniters
 pyrogen igniters

9) What are the types of igniters used in liquid propellant?

 self impinging stream pattern

 double impinging stream pattern
 triple impinging stream pattern
 parallel stream type
 co-axial hollow post injectors

10) Define characteristic velocity with respect to rocket system.

c*=P1t/ni

The characteristic velocity has been used frequently in the rocket

propulsion literature. Its symbol is c*. It is used in comparing the relative
performance of different chemical rocket propulsion system designs and
propellants.

11) Name any two properties of liquid propellant.

 Low freezing point

 It permits operation of rockets in cold weather
 High temperature

12) Write the advantage an disadvantage of liquid propellant.

Advantage:

 combustion process in controllable

 high specific impulse
  long range operation

Disadvantage:

 high cost
 high vibration
 size and weight of the engine is more compared to solid propellant

13) What are the types of liquid propellant engine(ignition)?

 cryogenic engine
 semi-cryogenic engine
 hypergonic ignition

14) Write the application of hypesonic ignition.

 Aerozine 50+ Nitrogen tetraoxide used in american rockets.

 Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine + nitrogen tetraoxide(
Russia&India)

15) Write the properties of solid propellant rockets.

 low freezing point

 High specific gravity
 stability(with time)
 small variation in physical characteristics with temperature
 heat transfer properties

16) How nozzles are classified in the solid propellant rockets?

 fixed nozzle
 movable nozzle
 submerged nozzle
 extendible nozzle
 blast-tube-mounted nozzle

17) Write the advantages and disadvantages of propulsion rocket.

Advantages:

 High specific impulse

 High efficiency
  Inert propellant

Disadvantages:

 Complex power conditioning and heavy power supply

 high voltage , single propellant only
 low thrust per unit area

18) Write the Advantages and disadvantages of hypergonic ignition.

Advantages:

 Very simple in construction

 No need of ignition

Disadvantages:

 It is less energetic
 It should carry a greatest mass of fuel
 safety is needed more

19) write the formula for impulse, specific impulse and the effective jet
velocity.

Impulse Specific Impulse Effective jet velocity

I=MpVJ Isp=I.MP VJ=ISP
MP=mass propellant I=Impulse ISP= Specific Impulse
VJ=Velocity of jet MP=mass of propellant

20) Define nozzle-less propulsion.

The concept of nozzle-less rocket motors stems from the possibility of

obtaining the required booster configuration in an integrated rocket ramjet
type of vehicle. Despite the fact that expansion of the chamber gases cannot
be effected in nozzle-less system as efficiently as in nozzle rockets, an
overall grain is still possible because of higher propellant loading in the
given volume.
 UNIT-3

Solid Rocket Propulsion

1. State the selection criteria of solid propellants.

  High performance or high specific impulse (i.e) high gas temperature
and low molecular mass.
 Predictable reproducible and initially adjustable burning rate to fit the
need of the grain design and the thrust – time requirement.
 Adequate physical properties over the intended operating temperature
range.
 Low – technical risks ,favourable history of prior applications.
 Relative insensitivity to certain energy stimuli.
 Non – toxic exhaust gases.

2. What is propellant grain?

The grain is the shaped mass of processed solid propellant inside the
rocket motor. The propellant material and the geometrical configuration of
the grain determine the motor performance characteristics.

3. What is neutral burning?

Motor burn time during which thrust, pressure and burning surface
area remain approximately constant typically within about = 15% . Many
grains are neutral burning.

4. What is perforation?

The central cavity port or flow passage of a propellant grain ; its cross
section may be a cylinder , a star shape etc..

5. What is the burning time or effective burning time (tb)?

Usually the interval from 10% maximum initial pressure to web

burnout , with web burnout usually taken as type aft tangent bisector point
on the pressure - time trace.

6. What is action time ta and deflagration limit?

The burning time plus most of the time to burn sivers; typically the
interval between the initial and final 10% pressure point on the pressure
time trace. The minimum pressure at which the combustion can still be
sustained and maintained without adding energy below this pressure the
combustion case altogether or may be erratic and unsteady with the
appearing land disappearing periodically.

7. What is web thickness b and web fraction bf?

The minimum thickness of the grain from the initial burning surface
to the insulated case wall or to the intersection of another burning surface
for an end burning grain b equals the length of the grain.

For a case – bonded internal burning grain , the ratio of the web
thickness b to the outer radius of the grain is called web fraction.

