College Students Testing Rocket Engine | Coaxial Swirl Injector
March 30th and 31st mark the first fires on our new Helluva Engine Test Stand! The improved system allows for a rapid test cadence as we iterate through new liquid rocket engine designs.
We tested a kerosene and liquid oxygen coaxial swirl injector that was designed and machined by students. During the first test we reached 650 lbf but we were low on liquid oxygen flow rate and very fuel rich. For the second test we tuned our oxygen tank pressures and hit 740 lbf. Our new test stand utilizes active bangbang pressurization control allowing for tank pressures to be adjusted on the fly. During the first fire you may have noticed a blip of fire after the burn, that was from a delayed purge. In the second test we tuned purge timings to make shut down smoother. We also noticed some instability issues during these tests and we are still investigating the root cause. Stay tuned for many more rocket engine tests soon!
Special Thanks to Marotta Controls, Omega Engineering, Prentex, and AVCO Valves for donating the high-end equipment necessary to construct and operate our rocket engine test stand!
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The Yellow Jacket Space Program (YJSP) is Georgia Tech's Liquid Rocketry club. A student-led team working to launch the first collegiate liquid rocket to space.
Website: https://www.gtspaceprogram.com/
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