Numerical Investigation on the Thermal Behaviour of a Lox/LCH4 Demonstrator Cooling System
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aerospace Article Numerical Investigation on the Thermal Behaviour of a LOx/LCH4 Demonstrator Cooling System Daniele Ricci * , Francesco Battista and Manrico Fragiacomo CIRA, Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali, Via Maiorise, 81043 Capua, Italy; [email protected] (F.B.); [email protected] (M.F.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-0823-623096; Fax: +39-0823-623100 Abstract: Reliability of liquid rocket engines is strictly connected with the successful operation of cooling jackets, able to sustain the impressive operative conditions in terms of huge thermal and mechanical loads, generated in thrust chambers. Cryogenic fuels, like methane or hydrogen, are often used as coolants and they may behave as transcritical fluids flowing in the jackets: after injection in a liquid state, a phase pseudo-change occurs along the chamber because of the heat released by combustion gases and coolants exiting as a vapour. Thus, in the development of such subsystems, important issues are focused on numerical methodologies adopted to simulate the fluid thermal behaviour inside the jackets, design procedures as well as manufacturing and technological process topics. The present paper includes the numerical thermal analyses regarding the cooling jacket belonging to the liquid oxygen/liquid methane demonstrator, realized in the framework of the HYPROB (HYdrocarbon PROpulsion test Bench) program. Numerical results considering the nominal operating conditions of cooling jackets in the methane-fuelled mode and the water-fed Citation: Ricci, D.; Battista, F.; one are included in the case of the application of electrodeposition process for manufacturing. A Fragiacomo, M. Numerical comparison with a similar cooling jacket, realized through the conventional brazing process, is Investigation on the Thermal addressed to underline the benefits of the application of electrodeposition technology. Behaviour of a LOx/LCH4 Demonstrator Cooling System. Keywords: liquid rocket engine; numerical analyses; thermal control; cooling jacket design; regener- Aerospace 2021, 8, 151. ative cooling; methane transcritical behaviour; electrodeposition technology; brazing process https://doi.org/10.3390/ aerospace8060151 Academic Editor: Konstantinos Kontis 1. Introduction In the last few years, an increasing interest has arisen in the utilization of the LOX/CH4 Received: 14 April 2021 propellant combination for space propulsion applications as testified by the efforts spent by Accepted: 24 May 2021 several academic and research institutions, international agencies and private companies. Published: 27 May 2021 The utilization of the LOX/CH4 combination for space propulsion applications provides many advantages, as indicated by several authors [1–3]: Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral • high specific impulse; with regard to jurisdictional claims in • thrust-to-weight ratio performances; published maps and institutional affil- • good cooling capability; iations. • engine reusability and throttlability; • fewer storage, handling and insulation concerns; • reduced pollution impact on ground, atmosphere and space; • compatibility with ISRU (in situ resource utilization) purposes for lunar/Martian missions. Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. These capabilities result in a large number of applications and missions enabled Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article by methane-based propulsion systems, from in-space systems (landing or descent ve- distributed under the terms and hicles, service modules, etc.) to space launchers (main stages or upper stages). In fact, conditions of the Creative Commons oxygen/methane couple represents a potential candidate to substitute hypergolic and Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// solid propellants in the future. Thus, its versatility makes methane a good candidate creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ for several applications, from in-space propulsion systems (service modules, landing or 4.0/). descent vehicles, and ascent stages) to accessing to space (first stages of launchers or upper Aerospace 2021, 8, 151. