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T Ae Ue (Uniform flow)
Y pe
X
Control volume: V e
Figure 1 Schematic showing control volume enclosing a stationary rocket motor/engine
Continuity Equation:
dM V
t CV
dV +
CS
U dS =0
dt
+ eU e Ae =0
m e = eU e Ae = M V
X-Momentum Equation
Assuming the velocity is dominant in X direction and applying X-momentum equation over
the control volume V,
t
u dV + u U Fx
dS =
CV CS
Rate of change of Momentum flux through External forces
momentum inside the control surfaces on the system
control volume V
F X = T + PdS = T + Ae p a Ae p e
S
Thrust (T):
T = m eU e + Ae ( pe p a ) = m
e U eq
p pa
where U eq = U e + e Ae
m
Total impulse ( I ):
The total impulse I is the thrust force T (which can vary with time) integrated over the
burning time t.
m
I = T dt = m e U eq dt = m pU eq units : kg
s
where m p = total mass of propellant expelled.
Specific impulse ( I sp ):
The specific impulse I SP is the total impulse per unit weight of propellant.
I U eq m/s
I sp = = units : s
m/s
2
mp ge ge
Here g e is the acceleration due to gravity at the earths surface. Note that the choice
of g e is arbitrary. The advantage is that in all common systems (fps, cgs, SI etc.) the
Maximum Thrust:
seen from Fig.3 that the inner walls encounter higher pressure (due to the
combustion in the chamber) compared to outer walls. The component of force acting
in the forward direction (w.r.t the rocket motor) contributes to thrust, whereas the
component in rearward direction reduces thrust.
Since the chamber pressure ( pcomb.chamber ) or the pressure acting on the inner walls
decreases towards the exit and the nozzle section at the position where exit pressure
pe = pa (optimal expansion) is crucial (as this will be seen later). A nozzle longer than
this point results in net force in negative thrust direction due to over-expansion (as
the pressure acting on the inner walls is less than pa ). The nozzle shorter than the
optimal expansion position would result in a net force in positive thrust direction due
to under-expansion (as the pressure acting on the inner walls is higher than pa ). But it
should be noted that the exiting momentum is not fully regained from pe in case of
shorter nozzle. Finally, it can be seen that a nozzle designed for optimal expansion
would result in higher thrust.
Pa
Pe = Pa @ Ae
(optimal expansion)
Ae Ae + dAe
Pe Pe + dPe
Ue Ue + dUe
e e + de
differential element
( e +de )(U e +dU e ) ( Ae +dAe )U e -eU e2 Ae + ( e +de )(U e +dU e ) ( Ae +dAe ) dU=e Fx
eU e Ae dU e + Ae dpe = m e dU e + Ae dpe = 0
dT = dAe ( p e p a ) = 0 , or pe = pa
d 2T = d 2 Ae ( p e p a ) + dAe dp e
d 2T = dAe dp e
at pe = pa
additional force is remaining unused and over-expansion pe < pa can be noted as the
Tmax = m pU e
Figure 4 A schematic showing control volume to relate exhaust velocity (U e ) to thermodynamic properties in
the combustion chamber.
U2 U2
t
CV
0
e +
2
dV +
CS
h +
2
U dS = Q W
Vc21 U e2
hc + = he +
2 2
Ru
Eliminating Cv we get C p = R =
1 MW 1
r 1
r 1
Te pe r
p r
= , or Tc Te = Tc 1
e
Tc pc
(2)
pc
1/ 2
1
T 2R 1 p e + V 2
Ue = c u c (3)
p c
MW 1
Now
Vc = gas flow velocity in combustion chamber is very small and hence neglected
pe
pe = outside atmospheric pressure < < pc is very small.
pc
Tc
U e = const (4)
MW
Note: Exhaust velocity, U e and thus the specific impulse, I sp is directly proportional
Chemical (liquid)
a) Monopropellant Hydrogen
110-140
peroxide
220-245
Hydrazine
b) Bipropellant
440-480
O 2 -H 2
340-380
O 2 -hydrocarbon
300-340
N 2 O 2 -Monomethyl
hydrazine
Chemical (solid) Fuel and oxidizer 260-300
Nuclear H2 600-1000