Analysis of low-thrust liquid rocket engines with a methane air pump unit

Abstract

The first airplane working on cryogenic fuel was developed in the USSR in early 1980s on the basis of the passenger aircraft Tu-154. It was then modified using a hydrogen engine installed instead of one of the three kerosene engines. That bypass turbo-jet engine was developed in Russia (Samara) under the guidance of General Designer academician N.D. Kuznetsov. The engine working on liquid hydrogen was designated NK-88 and the one working on liquid methane NK-89. A unique hydrogen turbopump unit was created for the supply of cryogenic fuel. The unit can also be used for liquid methane due to the possibility of readjusting the rotor frequency. To minimize the financial expenditures it is proposed to use the turbo-pump in low-thrust rocket engines that use liquid methane as fuel.

Keywords

• cryogenic aircraft gas-turbine engine
• liquid rocket engine
• oxygen-methane propellant
• turbo-pump unit
• upper stage launcher