8. What is bipropellant rocket?

A bipropellant rocket unit has two separate liquid propellants, an

oxidizer and a fuel. They are stored separately and or not mixed outside the
combustion chamber. The majority of liquid propellant rockets have been
manufactured for bipropellant applications.

9. What is monopropellant rocket?

A monopropellant consist of oxidizing agent and combustible matter

in single substance. It may be a mixture of several components or it may
be homogeneous Monopropellants are adjustable at ordinary atmospheric
condition but decomposed and yield hot combustion gases when heated.

10. What is cold gas propellant?

A cold gas propellant is stored at very high pressure gives a low

performance allows a simple system and is usually very reliable. It has been
for roll control and attitude control.

11. What is cryogenic propellant?

 A cryogenic propellant is liquefied gas at low temperature such as
liquid oxygen (or) liquid hydrogen provision for venting the storage tan x
and minimizing vaporization losses are necessary with this type.

12. What are storable propellants?

The storable propellants are liquids at ambient temperature and can

be stored for longer period in seated tanks space storable propellants are
liquids in the environment of space this storability depends on the specific
tank designs , thermal conditions and tank pressure.

Eg: Ammonia

13. What is gelled propellant?

A gelled propellant is a thixotropic liquid with a gelling additive. It is

like a jelly or thick paint. It will not spell or leak. Readily can flow under
pressure will burn and safer in some aspects.

14. State the methods of cooling of thrust chambers and nozzles.

 Regenerative cooling
 Radiation cooling
 Ablation cooling
 Film cooling
 Heat sink cooling

15. What is thrust vector controls and state its types?

Thrust vector control is the internal change of direction of the thrust

vector with respect to the symmetry axis of the rockets. By changing the
direction of the thrust vector a control moment about a lateral axis of the
rocket can be generated. There are some methods by which this can be
achieved.

 Jet – vane thrust control

 Gimbaled engine
 Jetavators
 Swiveling nozzles
 Spoilers
16. What are the ways for obtaining burning rate data?

 Standard stand burners ,often – crawford burners.

 Small scale ballistic evaluation motors.
 Full scale motors with good instrumentation.

17. Draw the typical pressure time curve with and without erosive burning?

18. Application of large booster and second stage motors in the solid
propellant rockets?

They are used in

 Space launch vehicle

 Lower stage of long range ballistic missiles.

19.What are the factors included in burning rate of full – scale motors?

 Combustion chamber pressure

 Combustion gas temperature
 Velocity of the gas flow
 Motor motion

20. Define erosive burning?

 Erosive burning refers to the increase in the propellant burning rate
caused by the high velocity flow of combustion gas over the burning
propellant surface.

Unit 4
 Liquid and Hybrid Rocket Propulsion

1. What are the disadvantages of liquid propellant rocket engine?

 Manufacturing cost is high
 High vibration
 The size and weight of the engine is more compared to solid
propellant rocket

2. What are the type of propellant feed system?

 Gas pressure feed system
 Pump feed system

3. What are the basic combustion process ?

 Injection
 Atomization
 Mixing
 Ignition
 Chemical reaction between fuel and oxidizer

4. What is the major limitation of hybrid rocket engine?

The major limitation of hybrid rocket engine is that, the nozzle
erosion cannot be avoided.

5. What are the advantages of hybrid rocket engine?

 Speed regulations is possible by regulating the supply of oxidizer
 High load capacity
 High fuel density
 Lighter compared to liquid propellant rockets

6. What are the conditions of maximum propulsive efficiency?

The jet velocity must be twice more than the free stream velocity
for which the propulsive efficiency is 66.7%.

7. What are the methods for cooling the walls of thrust chamber in liquid
propellant rockets?
  Film cooling and barrier cooling
 Regenerative cooling
 Ablation cooling
 Transpiration cooling
 Radiation cooling
 Heat skin cooling
8. Principle of operation of liquid propellant rockets?
All liquid rockets have tankage and pipes to store and transfer
propellant, an injector, a combustion chamber which is very typically
cylindrical and one rocket nozzle. Liquid systems enable higher
specific impulse than solid and hybrid rocket engines and can provide
very high tankage efficiency.

9. Define regenerative cooling?

Regenerative cooling is the context of rocket engine design, is a
configuration in which some or all the propellant is passed through
tubes, channels or in a jacket around the combustion chamber or
nozzle to cool the engine. This is effective because the fuel are good
coolants.

10. What is TVC?

Thrust Vector Control (TVC) is the internal change of direction
of the thrust vector with respect to the symmetry of axis of rocket. By
changing the direction of thrust vector, a control moment about the
lateral axis of the rocket can be generated.

