- #1
Mahler765
- 18
- 0
I'm a junior attending an accelerated high school who's working on this year's science project. As of right now, I'm planning on building a liquid fuel rocket that is powered by gasoline with concentrated hydrogen peroxide acting as an oxidizer. I am currently working through the equations needed to design a deLaval nozzle. So all that I know so far is what the rocket will be fueled by and that it will have a deLaval nozzle. The size of the rocket depends on the design of the engine as does the amount of fuel because i would not have an accurate idea of how much thrust i would need. I'm planning on either making the deLaval from a ceramic or copper, I'm still not sure which. My research has told me that copper will do fine for a combustion chamber. However my worry is that the copper will act as a catalyst for the hydrogen peroxide and cause decomposition when I don't want it to happen. Another question is if i really need a catalyst since the combustion of the gasoline will be generating large amounts of heat.
I'm operating on a short budget so obtaining all the pumps or mechanical parts to build a detailed engine is basically out of the question. One thing that would make the design easier is if I could pre-mix the hydrogen peroxide and the gasoline which would eliminate the need for a pump(s). Another thing that I have been toying around with is the idea of burning a gasoline ice cube. I've tried freezing gasoline in my freezer and it's freezing point is apparently lower than that of water. If all else fails, I do have access to liquid nitrogen through a local university but I'm hoping that dry ice or a better freezer will suffice. With the gasoline frozen, it could then be used as a solid fuel with an oxidizer and I could just fill the combustion chamber with gasoline, freeze it, and then keep it frozen until it's time to launch.
For the project I will be measuring things such as burn rate, etc. If any of you have any ideas for an alternate liquid fuel that I could compare the gasoline and hydrogen peroxide with your suggestions will be much appreciated. I am two years ahead in math and a year ahead in science so I actually have some idea of what I'm doing but I've already been told not to do the project by three college professors. Also, I have taken an accelerated three week course in aerospace engineering through the Duke TIP summer program so I also have a background in that. If you have any suggestions as to different variables that i could test in this project please be sure to mention them. All thoughts on the matter will be welcome.
Thanks
I'm operating on a short budget so obtaining all the pumps or mechanical parts to build a detailed engine is basically out of the question. One thing that would make the design easier is if I could pre-mix the hydrogen peroxide and the gasoline which would eliminate the need for a pump(s). Another thing that I have been toying around with is the idea of burning a gasoline ice cube. I've tried freezing gasoline in my freezer and it's freezing point is apparently lower than that of water. If all else fails, I do have access to liquid nitrogen through a local university but I'm hoping that dry ice or a better freezer will suffice. With the gasoline frozen, it could then be used as a solid fuel with an oxidizer and I could just fill the combustion chamber with gasoline, freeze it, and then keep it frozen until it's time to launch.
For the project I will be measuring things such as burn rate, etc. If any of you have any ideas for an alternate liquid fuel that I could compare the gasoline and hydrogen peroxide with your suggestions will be much appreciated. I am two years ahead in math and a year ahead in science so I actually have some idea of what I'm doing but I've already been told not to do the project by three college professors. Also, I have taken an accelerated three week course in aerospace engineering through the Duke TIP summer program so I also have a background in that. If you have any suggestions as to different variables that i could test in this project please be sure to mention them. All thoughts on the matter will be welcome.
Thanks