Journal of Aerospace Science and Technology

Journal of Aerospace Science and Technology

A Simulation Algorithm for Staged Combustion Cycle Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mahyar Naderi 1
Liang Guozhu 1
Hassan Karimi 2
Sara Pourdaraei 3
1 School of Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing, China
2 Aerospace Faculty of K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran
3 School of Electronics, Beihang University, Beijing, China
10.22034/jast.2021.128003
Abstract
 In order to reduce cost and time along with enhancing the safety issues, numerical computer modelling and simulations are widely used for analyzing complex systems such as launch vehicle or spacecraft propulsion system. The objective of this research is to obtain an algorithm for simulation of staged combustion cycle liquid propellant engines. For this purpose the space shuttle main engine (SSME), as one of the world’s most complicated engines, is selected as a case study. A total of 34 elements is taken into account and using more than 100 linear/non-linear equations, the engine’s steady state system model has been established in MATLAB SIMULINK software. The simulation method uses eleven nested loops for iteration. The algorithm is based on the known parameters at the inlet of engine main feed lines namely mass flow rate and pressure, similar to the known conditions during hot test of engine on test stand. The simulation is capable of predicting the engine’s operation in wide range of thrust throttling levels from 69 percent to 109 percent of the nominal thrust. In order to validate the suggested method, SSME main component parameters, operating at 109 percent of rated thrust is presented. Simulation result mean error is less than 5 percent.
Keywords
Cryogenic Propellant
Liquid Rocket Engines
Mathematical Modeling
Space Shuttle Main Engine

Subjects

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Journal of Aerospace Science and Technology
Volume 13, Issue 2
October 2020
Pages 85-91

  • Receive Date 21 February 2021
  • Revise Date 09 March 2021
  • Accept Date 09 March 2021
  • First Publish Date 09 March 2021