11. What is cryogenic rocket engine?

A cryogenic rocket engine is a rocket engine that uses a cryogenic
fuel or oxidizer is gases liquefied and stored at very low temperature.
The energy conversion takes place while the liquid filled rockets takes
off.

12. Mention some of the combustion in stability encountered with liquid

rocket propellant.
 Low frequency (10 to 200 Hz) – chugging
  Intermediate frequency (200 to 1000 Hz) – buzzing
 High frequency (over 2000 Hz) – squeezing

13. What are the heat-transfer problems in liquid propellant rocket
motors?
The major heat transfer problem in rocket motors stems from
the fact that the intensity of heat transfer is extremely high, the motor
walls must be kept thin in order to prevent a large wall temperature
rise which will increase the operating temperature of the wall.

14. Define specific heat ratio.

Specific heat ratio is the ratio of constant pressure specific heat to

the constant volume specific heat.

15. Define specific heat.

Specific heat is the amount of heat necessary to rise the
temperature of 1kg of substance to 1 degree Celsius.

16. What is optimum mixture ratio?

Optimum mixture ratio is the ratio of oxidizer mass and fuel
mass. The optimum mixture ratio is found when the highest specific
impulse is produced for a given reactant.

17. Explain the concept of cooling of thrust chamber?

The flow of high temperature gases around 3000K or higher in
the thrust chamber heats up the wall to unacceptable levels.

18. Define mono propellants.

A liquid propellant which contains both the fuel and oxidizer in
a single chemical is known as mono propellants.

19. Define bipropellants.

If the fuel and oxidizer are different from each other in its
chemical nature, then the propellant is called bipropellants.
 UNIT 5

ADVANCED PROPULSION TECHNIQUES

1. Disadvantage of pulsed plasma electrical propulsion system?

  Energy loss are caused due to late time ablation
 Rapid conductive heat transfer from the propelland to the resl of type
spacecraft
 Propelland efficiency is very low

2. What are the advantages of steady state plasma electromagnatic

propulsion system?

 Larger thrust density

 Acceleration process is not limitted by plasma density
 This technology does not need any neutralinger

3. Write down the advantage of hall thruster?

 Hall thruster where able to delever greater payload due to there nature
 They have advanced electric propulsion

4. What are the advantage of pulsed plasma electrical propulsion system?

 Mainly used in small spacecraft

 They draw very little electrical power relative to other comparable
thrusters
 Reduced fuel consumption

5. What are the advantages of iron jet propulsion system?

 They have larger life time, since the significant thrust is not needed
 Continuous thrust over a very long time can but a larger velocity than
traditional chemical rockets

6. List the disadvantage of ion jet propulsion system?

 Low thrust in low spacecraft operation

 Large amount of voltage need to kickstart the thruster

7. List out method of ion generation?

 Atomic ion
 Moleculer ion from volatile sample
 Moleculer ion from non volatile sample
  Larger ionization

8. Mention the advantage of electrical propulsion system?

 A large amount of power generated by the system and the excess

power can be utlized pumbs and other auxiliary devices.
 There is more flexibility in installation machineris
 It provide improved maneuveravility and high redundancy

9. What bare the disadvantage of electrical propulsion system?

 Efficiency of the electrical plant is less than that of the conventional

system
 The installation cost of electrical propulsion plant is much higher

10. List out the disadvantage of hybrid rocket engine?

 Oxidizer to fuel ratio shift with a constant oxidizer flow rate

 Low regression rate
 High work depletion is based on the refueling partially or totally

11. Advantage of hybrid propellant rocket engine?

 They provide high energy than standard solid propellant rocket

 They are less sensitive to damage

12. List out the components of ion rocket engine?

 Xcnon injection
 Anode
 Discharge section
 Hollow discharge cathode
 Positive and negative grids

13. Types of electrically powered rocket engines?

 Resistojet rocket
 Arc jet rocket
 Pulsed plasma thruster
  Variable specific impulse magneto plasma rocket

14. What is solar sail?

Solar sails are spacecraft which utilize the momentum transfer of

solar photons onto large highly reflecting sails for passive propulsion. Solar
sail do not need carry an active main propulsion system nor any propellant
for it.

15. List out few application for solar sails?

 The solar sail could be used to modify the orbit at the satellite around
the earth.
 Used as interstellar flight
 These spacecraft could conceivably be placed directly over a pole at
sun and remain at the station for large duration