What's wrong with this math: A lot of thrust and almost no fuel?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the feasibility of achieving significant thrust with minimal fuel using a 1 cm² nozzle at 15 MPa pressure. Participants analyze the implications of ejecting 0.0007 kg/s of fuel to generate a force of 1500 N at a velocity of 200 m/s, suggesting that hydrogen at this pressure offers a flight time exceeding 7 hours at 720 km/h. Key misunderstandings include the calculation of effective velocity without combustion and the behavior of mass loss rates under varying pressure conditions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of fluid dynamics principles
  • Knowledge of thrust generation and nozzle design
  • Familiarity with pressure and mass flow rate calculations
  • Basic concepts of combustion versus pressurized gas release
NEXT STEPS
  • Research "Fluid dynamics in rocket propulsion systems"
  • Study "Thrust calculation methods for non-combustion propulsion"
  • Explore "Hydrogen storage solutions and their properties at high pressure"
  • Investigate "Mass flow rate equations in pressurized systems"
USEFUL FOR

Aerospace engineers, propulsion system designers, and students studying fluid dynamics and rocket propulsion principles will benefit from this discussion.

gggnano
Messages
43
Reaction score
3
TL;DR
Using basic calculator it seems as if a rocket can produce a lot of thrust and use little fuel if you increase pressure within practically possible range:10-20MPA?
ccv.png
So according to this if you need a force that can lift a human and even an extremely ultra-light craft (1500 N) and have a velocity of 200 m/s you can eject extremely small amount of fuel through the nozzle: 0.0007 or less kg per second for as long as you're using 15 MPa pressure which is doable and even storage cylinders on alibaba use it. Another calculator shows that hydrogen stored at the same pressure will have just 18.5 kg weight per cubic meter? So this gives over 7 hours flight time with 720km/h??

Several things I don't understand: is 1cm^2 nozzle with 15.1 Mpa pressure possible? How is the effective velocity calculated especially if you aren't combusting but just open cylinder to release pressure? Why is the mass loss rate negative if you increase pressure? I should've solved this as a polynomial calculation since the calculator gives odd values unless you reload. Thank you.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The tool is assuming combustion, not a high pressure reservoir so your assumptions about what things mean is off.
 
^ Yeah...that's what I was suspecting...
 
[A trolling follow-up post by the OP has been deleted, and this thread will now be closed]
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: topsquark

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
8K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
20K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K