AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING
CATEGORY L T P CREDIT
AOT306 NON-AIRBREATHING PROPULSION
PCC 3 1 0 4
Preamble: The course is meant to give the learners an introduction to high speed non air breathing
propulsion systems.
Prerequisite: Nil
Course Outcomes: After the completion of the course the student will be able to
CO 1 Understand the basic concepts of operating characteristics of rockets and able to solve
basic problems
CO 2 Understand the basic concepts and operating characteristics of solid propellant rocket
motor and able to solve basic problems
CO 3 Understand the basic concepts and operating characteristics of liquid propulsion system
and able to solve basic problems
CO 4 Understand the basic concepts and operating characteristics of hybrid rockets and different
kind of nozzles applied to rocket propulsion and able to solve basic problems
CO 5 Understand the basic concepts of other than chemical rockets.
Mapping of course outcomes with program outcomes
PO PO 2 PO 3 PO 4 PO 5 PO 6 PO 7 PO 8 PO 9 PO PO PO
1 10 11 12
CO 1 2 2
CO 2 3 3 1
CO 3 3 3 1
CO 4 3 2 2 1
CO 5 3
Assessment Pattern
Bloom’s Category Continuous Assessment Tests End Semester Examination
1 2
Remember 10 10 10
Understand 20 20 20
Apply 20 20 70
Analyse
Evaluate
Create
Mark distribution
Total Marks CIE ESE ESE Duration
150 50 100 3 hours
Continuous Internal Evaluation Pattern:
Attendance : 10 marks
Continuous Assessment Test (2 numbers) : 25 marks
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Assignment/Quiz/Course project : 15 marks
End Semester Examination Pattern: There will be two parts; Part A and Part B. Part A contain 10 questions
with 2 questions from each module, having 3 marks for each question. Students should answer all questions.
Part B contains 2 questions from each module of which student should answer any one. Each question can
have maximum 2 sub-divisions and carry 14 marks.
Course Level Assessment Questions
Course Outcome 1 (CO1):
1. Derive an expression for coefficient of thrust.
2. Derive an expression for characteristic velocity, effective exhaust velocity and jetvelocity.
3. Discuss the effect of molecular weight of jet velocity.
Course Outcome 2 (CO2)
1. How the particle size affects the burning rate,
2. Discuss the effect of chamber pressure on burning rate.
3. Discuss the how a desired thrust program can be achieved by desired thrust program
Course Outcome 3(CO3):
1. What are the different types of cooling system adopted for liquid propulsion system explain?
2. Explain the different types of injectors?
3. Explain the function of turbo pump feed system?
Course Outcome 4 (CO4):
1. Is the regenerative cooling system adaptable in a hybrid rocket explain.
2. Explain the working of an inverse hybrid rockets?
3. Why the conical nozzles are not suitable for liquid engine explain?
Course Outcome 5 (CO5):
1. Explain the working of a fission rocket engine.
2. Explain the working of electrical propulsion system
3. Explain how the solar energy can be used for propulsion?
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Model Question paper
QP CODE: Reg No: --------------------------
APJ ABDUL KALAM TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY SIXTH SEMESTER B. TECH DEGREE EXAMINATION
MONTH & YEAR
Course Code: AOT306
NON- AIRBREATHING PROPULSION
Max.Marks:100 Duration: 3 Hours
PART A
Answer all Questions
(Each question carries 3 Marks)
1. Write thrust equation, explain the effect of trust with altitude according to this equation?
2. What is specific impulse and deduce total impulse?
3. Explain what is progressive regressive and neutral burning propellant grain?
4. Write the demerits of solid propellants?
5. Explain what is regenerative cooling system in liquid engines?
6. Explain why a high pressure injection system is needed for injection of fuel and oxidizer?
7. Explain why the conical nozzles are suitable for solid booster?
8. Explain the effect of particle size in burning rate and how the desired thrust program is obtained
different particle size?
