Assessment of a liquid rocket engine concept based on innovative technologies

Application of innovative methods of production such as additive technologies and use of composite materials in the engine primary structure is one of the promising directions of reducing the cost of production of liquid rocket engines. The purpose of the work is to assess an innovative engine concept   with the mixing head made by an additive technology and the cylinder and nozzle made of a composite material. To solve the main tasks of the investigation we analyzed the available experience in introducing innovation production methods into aerospace engineering. A feasibility study of configurations of separate components manufactured by method of additive and traditional technologies was performed. According to the results of the validation firing of the model the operability of the new configuration was confirmed and the main engineering problems to be solved were determined. The results of the analysis of the innovation engine concept show a 3- or 4-fold reduction of labor intensity in serial production, as well as 3-6-fold reduction of the components variety required for a single assembly. In addition, it is necessary to note the 25% reduction of the item mass. The design modification makes it possible to provide the augmentation of engine operation up to 30% of nominal thrust.