Design and Development of an Ethanol/LOX Injection Head for Rocket Steam Generator (45 kg/s Steam) and Experimental Study of Combustion Stability

Kurzfassung

This paper summarises DLR design efforts and experimental results of an injection head of a 45 kg/s steam generator (SG)based on rocket combustion principle. Propellants in use are liquid oxygen (LOX) and ethanol (80%). Principles of design, history of development, design details and hot firing results are presented. Further topic of this paper is to summarise experimental investigations of combustion stability of the 45 kg/s SG in order to increase margin to combustion instability. Test results of hot firing operation of different acoustic absorbers are presented. Key points are an adjustable quarter wave tube ring and a three blade prototype baffle.