what are the fundamentals of liquid rocket propulsion?

Answer 1

that's too complictated to really be explained here. You need at least an entire book and/or at least a semester course in the subject (the requirements for which are a few semesters of univerisity physics and mathematics classes)

in terms of physics, it's all about conservation of momentum and fluid dynamics....but a lot of other topics come into play.

Answer 2

Basically mixing a liquid oxidizer with a liquid fuel and controlling the burn rate as well as the direction of the discharge so that the rocket tracks properly.

Liquid oxygen (LOX) is a popular oxidizer that can be combined with either liquid hydrogen or RP-1 Kerosene and then lit by a spark to start ignition. The shuttle uses LOX and liquid hydrogen for the 3 main engines on it and that fuel is in the big disposable tank. The old Saturn V's first stage used RP1 and LOX while the 2nd and 3rd stages used LOX and liquid hydrogen.

Things that were learned early on, no ice in your liquid fuel or oxidizer! Big chunks of ice tear the hell out of your fuel and oxidizer pumps! Therefore, the purity of the hydrogen and oxygen is very high to prevent formation of ice--this blew up several Soviet rockets in the late 60s!

There is one other method of liquid fueled rockets and that is to use hypergolic fuel. Hypergolic fuel ignites when the oxidzer and fuel combine! No spark necessary. This is what the thrusters on the space shuttle use as well as the engine that does the de-orbit burn. The service module on the Apollo shots had hypergolic fuel to minimize screwups that could leave astronauts stranded forever in lunar orbit! It was a very simple system; pressurize the tanks with helium and open two valves, and you had fire in the hole.

Typically for hypergolics you use such very pleasant chemicals such as:

methyl hydrazine (or just hydrazine) for fuel

and nitrogen tetroxide or red fuming nitric acid as an oxidizer.

Go back and watch the old Gemini/Titan liftoffs. They used hypergolic fuel on the Titan booster. That big red cloud you see at ignition---red fuming nitric acid!!!

Answer 3

Rocket propuslon comes from ejection of material causing an equal and opposite force to the rocket from the ejected material. In liquid propulsion the ejected material comes from the reaction of two liquid components: fuel and oxidizer that are kept in separate tanks. The are mixed in the nozzle and ignited. The reaction produces a very hot gas that is expelled, propelling the rocket. In solid propulsion, fuel and oxidizer are mixed together in solid form in a single container, and when ignited produce a hot gas that is ejected and propels the rocket.

Answer 4

For a action there is an equall and opposite reaction.

Answer 5

Your name isn't Kim Jong Il by any chance, is it?

Answer 6

be very very careful



funny
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Answer 7

gas go boom