Reporter | Ma Yueran
Private aerospace enterprises have further explored in the field of liquid rockets.
htmlOn October 19, Interface News learned that recently, Blue Arrow Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Blue Arrow Aerospace) "Tianque" vacuum liquid oxygen methane engine (TQ-15A) successfully completed the first full-system hot test run in Huzhou . The test time lasted 20 seconds. During the test, engine started and shut down normally and worked smoothly.hot test drive refers to various tests performed when the engine or its combustion components produce a combustion or decomposition reaction.
TQ-15A is currently the vacuum liquid oxygen methane engine with the largest thrust in China, with a vacuum thrust of 836 kN. It is the second-stage main engine of the second batch of Zhuque 2 rockets.
Blue Arrow Aerospace said that compared with the existing 80-ton + 10-ton secondary engine layout plan, TQ-15A canceled the swimming engine TQ-11, and the main engine changed from non-swinging to front swinging of the pump, reducing the complexity of the secondary engine system, reducing the total weight by about 400 kg, the thrust chamber further increased the nozzle area ratio, and introduced the turbine exhaust into the large nozzle for cooling, solving the interference force problem caused by the turbine exhaust.
TQ-11 was originally the second-stage swimming engine of the Zhuque-2 liquid carrier rocket, and was once the only multi-nozzle liquid oxygen methane rocket engine in China. After improvement of
, the vacuum thrust of the TQ-15A engine has increased by 9%, the vacuum ratio impulse has increased by 130 meters/second, the thrust adjustment range has been widened to 55%-110%, and it has three starting capabilities, which has improved the adaptability of the rocket launch mission.
Blue Arrow Aerospace is planned to carry out 5 test runs in this round, with a cumulative test run time of 970 seconds. After the first test run, the engine's long-range working reliability, working adaptability during large-scale thrust adjustment, working coordination between the engine and servo system, the engine's working adaptability under various conditions such as multiple starts, high and low inlet pressures and supercooled propellants, comprehensively verify the engine design plan, and obtain the performance data of the engine under large nozzle conditions.
Zhuque 2 series carrier rocket is a medium-sized liquid carrier rocket system equipped with a liquid oxygen methane low-temperature engine. The rocket is currently the rocket with the largest capacity and the widest range of private companies in China. It is independently developed by Blue Arrow Aerospace and has independent intellectual property rights. The rocket has a wide spectrum, which can cover more transportation needs, including low, medium, and high orbits.
According to Interface News, Zhuque 2 carrier rocket has completed the research and development of the first batch of rocket technology status. At present, the Zhuque 2 Y1 rocket has been shipped and completed low-temperature refueling and training. The assembly work of the Y2 rocket is underway in Jiaxing Blue Arrow Space Center .
Blue Arrow Aerospace said that based on the above, the second batch of rockets will be developed and iterated and optimized to make them have better performance and higher reliability.
According to the fuel used by the engine, rockets can be divided into solid rockets and liquid rockets.
Xi'an Aerospace Dynamics Research Institute once stated that as the main power device of aerospace carrier, liquid rocket engine has full functions, high performance, high technical difficulty, and long development cycle. The reusable technology of liquid rocket engines is also crucial to the reusable aerospace carriers.
liquid rocket also has the advantages of higher impact, adjustable thrust, and multiple starts. It has advantages in cost, fuel consumption and reusability. It is the preferred path for recyclable launch vehicle .
In addition to liquid oxygen methane, the main liquid engines also include liquid oxygen kerosene and liquid oxygen liquid hydrogen engines.
Blue Arrow Aerospace was established in 2015 and is a leading commercial company in the creation and operation of aerospace transportation system in China. On October 27, 2018, Blue Arrow Aerospace completed China's first private launch vehicle launch. In September 2020, Blue Arrow Aerospace completed a C+ round of financing of 1.2 billion yuan.
