Consider the following statements regarding Cryogenic engine: These en...
Indian Space Research Organisation’s Liquid Propulsion Research Centre (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, has successfully tested the cryogenic rocket engine to be used in its ‘Mission Gaganyaan’.
About CE-20 cryogenic engine:
- It has been designed and developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), a subsidiary of ISRO.
- It will power the Cryogenic Upper Stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle.
- ISRO will use it for its ‘Mission Gaganyaan’ for sending man to space in 2024.
- It is the first Indian cryogenic engine to feature a gas-generator cycle.
- It is one of the most powerful upper-stage cryogenic engines in the world.
- This engine develops a nominal thrust of 186.36 kN in vacuum.
What is a Cryogenic stage?
- The cryogenic stage is technically a very complex system due to its use of propellants at extremely low temperatures and the associated thermal and structural problems.
- It uses liquid fuels (Oxygen liquifies at -183 deg C and Hydrogen at -253 deg C) that are cooled to very low temperatures.
- A Cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant it burns compared to solid and earth-storable liquid propellant rocket stages.
Hence both statements are correct.
Consider the following statements regarding Cryogenic engine: These en...
Cryogenic engines are a type of rocket engines that use propellants at extremely low temperatures. These engines have several advantages over solid and liquid propellant-based engines. Let's examine each statement in detail:
1. These engines use propellants at extremely low temperatures:
Cryogenic engines use cryogenic propellants, which are fuels and oxidizers that are stored and used at very low temperatures. The most common cryogenic propellants are liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2). These propellants are stored at temperatures below -183 degrees Celsius (-297 degrees Fahrenheit) for LOX and below -253 degrees Celsius (-423 degrees Fahrenheit) for LH2. The extremely low temperatures help to keep the propellants in a liquid state and increase their density, allowing for more propellant to be stored in the same volume compared to propellants at higher temperatures.
2. This provides more thrust as compared to solid and liquid propellant-based engines:
Cryogenic engines offer higher specific impulse (ISP) and thrust compared to solid and liquid propellant-based engines. Specific impulse is a measure of the efficiency of a rocket engine and indicates how much thrust can be produced per unit of propellant consumed. Cryogenic propellants have higher energy content and can be burned more efficiently, resulting in higher ISP values. Additionally, the low temperatures allow for denser propellant loading, which further increases the overall thrust generated by the engine.
Cryogenic engines are commonly used in the upper stages of space launch vehicles, where the high specific impulse and increased thrust are crucial for achieving escape velocity and delivering payloads to orbit. They have been utilized by various space agencies, including NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
In conclusion, both statements regarding cryogenic engines are correct. These engines use propellants at extremely low temperatures, which provides more thrust compared to solid and liquid propellant-based engines.
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