Chemical Rockets
Types of Rockets
All we have seen so far applies to all types of rockets.
A rocket motor essentially takes energy from a source and transfers it to a fluid
which is then ejected.
A rocket motor can be:
• Thermodynamic by heating gases
• Electric by moving masses electromagnetically
Eliott Wertheimer
The Rocket Type Tree
Pressure Cold Gas
Solid
Thermodynamic Chemical Hybrid
Liquid
Solid Core Fission
Gas Core Fission
Nuclear Nuclear Pulse
Fusion
Resistojet
Electrothermal Augmented Chemical
Arcjet
Ion Motor
Electric Electrostatic Colloid Thruster
Field Emission
Electrodynamic Magnetoplasma-Dynamic
Eliott Wertheimer
Chemical Rockets
Essentially chemical rockets release the potential energy stored in chemical
bonds through some form of reaction to heat up a gas.
The heated gas expands at high velocities creating thrust.
Three types:
• Liquid mono-bi-or tri-propellants
• Solids
• Hybrids
Eliott Wertheimer
How Do Chemical Rockets Work?
Gas enters the chamber from outside or is generated by combustion of
materials lining the walls
Eliott Wertheimer
How Do Chemical Rockets Work?
Heat is added through chemical reactions or other means:
Increased random molecular kinetic motion Gas expansion
Eliott Wertheimer
How Do Chemical Rockets Work?
• Gases and propellant escape down the nozzle accelerating and
cooling down as they expand past the throat.
• Transfer of potential energy (Thermal/Pressure) to kinetic energy
(gas velocity)
Eliott Wertheimer
Critical Performance Parameters
• For Nozzle Design:
𝐹 ሶ 𝑒 +𝐴𝑒 (𝑃𝑒 −𝑃𝑎 )
𝑚𝑉
Thrust Coefficient: 𝐶𝐹 = =
𝑃𝑐 𝐴𝑇 𝑃𝑐 𝐴𝑇
• Propellant and Combustion Chamber Design:
𝐶 𝐹/𝑚ሶ 𝑃𝑐 𝐴𝑇
Characteristic Exhaust Velocity: C*= = =
𝐶𝐹 𝐹/𝑃𝑐 𝐴𝑇 𝑚ሶ
• This is affected by propellants, mixture ratio, combustion efficiency, etc.
• Basically needs a high chamber temperature and low propellant
molecular weight.
Eliott Wertheimer
Nozzle Expansion
Over Correct Under
Expansion Expansion Expansion
Eliott Wertheimer
Nozzle Expansion Implications
• Most trip at low atmospheric pressure: low exit pressure is
desirable.
• At low altitudes high atmospheric pressure leads to suction
and over expansion. This is dangerous and can lead to
instabilities.
• Most Rocket Motor nozzles are designed to avoid separation at
all altitudes.
Eliott Wertheimer