Prospects for introducing propulsion system based on the flash evaporation in the rocket and space technology

Abstract

The paper considers possibility of using propulsion systems based on the flash evaporation effect (steam rockets) as a simple high-thrust engine or a self-supercharged source of hot steam gas. Thermodynamic analysis, on the example of water as a working fluid, made it possible to estimate efficiency indicators of the steam rockets. Analysis results show that steam rockets on water are not inferior to the gas jet propulsion systems being able to achieve specific impulse of about 700 m/s with the mass energy return of up to 600 m/s. At the same time, steam rockets occupy half the number of the gas jet propulsion systems, and they are the only high-thrust engines providing complete safety before the launch preparations. This allows introducing steam rockets in spacecraft maneuvering, transport operations within the manned programs, launch vehicle gas generators, etc.