Liquid rocket engines use tanks to store liquid propellants and oxidizers that combust in a vacuum, producing thrust through a nozzle. The document examines four propellants - hydrogen and oxygen, methylhydrazine, N-dodecane, and ethanol. Hydrogen produces the most energy but must be cryogenically stored. Methylhydrazine is hypergolic and reacts on contact. N-dodecane is similar to kerosene and produces the highest thrust safely. Considering safety, emissions and thrust, the author recommends a multi-stage rocket with hydrogen first and N-dodecane second for greenhouse gas-free and powerful thrust.
2. Liquid Rocket engines
A liquid rocket engine has a tank for the liquid propellant and a oxidizer tank so
the propellant will combust in a vacuum. There is also a nozzle to provide
maximum thrust
3. The propellants
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Hydrogen and oxygen (H2+1/2O2)
Methylhydrazine (H2NN(CH3)2)
N-dodecane (C12H26)
Ethanol (C2H5OH)
These are the 4 propellants that we will be
studying
4. Methylhydrazine
• This Propellant is a hypergolic propellant, this
means that it reacts upon contact.
Methylhydrazine produces 12.04Kj/g of
propellant.
5. Hydrogen
• Hydrogen is used as a cryogenic propellant, in
combination with oxygen. This means it is
cooled to a liquid before firing. Hydrogen
produces 14.22Kj/g of energy.
6. Ethanol
• Ethanol is a easier to produce and is less
dangerous than other propellants. However it
produces very little thrust. For each gram of
ethanol, you get 9.042Kj of energy.
7. N-dodecane
• N-dodecane is similar to kerosene. It has a
high flashpoint so it is the safest of the 4 fuels
in toxicity, flammability reactivity. It also
provides the highest thrust of the 4 with
16.24Kj/g.
8. My choice
• Considering the safety, environmental impact,
and of course the thrust; I would recommend
a multistage rocket with a hydrogen first stage,
and a N-dodecane 2nd stage. The hydrogen will
offer greenhouse gas free thrust, and outside
the atsmosphere, N-dodecane will offer safe
powerful thrust in a near 0 friction
environment.
