Re: Could Falcon 9 compete with the Stick?

On Thu, 8 Sep 2005 19:17:37 -0400, "Jeff Findley"
<jeff.findley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>"Cardman" <do-not@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:tab1i19bt6ooqe2418188gd03329i5v0tc@xxxxxxxxxx
>> This is a very interesting point. I recall from one Boeing Rocketdyne
>> RS-<something> (84?) project all about a reusable RP-1 engine. One
>> main problem was how the heated fuel clogs up the engine.
>>
>> As I cannot imagine them reusing such a basic engine, then I can only
>> imagine that they have made use of some anti-clogging technology.
>
>Perhaps they have done what the Russians did on some LOX/kerosene engines,
>which is to use the LOX to cool the engine rather than the kerosene?

It is a little hard to recall the full details of NASA's moon class
engines of a few years ago, but I will see what I can do.

I believe that the correct word to describe this problem is "coking".

Naturally, it would be unwise to use kerosene for cooling, when LOX is
the much better choice. Use kerosene and you can kiss your engine
goodbye in a very short time.

However, from what I recall this problem was mostly one that appeared
in the combustion chamber, when the high temperature here causes the
kerosene to burn leaving a residue behind. Over time this builds up to
ruin your engine.

There were two solutions proposed to this problem. The first was to
inject, I think it was kerosene, over the surface of the combustion
chamber. This stops the burning residue from sticking.

The second option was to use advanced technology to create an
anti-stick coating. I seem to recall that there was a third option of
keeping the kerosene temperature below that where coking appears, but
that also limited engine performance.

My point is that when they burn kerosene in their combustion chamber
then a residue will be left behind that will coat the surface of their
engine. Over time this will make the engine unusable.

What Space-X has done to tackle this problem I have not heard them
say. However, a fully reusable RP-1 engine is a very rare and advanced
toy to play with.

Cardman.
.

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