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace8060151 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/aerospace Aerospace 2021, 8, x 2 of 21 Aerospace 2021, 8, 151 2 of 20 applications, from in-space propulsion systems (service modules, landing or descent ve- hicles, and ascent stages) to accessing to space (first stages of launchers or upper stages) [3]). Somestages) important [3]. Some programs important have programs recently been have launched recently in been Europe launched like the in LYRA Europe pro- like the ject (ASI/ItalianLYRA project Space (ASI/Italian Agency-Avio) Space [4], Agency-Avio) which provided [4], the which first providedimpulse to the the first develop- impulse to ment theof future development generation of futureof VEGA generation upper stage of VEGA engines, upper currently stage engines,on-going currently due to AVIO on-going effortsdue [5]; to Prometheus AVIO efforts engine [5]; Prometheus (100-t-thrus enginet) project, (100-t-thrust) led by CNES project, (Centre led by CNESNational (Centre d'EtudesNational Spatiales)/Airbus-Safran d’Etudes Spatiales)/Airbus-Safran Launcher (France), Launcher is inserted (France), in ESA is inserted FLPP Neo in ESAPro- FLPP gram Neo(European Program Space (European Agency SpaceFuture Agency Launchers Future Preparatory Launchers Programme) Preparatory and Programme) is devoted and is to developingdevoted tothe developing future launcher the future family launcher after familyAriane after 6 [6]. Ariane In the 6 [Russian6]. In the Federation, Russian Federa- severaltion, projects, several like projects, Energomash, like Energomash, KBKhM (KB KBKhM KhimMash/Volga (KB KhimMash/Volga staged combustion staged combustion de- rived derivedengine with engine up withto 10 upt of to thrust), 10 t of KBKhA thrust), (KB KBKhA KhimAvtomatika) (KB KhimAvtomatika) and Starsem and (So- Starsem yuz), (Soyuz),are historically are historically active with active this with kind this of kindissue of and issue involved and involved in several in several studies studies [7]. [7]. JapanJapan has reached has reached high levels high levels of readiness of readiness [8] through [8] through the consolidated the consolidated cooperation cooperation be- be- tweentween JAXA JAXA(Japan (Japan Aerospace Aerospace Exploration Exploration Agency) Agency) and IHI. and In IHI.the United In the UnitedStates, a States, lot of a lot playersof are players involved are involved in several in projects, several projects,oriented orientedto different to different applications. applications. It is worth It isre- worth memberingremembering the SpaceX the SpaceXRaptor Project Raptor [9], Project Blue-Origin [9], Blue-Origin (240-t-thrust (240-t-thrust BE-4 engine, BE-4 based engine, on based stagedon combustion staged combustion cycle) [10] cycle) and [NASA,10] and developing NASA, developing a 20-kN pressure-fed a 20-kN pressure-fed engine, in- engine, tendedintended for the Morpheus for the Morpheus lunar lander lunar (Armadil lander (Armadillolo Aerospace, Aerospace, Mesquite, Mesquite, Texas, USA) TX, USA) [11]. [11]. BesidesBesides the aforementioned the aforementioned initiatives, initiatives, in Italy in there Italy thereis a strong is a strong interest interest in chemical in chemical space spacepropulsion propulsion issues issues and in and the in liquid the liquid oxygen/liquid oxygen/liquid methane methane combination. combination. In fact, In the fact, the ItalianItalian Ministry Ministry of University of University and Research and Research is funding is funding a specific a specific program program devoted devoted to the to the consolidationconsolidation of current of current technologies, technologies, methodologies methodologies and manufacturing and manufacturing capabilities capabilities as as well aswell the as development the development of future of future propulsion propulsion systems. systems. The program The program is named is named HYPROB HYPROB (HYdrocarbon(HYdrocarbon PROpulsion PROpulsion test Bench) test Bench) and ha ands been has beenassigned assigned to the to Italian the Italian Aerospace Aerospace ResearchResearch Centre Centre (CIRA) (CIRA) [12]. Among [12]. Among the differ theent different goals, the goals, most the significant most significant objective objective is the design,is the realization design, realization and testing and of a testing LOX/LCH of a4 demonstrator LOX/LCH4 demonstrator (DEMO), capable (DEMO), of 30 kN capable of thrust.of 30 An kN incremental of thrust. Anapproach incremental strategy approach has been strategy adopted has to enlarge been adopted the comprehen- to enlarge the sion ofcomprehension critical physical of criticalaspects physical through aspects the design, through manufacturing the design, manufacturing and testing of andspecific testing of test articles.specific Basic test articles. activities Basic like activities the design like and the experiments design and experiments on injectors onor injectorsmaterial orchar- material acterizationscharacterizations have been have accomplished. been accomplished. Howeve However,r, central centralissues were issues represented were represented by the by the experimentalexperimental campaigns campaigns on igniters on igniters and andsubscale subscale mono-injector mono-injector engines engines (to (to investigate investigate the the comprehensioncomprehension of of supercritical supercritical combustion combustion,, heatheat release,release,injection injection and and mixing mixing phenomena, phe- nomena,etc.)