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Plug Nozzles

The document discusses plug nozzles, also known as aerospike or external expanding nozzles. It describes two types - toroidal and linear aerospikes. The key advantages are altitude compensation through external expansion and the ability to truncate the nozzle in space environments with minimal performance loss. However, aerospikes also have limitations like thermal management challenges, low thrust-to-weight ratio, and complex systems compared to conventional bell nozzles. Notable examples discussed include issues cooling the J-2T engine and use of a linear aerospike on the canceled X-33 space plane project.

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Sudheer Lanka
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131 views11 pages

Plug Nozzles

The document discusses plug nozzles, also known as aerospike or external expanding nozzles. It describes two types - toroidal and linear aerospikes. The key advantages are altitude compensation through external expansion and the ability to truncate the nozzle in space environments with minimal performance loss. However, aerospikes also have limitations like thermal management challenges, low thrust-to-weight ratio, and complex systems compared to conventional bell nozzles. Notable examples discussed include issues cooling the J-2T engine and use of a linear aerospike on the canceled X-33 space plane project.

Uploaded by

Sudheer Lanka
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PLUG NOZZLES

INTRODUCTION

• Also known as Aerospike or external


expanding nozzle

• Based on Prandtl-Meyer corner


expansion theory

• Expansion of a supersonic stream around


a corner continues until the static
pressure of stream reaches the ambient
pressure
Types of Aerospikes

• Toroidal aerospike • Linear aerospike


ADVANTAGES

• Altitude Compensation : External expansion allows an increase in effective area


ratio
SPACE VEHICLES

• In vacuum environments, resulting


exhaust is a fully developed flow

• Allows the truncation of plug to about


20 % of its isentropic length with
minimum performance loss

• Helps to avoid long interstage


structures, large nozzle extensions
LIMITATIONS

• Thermal management problems which are better solved in a linear aerospike

• Low Thrust to weight ratio

• Thrust Vector control is difficult. High component reliability is required. No test


flight data.

• Complex system due to a greater number of components compared to


conventional bell nozzle

• Aerospike engine performance is nearly equivalent to bell nozzles. Hence, more


innovation is required to reduce the complexity of system to use aerospikes.
SOME NOTABLE EXAMPLES

• Thermal management problem in Rocketdyne J-2T


It is 15 times harder to cool the J-2T engine when compared to J-2
COMPARISON WITH OTHER NOZZLES
X-33, VentureStar Reusable Launch Vehicle

• NASA project developed by Lockheed-


Martin aerospace

• A SSTO vehicle designed for use as


space-shuttle

• Uses linear aerospike engine for


propulsion to the orbit

• Program shutdown due to technical


difficulties in composite fuel tanks
New age Aerospike Models
• 3D printed aerospike engine developed by AMAERO
• Provides better cooling channel designs for a toroidal aerospike
THANK YOU

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