How does liquid rocket fuel work?

In a liquid rocket, stored fuel and stored oxidizer are pumped into a combustion chamber where they are mixed and burned. The combustion produces great amounts of exhaust gas at high temperature and pressure. The hot exhaust is passed through a nozzle which accelerates the flow.

Why is rocket fuel liquid?

Liquids are desirable because they have a reasonably high density and high specific impulse (Isp). This allows the volume of the propellant tanks to be relatively low. Liquid propellants are also used in hybrid rockets, with some of the advantages of a solid rocket.

What is the liquid fuel used in rocket engines?

liquid hydrogen
In combination with an oxidizer such as liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen yields the highest specific impulse, or efficiency in relation to the amount of propellant consumed, of any known rocket propellant.

How does a rocket turbopump work?

A turbopump in a rocket engine consists of a pump that delivers fuel or oxidizer to the thrust chamber where the propellants are brought to react and increase in temperature. Since the combustion process takes place under constant pressure, the chamber pressure is the net result of the turbopump system.

Why do rockets use turbopumps?

High-performance liquid-fueled rockets require turbopumps to pump the fuel and oxidizer from their tanks to the fuel injectors at high rates of speed. These devices must operate at hundreds of rotations per minute and be able to restart themselves numerous times during a mission.

What is a liquid rocket engine?

A liquid rocket engine employs liquid propellants which are fed under pressure from tanks into a combustion chamber. The propellants usually consist of a liquid oxidizer and a liquid fuel.

What is the pressure inside the nozzle of a rocket?

The nozzle is usually made long enough (or the exit area is great enough) such that the pressure in the combustion chamber is reduced at the nozzle exit to the pressure existing outside the nozzle. If the rocket engine is being fired at sea level this pressure is about 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi).

What are the parts of a rocket motor?

A typical rocket motor consists of the combustion chamber, the nozzle, and the injector, as shown in Figure 1. The combustion chamber is where the burning of propellants takes place at high pressure. Figure 1Typical Rocket Motor 6

What is the temperature at the nozzle of a jet engine?

The drop in temperature of the combustion gases flowing through the nozzle is high and can be as much as 2,000° – 3,000° F. Since the gases in the combustion chamber may be at 5,000° – 6,000° F, the gas temperature at the nozzle exit is still about 3,000° F.