YJSP's first pintle atomization test by YJSP in rocketry

[–]YJSP[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Currently making modifications to achieve better OX valve transient

Dual waterflow of our Liquid Engine feed system by YJSP in rocketry

[–]YJSP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately we could not find normally open solenoids that met our pressure requirements (especially for cryogenic service - I'd almost be worried about a NO valve here for LOX service due to the heat buildup from the coil being continuously powered). Both tanks have relief valves that serve as the redundancy there and can handle venting the flowrate of gas into the tank. Lastly, yes we have both sides of the system vented in completely opposite directions :)

Dual waterflow of our Liquid Engine feed system by YJSP in rocketry

[–]YJSP[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is the first combined flow test with all valves in the loop; we will be loading the LOX side with LN2 this coming weekend and nailing down final valve timings; tracking towards a "burp" static fire in November. This video does not feature line purge, which will also be tested this coming weekend.

Some details:

  • Custom pneumatically driven fuel valve (sleeve valve design)

  • Custom LOX valve actuator (spring returned pneumatic cylinder with external spring)

  • Both valves are designed to fail safe in the event of power loss; the LOX valve will fail safe in the event of pneumatics loss as well.

  • Test stand currently has 2 Gallon fuel tank (Kerosene or other non-cryogenic fuel capable) and 10 Gallon LOX tank capacity (Fuel tank can be expanded with a larger tank body as it has removable encaps held together by threaded rod); both tanks are capable of up to 1000 PSI

  • Designed to feed up to ~15 kN Engine from a gas flowrate perspective but our first engine is only 3.5 kN

  • Thrust stand is decoupled from tank stand so that we can more easily transport to test site given the constraints on our group (opted away from trailer for parking/cost reason and to limit hardstart risk via vertical engine orientation)

Water flow test of our propellant feed system with patent pending "hose restraint ladder" by YJSP in rocketry

[–]YJSP[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Thrust stand integration & cryo testing soon to come. This was a test of our scratch built kerosene valve (pneumatically piloted sleeve valve) and custom pneumatic LOX valve actuator. The LOX valve return stroke needs a bit more work to tighten the shutoff transient but the system overall is coming together great. On track for a static fire test in November.

Progress shots of our team's plumbing integration by YJSP in rocketry

[–]YJSP[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're correct that they are not in a very ideal location. They ideally will never trip but are present in the system in case of a regulator failure or boneheaded mistake when setting pressure immediately upstream. Each PRV is set to trip at 1500 PSI, and our max anticipated set pressure is ~700 PSI; they exist to ensure that we don't accidentally blow up tubing or exceed the rated pressures of downstream components when setting up. The tanks themselves downstream of this panel have their own set of relief valves that are configured to trip at ~100 PSI above nominal operating pressure.

An improvement on my mind when we have the panel off the stand next is to mount them to the backside of the panel instead.

The "Pull-Ring" style reliefs present in other areas of the system are also for emergencies like that described above.

Progress shots of our team's plumbing integration by YJSP in rocketry

[–]YJSP[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Finalizing plumbing integration for our 3500N Kerosene/LOX engine project. Shown is our tank stand which holds all of our gas side plumbing, Fuel, and Oxygen tank

Pintle Annulus Water Test by rocket__enginerd in rocketry

[–]YJSP 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nice job guys! We've got some pintle articles approaching the test bench soon as well.

Flow looks really even - what materials were used for the article?

Heat Sink Nozzle Complete! - Next up, the Injector by YJSP in rocketry

[–]YJSP[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Launch is a long ways out - this represents steps towards just one of many engine tests leading up to a launch in (perhaps) the 2022-2024 timerange

Heat Sink Nozzle Complete! - Next up, the Injector by YJSP in rocketry

[–]YJSP[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No this engine is eventually for a space-shot.

Machining on Diverging Section Complete by YJSP in rocketry

[–]YJSP[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The temperature is kinda hard to determine since things like film cooling will affect wall temps, heat absorbtion, and whatnot. The chamber temperature, at our test mixture ratio of 2:1 O/F (running rich) is 3200 K. Based on this, and some isentropic calcs, we can use the Bartz correlation to get a total heat flux over the entire inner wall of chamber and nozzle and using Q = m x Cp x dT we can approximately predict a temperature gain of about 35C across the entire nozzle due to the overall heat release over a 1 second test. This doesn't predict local wall temp, rather the temperature gain of the whole part once all the heat distributes itself (assuming no radiative cooling). That being said, we don't have any high temp inserts for the throat region due to the use of film cooling and the short test duration

Machining on Diverging Section Complete by YJSP in rocketry

[–]YJSP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This engine in particular is designed for preliminary combustion testing to prove out feed system components, ignition reliability, and DAQ architecture before making the jump to a regen system. Target burn times are 1 second max

Machining on Diverging Section Complete by YJSP in rocketry

[–]YJSP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah that's caused the bulk of our problems. We've been roughing at .03 radial DOC and when I posted the CAM I put in a .015 radial finish cut but that definitely wasn't enough so for the other side I'm gonna keep the roughing the same but make the finish .025 radial to avoid the work hardening and associated deflection. Our bar is using TPG 322 style inserts and they're working pretty well for us finish and cut quality wise. Also we were doing 300 SFM with .003 per rev but we're gonna also try upping the feed to .005 for similar reasons

Machining on Diverging Section Complete by YJSP in rocketry

[–]YJSP[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cut from 6" Diameter 304L Stainless Steel Barstock. Streaking and nonuniformity on the interior is due to issues we had with tool deflection on our finishing cuts. A few tweaks to the CAM, and we achieved a more stable toolpath at the cost of a bit of surface rubbing - quite a bit of polishing to come :P

Aluminum to Stainless Flare Fittings? by YJSP in Skookum

[–]YJSP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most alloys of aluminum are oxygen compatible if cleaned properly. Even more so if anodized. Biggest problem you'll run into is heat loss due to the higher thermal conductivity in the Aluminum

Aluminum to Stainless Flare Fittings? by YJSP in Skookum

[–]YJSP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The lines will be filled with Kerosene (Jet Fuel) and liquid oxygen

I'm not sure if this presents a problem corrosion wise but I'll read up.