Recently, liquid oxygen-liquid methane (LO2/LCH4) has been considered as a potential "green" propellant alternative for future exploration missions. The Propulsion and Cryogenic Advanced Development (PCAD) project has been tasked by NASA to develop this propulsion combination to enable safe and cost effective exploration missions. To date, limited experience with such combinations exist, and as a result a comprehensive test program is critical to demonstrating the viability of implementing such a system. The NASA Glenn Research Center has conducted a test program of a 100-lbf (445-N) reaction control engine (RCE) at the center s Altitude Combustion Stand (ACS), focusing on altitude testing over a wide variety of operational conditions. The ACS facility includes a unique propellant conditioning feed system (PCFS) which allows precise control of propellant inlet conditions to the engine. Engine performance as a result of these inlet conditions was examined extensively during the test program. This paper is a companion to the previous specific impulse testing paper, and discusses the pulsed mode operation portion of testing, with a focus on minimum impulse bit (I-bit) and repeatable pulse performance. The engine successfully demonstrated target minimum impulse bit performance at all conditions, as well as successful demonstration of repeatable pulse widths. Some anomalous conditions experienced during testing are also discussed, including a double pulse phenomenon which was not noted in previous test programs for this engine.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Summary of Altitude Pulse Testing of a 100-lbf L02/LCH4 Reaction Control Engine


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    JANNAF 8th Modeling and Simulation Subcommittee (MSS) Meeting ; 2011 ; Huntsville, AL, United States
    JANNAF 6th Liquid Propulsion Subcommittee (LPS) Meeting ; 2011 ; Huntsville, AL, United States
    JANNAF 5th Spacecraft Propulsion Subcommittee (SPS)Meeting ; 2011 ; Huntsville, AL, United States


    Publication date :

    2011-12-04


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English






    DEVELOPMENT, TESTING OF A 5 LBF LO2/LCH4 REACTION CONTROL ENGINE

    Torres, Steven A. / Hansen, Corey / Bugarin, Luz I. et al. | TIBKAT | 2019


    Development and Testing of a 5 lbf LO2/LCH4 Reaction Control Engine

    Torres, Steven A. / Hansen, Corey / Bugarin, Luz I. et al. | AIAA | 2019


    Spark Ignition Characteristics of a LO2/LCH4 Engine at Altitude Conditions

    Kleinhenz, Julie / Sarmiento, Charles / Marshall, William | AIAA | 2012