# Knowledge base: Warsaw University of Technology

Back

## Numerical analysis of the geometry of the resistojet engine heater for satellite applications

### Sylwia Szczepańska

#### Abstract

This thesis was created to investigate and analyze the flow in the resistojet thruster by numerical simulations in ANSYS FLUENT. The working medium was hydrogen peroxide H2O2. Two concepts of installing heater in the engine were tested. The first one involved placing the heating element between the two walls of the engine, while according to the second concept heater was placed in the form of two spirals. Variable parameters were: the inlet pressure, which ranged from 5 bar to 15 bar, the heater temperature, which took values 473 K, 573 K and 673 K. A total of 30 calculations were performed for different combinations of boundary conditions. The first chapter of the thesis contains short history of rocket engines. Great emphasis was put on the characteristics of the resistojet engine and presentation of different concepts of heating gas in the engine. In the second one, the aims of the thesis were presented. The process of creating models with heater between the walls and the heater in form of a spiral were described in the third chapter. Additionally, boundary conditions were shown in the table for all cases. A very important task was to optimize the model in order to test different mesh density. As expected, the use of poor mesh gave wrong results, while the use of finest mesh was pointless, because the time required for calculation has greatly increased, and the results were comparable to those obtained by using an optimal mesh. Analyses referred to the flow velocity and its distribution in the characteristic points of the engine, the static and total temperature and pressure distribution, depending on the inlet pressure and heater temperature. Also the influence of heater geometry on mentioned distributions was checked. All results are presented both in tables and graphs. The heater in the form of a spiral has a higher contact surface with the working medium than a heater located between the two walls, and therefore a higher flow velocity and temperature were achieved. And these higher parameters mean improvement in output performance of the engine.
Diploma type
Engineer's / Bachelor of Science
Diploma type
Engineer's thesis
Author
Sylwia Szczepańska (FPAE) Sylwia Szczepańska,, Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering (FPAE)
Title in Polish
Analiza numeryczna geometrii grzałki silnika resistojet do zastosowań satelitarnych
Supervisor
Jan Kindracki (FPAE/IHE) Jan Kindracki,, The Institute of Heat Engineering (FPAE/IHE)Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering (FPAE)
Certifying unit
Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering (FPAE)
Affiliation unit
The Institute of Heat Engineering (FPAE/IHE)
Study subject / specialization
, Lotnictwo i Kosmonautyka
Language
(pl) Polish
Status
Finished
Defense Date
11-02-2016
Issue date (year)
2016
Pages
64
Internal identifier
MEL; PD-3507
Reviewers
Andrzej Teodorczyk (FPAE/IHE) Andrzej Teodorczyk,, The Institute of Heat Engineering (FPAE/IHE)Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering (FPAE) Jan Kindracki (FPAE/IHE) Jan Kindracki,, The Institute of Heat Engineering (FPAE/IHE)Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering (FPAE)
Keywords in Polish
silniki rakietowe, resistojet, silniki elektrotermiczne, obliczenia numeryczne, grzałka
Keywords in English
rocket engines, resistojet, electrothermal thrusters, numerical calculations, heater
Abstract in Polish
File
• File: 1
252205 - Sylwia Szczepańska - Analiza numeryczna geometrii grzałki silnika resistojet do zastosowań satelitarnych.pdf
Request a WCAG compliant version
Local fields
Identyfikator pracy APD: 9184

Uniform Resource Identifier
https://repo.pw.edu.pl/info/bachelor/WUT5f755198262a471c863b4c59a8266633/
URN
urn:pw-repo:WUT5f755198262a471c863b4c59a8266633

Confirmation
Are you sure?