Transcript Intro SPL
Swiss Propulsion Laboratory At a glance Switzerland and it‘s Space Industry • Switzerland is a founding member of ESA (ca. 130 Mio. €/y) • Universities: Rosetta space probe, biol. experiments for ISS etc. • Lot‘s of high tech companies, only few into space technologies, none in propulsion Two Examples: SPL-Intro 1 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Founding of SPL • Founded by 3 engineers (today: 7 members and additional helpers) in autumn 98 as a non-profit research organization. Financed by priv. funds and sponsoring (AROTECHNOLOGIES) • Aims: – Development of launch sytems for small payloads (X-Bow launcher family) – Main focus: Design, build and test propulsion related components and equipment like injectors, comb. chambers, (cryogenic) valves, igniters, pressurization systems, complete thrust test stands etc. – Close cooperation with universities, companies and other research groups SPL-Intro 2 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Projects • Pre-SPL Projects • X-Bow Launcher Family • Australian AUSROC 2.5 • Solid Propulsion • Misc./Infrastructure SPL-Intro 3 © SPL, 28.2.2007 ARO TECHNOLOGIES Pre-SPL History • In the years 1994 to 1997 ARO TECHNOLOGIES developed various components for the project „Stingray“. Click on picture to start movie SPL-Intro 4 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Projects • Pre-SPL Projects • X-Bow Launcher Family • Australian AUSROC 2.5 • Solid Propulsion • Misc./Infrastructure SPL-Intro 5 © SPL, 28.2.2007 X-Bow I SPL-Intro 6 © SPL, 28.2.2007 X-Bow I Tridyne • Tridyne gas is catalyticaly „burned“ in a catalyst. It consists of a low percentage of Hydrogen/Oxygen mixed in a inert gas like Helium or Nitrogen. • A typical SPL Tridyne test device: SPL-Intro 7 © SPL, 28.2.2007 X-Bow I Tridyne SPL-Intro 8 © SPL, 28.2.2007 X-Bow I Engine • 10 kN thrust, combustion pressure 2.5 MPa • Propellant: LOX and Kerosene or Ethyl Alcohol, m~ 4 kg/s • Electrical torch igniter makes the engine restartable SPL-Intro 9 © SPL, 28.2.2007 X-Bow I Engine Current work: 10 kN modular test injector with 19 removable elements. Prepared for film-cooling SPL-Intro 10 © SPL, 28.2.2007 X-Bow I Engine • Triplet injectors (2 fuel, 1 LOX), film cooling • Cold spray tests in a high pressure environment up to 6 MPa done by students at FHBB(droplets size and velocity measured by a LDA) SPL-Intro 11 © SPL, 28.2.2007 X-Bow I Engine • Ablatively or regeneratively cooled combustion chamber • Regenerative cooled variant: Copper liner with machined cooling channels and an outer shell of electro plated nickel. Low cost variant: Aluminum-Liner and saddle design SPL-Intro 12 © SPL, 28.2.2007 X-Bow I Engine • Successful test of a 2.5 kN subscale low-cost combustion chamber made of aluminum. Click on picture to start movie SPL-Intro 13 © SPL, 28.2.2007 X-Bow I Engine • Successful test of a 2.5 kN subscale low-cost combustion chamber made of aluminum. At full throttle… Click on picture to start movie SPL-Intro 14 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Projects • Pre-SPL Projects • X-Bow Launcher Family • Australian AUSROC 2.5 • Solid Propulsion • Misc./Infrastructure SPL-Intro 15 © SPL, 28.2.2007 AUSROC 2.5 LOX/Kerosene, 3o kN thrust, 6m tall. SPL supports the project with pressurization equipments and other devices. Altitude: ~40 km. Movie AUSROC 2 SPL-Intro 16 © SPL, 28.2.2007 AUSROC 2.5 Staging mechanism: Designed and build by FHNW students. More info’s about AUSROC: www.asri.org.au SPL-Intro 17 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Projects • Pre-SPL Projects • X-Bow Launcher Family • Australian AUSROC 2.5 • Solid-Propulsion • Misc./Infrastructure SPL-Intro 18 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Solid Propulsion • Goal: Elaborate the knowledge to design, build and fire solid rocket motors (AP-HTPB-Al Composite) • Testing of highly efficient burning rate catalysts like CATOCENE => burning rates up to 25 mm/s @ 7 MPa • Various test motors up to an impulse of 20 kNs and thrust of 12 kN SPL-Intro 19 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Solid propulsion TETHIS Motor • Impulse 20 kNs, thrust 8 kN, 4 stacked grains (81% solids) • Ignited by a pyrogen Magnesium/Teflon igniter • Series of Tethis motors successful tested in April 2002 Click on picture to start movie SPL-Intro 20 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Solid Propulsion Igniters • Pyrogen igniters are small rocket motors initiated by smaller pyrotechnic charges (Squibs) SPL-Intro 21 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Solid Propulsion Igniters SPL-Intro 22 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Solid Propulsion Magnesium/Teflon igniter SPL-Intro 23 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Projects • Pre-SPL Projects • X-Bow Launcher Family • Australian AUSROC 2.5 • Solid Propulsion • Misc./Infrastructure SPL-Intro 24 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Miscellaneous Projects Test bench for Turbo pumps Turbines and pumps up to 200 kW and 60‘000 rpm can be tested here Click on picture to start movie SPL-Intro 25 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Infrastructure • All kinds of conventional and NC machine tools, EDM, ECM • CAD/FEM/CAM/CFD tools available • DAQ equipment: 64 channels, 100 kSp/s 4 channels , 500 MSp/s • Hydro test equipment 100 MPa • Vacuum chamber , 24 m3, 1000 Pa • Pressure converter, allows to compress any kind gas mixtures to pressures up to 100 MPa (for example the Tridyne gas mix) • Indoor test stand for small thrusters, igniters, gas generators • 100 kN thrust test stand • Sound suppressing System for engines up to 100 kN • And much more ... SPL-Intro 26 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Infrastructure Thrust Test Stand • For solids and liquids • exchangeable load cells 25 and 100 kN • Measuring table mounted on hysteresis-free flex joints • integrated safety stops SPL-Intro 27 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Infrastructure Thrust Test Stand • Sound suppressing system (12m long stainless tube, with baffles, embedded in 20 t sand) • High power fan • Ex-proof test cell SPL-Intro 28 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Infrastructure Test cell Thrust Test Stand Start MTW-Movie to get an impression of the infrastructure SPL-Intro 29 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Infrastructure Other examples • 5 axis CNC milling machines, CNC lathe • Access to underground detonic laboratory with high-speed XRay recording SPL-Intro 30 © SPL, 28.2.2007 The Near Future at SPL • Further development of regenerative cooled engines up to 100 kN • Participation in the ENTERPRISE project – Development of the engines – Propellant feeding system, pressurization etc. • Launch of AUSROC 2.5 equipped with SPL Tridyne system • Development of the X-Bow I airframe • Various projects with commercial and governmental partners SPL-Intro 31 © SPL, 28.2.2007 Questions ? Contact and further info‘s: WWW.SPL.CH SPL-Intro 32 © SPL, 28.2.2007