Feasibility analysis of a reusable electric unconventional partial launch scheme

By Ritvik Gajendra Pareek,1) Shanmukh R.S.G,1) and S megha1)

1)
SRM Institute of Science and Technology Kattankulathur-603203, INDIA.

(Received June 21st, 2019)

This paper is result compilation of the analysis of an electric, partial launch scheme which involves a
cylindrical pit dug in the ground in which lies a mobile base. The mobile base has connections from an external
power plant which provides the base with required influx of electricity and water. The consists of a mounting
platform, a nozzle and multiple microwave beams which convert the water to its vapor state (steam)which is
expanded to obtain thrust. This thrust is used to propel the payload (presumably a small rocket). Providing it with a
considerable velocity from the ground level such that the delta-v requirement of the rocket is partially fulfilled in
turn reducing the required fuel, structural mass and thus cost of the launch vehicle. Water happens to be very cheap
and easily available as compared to conventional rocket fuels and the power plant can have an income by providing
electricity to the grid when there are no launches. Various problems such as different flow conditions in a tunnel
for expansion, acceleration, shock wave formation have been considered. In addition, the stress on the tunnel under
such circumstances has been addressed. Analysis done includes but is not limited to Stress analysis for high
temperature flows, CFD analysis for compression flow.
.

Key Words: electric, steam, launch, tunnel, reusable

Nomenclature need to build their tunnel up to an altitude of 20 km. Given the

potential of the STARTRAM project to not only act as a
A : area, m2 launch service but also to revolutionize the intercontinental
a : angle, rad logistics market. It is crucial to address the aforementioned
B : block shortcomings. While startups like the boring company and
b : base length, m multiple Hyperloop ventures are bringing tunneling cost down
C : Cross section and bringing technology associated to the STARTRAM
c : coefficient project to the mainstream thus making it cheaper, the altitude
ca : coefficient for parameter a associated requirement awaits a solution.
cb : coefficient for parameter b
We want to address this issue and make modifications to the
V : velocity, m/s
pre-existing scheme/design such that it becomes completely
X : position
reusable and cheaper to install. Since Magnetic Levitation
𝛼 : angle of attack, rad technology used for STARTRAM is not readily available in
𝛽 : sideslip angle, rad many parts of the globe, we tried to achieve similar outcomes
𝜃 : pitch angle, rad using alternate approach such as expansion of gas in a tunnel.
𝜙 : roll angle, rad We aim to achieve mach 2.5 velocities so that a ramjet-rocket
𝜏 : torque, Nm integrated vehicle can be launched of this facility since
Subscripts ramjets don’t need to carry their oxidizer the vehicle is
0 : initial expected to be much lighter as compared to current rockets.
F : final This paper sheds light on considerations to set up such a
1. Introduction launch assist system .
Launching objects into space for cheap has always been a
topic which has grabbed the attention of many. Besides 2. Initial attempt
making rockets more efficient there have been other schemes We initially planned to use boilers to heat water as they are
put forth to address the same issue. These schemes generally readily available and can be easily integrated with a
attempt to reduce the role of the rocket or completely power-plant setup. These boilers were placed on ground level .
eliminate it. Air-launch and STARTRAM have been two such the steam generated as such would be made to go down to the
contenders. Both having their own set of pros and cons. mobile base in the pit via rail cum steam pipe. This steam was
Air-launch scheme has a limit to the rocket size it can carry to be expanded via an in-built nozzle in the mobile base to
imposed by the size of the carrier aircraft. STARTRAM obtain the required thrust to launch the payload.
project faces challenges such as high installment cost and a We chose a rao nozzle of our requirements as it is mass

1
optimized and their isn’t much gain in efficiency when a We faced multiple difficulties which are as follows.
method of characteristics based full length nozzle is used.
2.1 Greatly increased drag
To compare drag between the scenario of a rocket being
launched in air as is and a rocket being pushed in an open
tunnel we simulated the same in ANSYS FLUENT. We
simulated flow over a 2-D model of VECTOR-R rocket after
obtaining corresponding geometry from it’s payload guide, 1)
as shown below.

Fig. 1 Rao Nozzle

An illustration of the same has been shown below.

Fig. 3. Simulation of rocket in near-open air condition.

Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of launch assist scheme

2. Difficulties faced Fig.4 Simulation of rocket inside a tube.

We switched from boilers to microwave emitters due to

their higher efficiency, compact size and easier installation
characteristics. Since microwave devices are readily available For the open air condition the boundary walls were kept far
all over the globe and water happens to be very abundant and away while for the Simulation in tube the boundary walls
easily accessible. We tried to accelerate the payload in a were kept very close to the rocket. The flow has been
vertical non evacuated tunnel by expanding water underneath modelled for Mach 2 condition and were similar for both
it in its vapor form (steam). This steam is supposed to be cases. Drag coefficients were determined for each case and
generated by microwaves produced in a magnetron. are as follows.