9. Why the solar rockets important for space propulsion?
10. What are the different sources of nuclear energy used for rocket propulsion?
PART B
Answer any one full question from each module
(Each question carries 14 Marks)
Module 1
11. A rocket engine develops a thrust of 10KN while consuming 3.5kg/s of propellants having an
energy content of 25MJ/kg. When the vehicle velocity is 500m/s, determine specific impulse,
specific propellant consumption, effective exhaust velocity, thrust power, and overall efficiency
(14)
12. a) For an ideal rocket with characteristic velocity is1800m/s, the thrust coefficient is 1.4, the radius
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of the throat is 0.09m, the burned propellant flow rate is 40kg/s, calculate the specific
impulse, thrust and the chamber pressure (8)
b) Derive an expression for internal efficiency, propulsive efficiency and overall efficiency
(6)
Module 2
13. The characteristics of a propellant with a mass flow rate of 0.5kg/sec for a gas generator are as
follows. Burn rate at 7MPa = 4mm/sec, Burning time = 120sec, Chamber pressure = 5MPa,
Pressure exponent = 0.5, Propellant specific gravity = 1.65. Determine the size of an end burning
cylindrical grain nozzle (14)
14. Explain the working of a solid propellant rocket motor with suitable sketch? What are the different
types of ignition system used in solid propellants explain with sketches (14)
Module 3
15. Sketch and explain a bi-propellant liquid propulsion system? (14)
16. a) What air tank volume is required to pressurize the propellant tank of 8500N thrust rocket thrust
chamber using 90% hydrogen per oxide as a propellant with chamber pressure of 5 MPa for 50 sec
in conjunction with a solid catalyst The air tank pressure is 17MPa. Allow 1.2% residual propellant
(7)
b)Sketch and explain different types of ignition system used in liquid engines (7)
Module 4
17. A convergent divergent nozzle of area ratio of 3.5 is expanded to an atmosphere of 1bar 288K. Find
the total pressure, temperature, density, exit Mach number, jet velocity, throat static pressure,
temperature and velocity of air at throat for optimum expansion
(14)
18. a) Sketch and explain the working of a hybrid rockets (8)
b) Explain the contour nozzles are suitable for liquid engines? What are the problems associated
with contour nozzles in a solid propellant rockets (6)
Module 5
19. Sketch and explain the working of fission and fusion nuclear rockets? (14)
20. Sketch and explain working of any two electric propulsion system (14)
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Syllabus
Module 1
Fundamentals and principles and of rockets and its operation, basic principles and thrust equation, specific
impulse, total impulse, exhaust velocity, characteristic velocity, thrust coefficient and mass flow coefficient,
design parameters for rocket engine, energy flow and efficiencies, (Basic numerical calculations).
Module 2
Solid propellant rocket motor:- General features, solid propellants and its chemical compositions, double bas
propellant, composite propellant, desirable properties and its demerits, combustion of solid propellant,
burning rate and its relation with temperature, erosive burning, combustion instability, strand and T- burner,
regressive, neutral and progressive, propellant grain configuration restricted and unrestricted burning, ignition,
different loads on propellant during flight, (Basic numerical calculations).
Module 3
Liquid propellant rocket engines: - Comparison with other propulsion system, disadvantages of liquid engines,
liquid propellants, monopropellant, bi-propellant, selection of liquid propellants and bi-propellant
combination, pressure and turbo pump feed system, ignition of propellants, cooling system, regenerate
cooling, injectors for liquid propellant rockets Thrust control and cooling in liquid propellant rockets and the
associated heat transfer problems. Combustion instability in liquid propellant rockets. Problems associated
with operation of cryogenic engines.
Module 4
Hybrid rocket engines, inverse hybrid rocket engines, comparisons and its limitations, types of nozzles used for
rocket application, effect of back pressure on nozzles, over expanded under expanded and optimum expanded
nozzles, effect of altitude on nozzle performance. Rocket dispersion and launching problems (Basic numerical
calculations).
Module 5
Other non-air breath propulsion systems: - Nuclear rockets, electric rocket engines, electro thermal propulsion,
electrostatic propulsion, solar thermal rocket, solar sail,
Text Books
1. George P Sutton, “Rocket Propulsion Elements”
2. Anderson, J. D, "Modern Compressible Flow", McGraw-Hill & Co.
Data Book (Approved for use in the examination):
S M Yahya, Gas Tables for Compressible Flow Calculations, New Age International Publishing.
Reference Books
1. 1.Hill and Peterson, Non-Air breath Propulsion
2. P Balachandran, Modern Compressible flow”
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Course Contents and Lecture Schedule
No Topic No. of Lectures
1 Module 1
1.1 Fundamentals and principles and of rockets and its operation, basic 2
principles and thrust equation,
1.2 specific impulse, total impulse, exhaust velocity, characteristic 3
velocity, thrust coefficient and mass flow coefficient,
1.3 design parameters for rocket engine, energy flow and efficiencies, 3
2 Module 2
2.1 Solid propellant rocket motor: - General features, solid propellants 2
and its chemical compositions, double bas propellant, composite
propellant, desirable properties and its demerits,
2.2 combustion of solid propellant, burning rate and its relation with 3
temperature, erosive burning, combustion instability, strand and T-
burner, regressive, neutral and progressive,
2.3 propellant grain configuration restricted and unrestricted burning, 3
ignition, different loads on propellant during flight.
3 Module 3
3.1 Liquid propellant rocket engines: -. Comparison with other propulsion 3
system, disadvantages of liquid engines, liquid propellants,
monopropellant, bi-propellant, selection of liquid propellants and bi-
propellant combination,
3.2 pressure and turbo pump feed system, ignition of propellants, cooling 4
system, regenerate cooling, injectors for liquid propellant rockets
Thrust control and cooling in liquid propellant rockets and the
associated heat transfer problems.
3.3 Combustion instability in liquid propellant rockets. Problems 4
associated with operation of cryogenic engines, cryogenic engines
4 Module 4
4.1 Hybrid rocket engines, inverse hybrid rocket engines, comparisons 4
and its limitations,
4.2 types of nozzles used for rocket application, effect of back pressure 4
on nozzles, over expanded under expanded and optimum expanded
nozzles,
4.3 effect of altitude on nozzle performance. Rocket dispersion and 3
launching problems.
5 Module 5
5.1 Other non-air breath propulsion systems: - Nuclear rockets, electric 2
rocket engines,
5.2 electro thermal propulsion, electrostatic propulsion, 2
5.3 solar thermal rocket, solar sail, plasma propulsion 3
