I know SRBs have a quite bit of thrust oscillation, and it's pretty much part and parcel of burning solid propellant. Do liquid-propellant engines experience something similar albeit at a much smaller magnitude? If so what is the main cause of this constant small variation in thrust level? Is it because of the combustion process inside the bell? In Falcon 9 launches you often see photos like this
The streak patterns of the exhaust plume indicate there is at least some non-uniformity of the pressure and temperature field inside. I assume every liquid engine actually behaves like this, but it's only apparent on LOX/RP-1 engine because of soot acting like temperature indicator through the intensity of the glow for the pattern.
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
3
-
2$\begingroup$ I think the vertical streaking is closely related to the physical arrangement of the fuel/oxidizer injectors and resulting flow patterns, but I'm not sure why I think that. $\endgroup$– Russell BorogoveCommented Sep 17, 2019 at 22:15
-
2$\begingroup$ Agreed, and if it was perfectly mixed, you likely wouldn't see the streaking. $\endgroup$– Organic MarbleCommented Sep 18, 2019 at 0:01
-
$\begingroup$ If I find out that KSP streak patterns have changed in KSP2, I'm coming back to this question... $\endgroup$– Erin BCommented Sep 19, 2019 at 13:18
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
1
Yes, in liquid engines this phenomenon is called "rough combustion".
Sutton (4th edition) says
Combustion that gives pressure fluctuations greater than about +/- 5% of the mean pressure at a chamber wall location and which occur at completely random intervals is called rough combustion.
It's different from "combustion instability" defined as activity which
displays organized oscillations ocurring at well-defined intervals with a pressure peak that may be maintained, may increase, or may die out.
pp. 257 - 259
The streak patterns you mention are more likely due to non-uniform mixing resulting in slight variations in local mixture ratio, than due to rough combustion, IMHO.
answered Sep 17, 2019 at 21:16
-
$\begingroup$ F1s had problems with non-uniform mixing (combustion instability) behind the single injector plate, so not technically in the bell. Source: Apollo's Daring Mission (~14 min. in). Solved by adding baffles before the plate so that it was more like the individual nozzles found on V2s. $\endgroup$– MazuraCommented Sep 19, 2019 at 4:45
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
6
In addition to the "rough combustion" that Organic Marble mentions, liquid engines also characteristically suffer from pogo oscillation. This is the phenomenon in which the thrust causes acceleration of the rocket, which changes the flow of propellant in the lines fuel and oxidizer lines, which then causes a change in the thrust, which is now a loop.
Pogo oscillation was a major problem in the development of the Saturn rockets, and I believe the Jupiters before them.
answered Sep 18, 2019 at 14:39
-
3$\begingroup$ I see figures of up to 34g oscillation at 16Hz (zero-to-peak, at the engine's mount point). This would make for a VERY uncomfortable ride. $\endgroup$– jeffBCommented Sep 18, 2019 at 17:13
-
2$\begingroup$ The Titan (ICBM) boosters used in the Gemini program had some serious (i.e., destructive) pogo oscillations in their initial flight tests. Fortunately the were largely resolved before the rockets were carrying human passengers. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 18, 2019 at 21:57
-
$\begingroup$ What methods can be used to prevent it? $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 19, 2019 at 11:17
-
2$\begingroup$ Space Shuttle Main Engine had a "pogo accumulator" built in, a pressurized volume connected to the LOX feedline which helped to damp out oscillations. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 29, 2019 at 23:04
-
1$\begingroup$ Saturn V second stage also got pogo accumulators installed after A13 (though the design was in progress before the pogo-induced engine failure on that flight). vibrationdata.com/Newsletters/October2008_NL.pdf $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 11 at 18:09