Bloodhound
thrust by simple decomposition of HTP. A new chamber was designed, manufactured and tested in just four months. The monopropellant tests would also serve to check the operation of the HTP feed system and control equipment. It was decided that the HTP tank, Cosworth V8, pump and ancillary equipment would be mounted on a trailer which can be towed onto the concrete apron behind the blast wall for tests.
In the liquid propellant rocket engines used in Black Knight and Black Arrow, atomised kerosene was injected into the hot oxygen and spontaneously ignited
The first firing of the monopropellant chamber confirmed the chamber was capable of 44.5 kN (10,000 lbs) of the thrust. The exhaust was completely clear, indicating that the catalyst pack was working efficiently. Observing a monopropellant rocket test is an interesting experience, apart from the ear splitting noise, the only indication that the chamber is functioning is the enormous cloud of dust which the firing kicked up.
In 2009 the 18-inch diameter stainless steel motor case received its glass fibre overwrap
and the enormous fuel grain was cast. The first 18-inch hybrid firing was completed in October 2009. This was a pressure fed run using nitrogen to force the HTP into the chamber. The HTP pump has been developed to deliver up to 47.6 kg/sec (105lbs/sec) of HTP at a pressure of 75.8 Bar (1,100 lb/in2). The pump is driven by a 2.4 litre Cosworth V8 racing engine. Having completed tests on a water rig in the UK, the pump and Cosworth V8 are now ready for the first static firings of the complete system, which will be undertaken in the UK this spring.
The first UK static test of the 6-inch hybrid was completed on 12 August this year. The next 6-inch firing will use the new Mk2 chamber, which has a composite motor case, an Inconel catalyst pack outlet plate and a lightweight nozzle. The new 6-inch chamber will test key technologies for the Mk2 18-inch chamber which will be used in Bloodhound SSC.
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