2
Sr no: Condition Obtained drag 3. A case study
coefficient To demonstrate the effectiveness of the scheme we
1 open 0.002509 compare the height achieved by a rocket called “ALPHA”
2 tunnel 0.041609 with and without launch assist.

Table 1. drag comparison The rocket’s specifications are as follows.

As can be seen the drag in the latter case (tunnel) was more by
a factor 16.58.

2.2 Incomplete expansion of water

Current state of the hardware to transport steam is used by the
fossil fuel based power generation industry which tries to get
the highest temperature and pressure of steam for higher
efficiency. Technology for the same currently is capable of
transporting steam at 350 bar pressure and 720°C
temperature,2).
Assuming isentropic expansion of steam in the outlet nozzle
we plotted the isentropic pressure-temperature curve of steam.
Fig. 5. “ALPHA” rocket
We plotted this curve over the saturation curve of steam, 3).
This is shown as follows.

Sr Property value
no
1 Material SAE 1020 Steel tube
2 Over-all length 1.3716m
3 Outside diameter 0.04445m
4 Inside diameter 0.041275
5 Wall thickness 0.0015875m
6 Propellant 2.04:1 zinc to sulphar
7 Weight of the 3.919kg
Fig. 3. Isentropic curve of steam expansion plotted over steam
propellant
saturation curve.
8 Molecular weight 44.20 kg/kilomole
9 Propellant density 2579.77
The blue region highlights the region where water would exist
10 Burning rate 2.286 m/s
in it’s vapor state. As can be seen phase change occurs at
11 Grain length 1.143m
about 20.35 bar and the vapor is thus not efficiently expanded.
12 Grain diameter 0.041275m
Leading to a loss of thrust. Steam saturation curve’s formula
13 Burning surface 0.001329 m2
is given as.
14 Burning time 0.5 sec
15 Chamber pressure 68.9476 bar
16 Combustion 1070 K
temperature
17 Specific heat ratio 1.25
18 Mass flow rate 7.838 kg/sec
19 thrust 3558.58 N
20 Effective exhaust 454.152 m/sec
velocity
21 Throat diameter 0.0204724 m
Fig. 4 Steam Saturation
22 Throat area 0.000329 m2
23 Exit diameter 0.0058674 m
Keeping above results in mind it is recommended to use
24 Exit area 0.0026967 m2
evacuated tubes and to use HFC-134a
25 Converging angle 30°
(1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) as the working fluid. HFC-134a,4)
has a much lower critical temperature (101.08°C) than water 26 Diverging angle 15°
(374.11°C), is nontoxic, non-flammable and has zero potential 27 Length-converging 0.018034 m
to deplete the ozone layer if accidently leaked. section

3
28 Length-diverging 0.07112 m We compared drag for a moving object in a tunnel to the
section same object moving in open air at mach 2 conditions. We
found the drag in the tunnel to be over 16 fold the open air
Using HFC-134a at 368°C temperature and 44.4 bar preassure case. Thus we reached the conclusion to use evacuated tubes.
with similar nozzle throat area we obtain a theoretical thrust value
of 4305.25N and an Isp of 109.282 seconds. It has been
demonstrated that HFC-134a does not degrade stainless steel in A suitable alternative to water happens to be a refrigerant
any way under such circumstancese). it is worth mentioning that called HFC-134a . this refrigerant is non toxic, non flammable
that though the specific impulse is low but the propellent mass and presents zero threat to the ozone layer. Though it has a
fraction is virtually zero. low global warming impact but if a closed cycle is used that
issue can be eliminated.

We chose a rao nozzle of our requirements as it is mass

optimized and their isn’t much gain in efficiency when a
method of characteristics based full length nozzle is used.

Tunnels over 2000 meters deep can be dug thus adequate

length exist to accelerate the spacecraft to a point that the
limiting factor becomes the structural integrity of the rocket.

Use of evacuated tunnels eliminated the need to analyze high

speed flows .
4. Dissussion
In order to make a reusable, unconvential, electric launch
assist system we checked and iterated our design on various 5. Future Work
levels so that the size of rocket required for a given payload We intend to address all real life scenarios that a rocket will
size can be reduced. This reduction in size would significantly go through if it uses this approach
reduce the cost to launch objects into space. We initiated by Some of the issues are as following :
attempting to expand steam via a nozzle. This steam was a. Expansion of gases from an accelerating nozzle in a
supposed to be produced from a boiler but ultimately that tunnel.
couldn’t be done as two phase flow occurs while the steam b. Analysis of flows with an aero spike nozzle in a
is in the nozzle. Water thus cant be used as a working fluid tunnel.
with current technology. c. Search for better working fluid if any.
d. Structural simulation of mobile base.
e. Design of a mobile fluid transfer apparatus.
Fig. 6 Evacuated Tunnel f. Analysis on flow interactions over a sudden
introduction of high speed projectile.
g. Cost comparison with air launch and STARTRAM
approach.
h. Considerations of lubrications on rails.

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