Automated thermovacuum firing test facility for testing and research of workflow in low-thrust rocket engine on hypergolic propellants

The paper presents a description and the technical characteristics of newly created and upgraded systems of automated thermovacuum fire stand for testing and research of the workflow of liquid rocket thrusters (small thrust jet engines) working on hypergolic propellant components. The stand allows to determine the energy and dynamic characteristics of small thrust jet engine with thrust from 0.1 to 100 N in the continuous and pulsed operating modes; to explore the intrachamber workflows; to study kinetic properties of gasified liquid intermediates of liquid-phase interaction of hypergolic propellants; to explore the thermal state of the engine under high altitude conditions; to provide research of the power, heat and polluting impacts of small thrust jet engine jet on elements of structure surface of the spacecraft; to explore of diagnostic methods of the small thrust jet engine functioning and others. Automated measuring and information system of the stand provides small thrust jet engine management on a given cyclogram; carrying out the calibration of channels for measurement of parameters of small thrust jet engine: thrust, flow rate of components, pressure, temperature, etc.; collecting information from the measuring channels of the stand during tests and information storage on the hard disk; processing of measurement results on the computer during the test and their representation in the required form (protocols, characteristics, charts and tables); formation of database of engines studied. For measuring the temperature of the outer surface of the chamber of small thrust jet engine is used contactless method using an infrared thermal imaging system. Complex work for improvement of element base and systems of automated thermovacuum fire stand for testing and research of workflow of small thrust jet engine working on hypergolic fuel components was expanded the opportunities of stand in the field of new tasks statement for workflow working off and increase the accuracy of the main parameters measurement for the engines.