Flow rate improvements in additively manufactured flow channels suitable for rocket engine application

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Maximilian Buchholz - , Chair of Space Systems (Author)
  • Samira Gruber - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Alex Selbmann - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Axel Marquardt - , Chair of Materials Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Lucas Meier - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Michael Müller - , Chair of Materials Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Lukas Seifert - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Christoph Leyens - , Chair of Materials Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Martin Tajmar - , Chair of Space Systems (Author)
  • Christian Bach - , Chair of Space Systems (Author)

Abstract

This contribution describes the investigation of flow channels which are designed to be directly integrated into an aerospike engine by means of additive manufacturing with laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). During the experimental testing of a previous aerospike engine in 2019, it was observed that high surface roughness of such additively manufactured integrated channels caused a significant reduction in the mass flow rates of the propellants ethanol and liquid oxygen as well as the coolant due to increased pressure drop. In an extensive study within the CFDmikroSAT project, various factors influencing this surface roughness are, therefore, being investigated, which include the geometry of the channels as well as selected manufacturing parameters of the LPBF process, such as layer thickness and component orientation. To further reduce the roughness after manufacturing, suitable post-processing methods are also being investigated for internal cavities, initially analysing the abrasive flow machining process. Within the paper, the overall investigation approach is presented, such as the overview of the considered specimens, and the initial results of a various studies with selected specimens are discussed. These studies consist of the examination of surface roughness reduction, shape accuracy and flow behaviour of post-processed cooling channel specimens. Finally, a brief overview of the already manufactured aerospike demonstrator is presented.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)715-728
Number of pages14
JournalCEAS space journal
Volume15
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-7406-7588/work/172571102
ORCID /0000-0001-8126-8532/work/173053186

Keywords

Keywords

  • Abrasive flow machining, Additive manufacturing, Aerospace components, Aerospike engine, Flow channels, Laser powder bed fusion