Rocket Engine
Thrust measurement
What is Thrust ?
Thrust refers to the push with force used to propel a rocket through the atmosphere and into space. Through the application of Newton’s third law of motion, thrust is generated by the rocket’s propulsion system. All of the parts that make up a rocket engine, such as the tanks, pumps, propellants, power head, and rocket nozzle, are included in the propulsion of a rocket. The propulsion system’s goal is to generate thrust. Thrust is generated in a number of ways by propulsion systems. However, Newton’s third law of motion is used to generate all thrust. The system accelerates a working fluid in any propulsion system, and the reaction to this acceleration exerts a force on the system. The amount of thrust generated is dependent on the mass flow through the engine and the gas exit velocity, according to a general derivation of the thrust equation.
In rocket technology, a load cell is an important component for measuring the thrust generated by a rocket. Its goal is to see how effective rocket thrust is at achieving the project's goals. A load cell is a sensor that converts force into an electrical output. It is typically made up of four strain gauges connected in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. The deformation (strain) is converted to electrical signals by the strain gauge. There are two stages to this process. The strain gauges on the load cell will first detect deformation of the load cell structure (tension or compression), and then translate the changes in the load cell into voltage values. The load cell must be calibrated before it can be used as a thrust sensor to find the relationship between load and voltage. LabVIEW is employed as a data logging interface platform that is coupled to National Instrument hardware. The National Instruments hardware functions as a signal conditioner, allowing LabVIEW to gather and analyze the voltage data recorded by the load cell. Each load cell has its own equation for relating force to voltage. To convert the voltage data to thrust, for measuring the fuel burnt and the thrust developed the equation is used as a guideline. During engine testing, the metal in the load cell is subjected to forces. When you pull apart a metal, it becomes more resistive to electricity flow, and when you compress it, it becomes less resistive. This alters the electrical voltage of a circuit in the load cell in either scenario. The strain gauge can accurately measure variations in electrical voltage and use this information to calculate the amount of force applied to the load cell.
Two major types of rocket engines are:
- Liquid Engine (Cryogenic )
- Solid Engine
The propellants, fuel, and oxidizers are kept as liquids in a liquid rocket and then pushed into the nozzle's combustion chamber, where they burn. A solid rocket's propellants are mixed and compacted into a solid cylinder. The propellants do not burn at normal temperatures, but they do when exposed to a source of heat delivered by an igniter. Once the burning begins, it will continue until all of the propellant has been consumed. Halting the thrust of a liquid rocket is as simple as turning off the propellant supply; however, stopping the thrust of a solid rocket necessitates the destruction of the casing. Because of the pumps and storage tanks, liquid rockets are typically heavier and more complicated. Just prior to launch, the propellants are loaded into the rocket. A solid rocket is far more manageable and can wait for years before firing.
Sensomatic is a leading manufacturer of load cells for all your applications including air and liquid pressure monitoring, compression testing, data gathering, insertion forces, overload monitoring, peel force measurement, process control, tensile testing, torque measurement, and more. Our load cells are used in multiple industries all over global, for automotive, construction, research, manufacturing and aircraft, medical sectors, etc. For additional information or a quotation on the appropriate load cell for your application, Contact Sensotech now. We can locate what you're looking for and provide customized solutions to match your requirements.
Rockets that launch into space must be able to lift a huge amount of payload. While transporting themselves and their payloads into orbit or beyond, they must overcome gravity's relentless pull. Rocket engine designers are required to test them without actually launching the rockets to ensure that they are generating enough thrust to complete their mission. So, how do they put them to the test? To keep the rocket engine in place, they simply turn it on its side and connect its body to a large immovable structure. Load cells are devices that are arranged at strategic locations throughout the stand. The rocket engine produces a force in the opposite direction as the thrust as it burns up its fuel. This force presses against the load cells, which compress like springs to detect and display the force.