Polish Engineers Test a Rocket Engine with Adjustable Thrust

Polish manufacturer Lukasiewicz-ILOT is currently testing its innovative Throttleable Liquid Propulsion Demonstrator (TLPD) engine. Characterized by an injector of original design, the engine's thrust can be adjusted within wide limits.

Collaboration with ESA

This project is being carried out under the auspices of the European Space Agency (ESA), focused on advancing new rocket technologies for upcoming missions. The engineers at Łukasiewicz Research Network-Institute of Aviation (Lukasiewicz-ILOT), along with their peers, have completed and begun testing the TLPD engine at the Lukasiewicz-ILOT demonstration site.

Key Features of TLPD

The TLPD engine incorporates two notable features:

1. Fuel-Oxidizer Pair: It operates using ethanol and hydrogen peroxide, which contrasts with many older rocket engines that employ hazardous substances like heptyl and nitrogen tetroxide. Unlike those, TLPD does not require cryogenic units nor does it produce toxic emissions.

2. Pintle Injector: The new pintle injector design not only mixes fuel and oxidizer efficiently but also allows an extensive range of thrust adjustment—from 20 to 110% of its nominal thrust capacity.

Test Results

The primary focus of the recent tests was to evaluate the new injector. With a maximum thrust capability of 5 kN, the TLPD is particularly suited for the upper stage of launch vehicles. The engine's versatility in thrust regulation enhances its adaptability for various applications. For instance, minimal thrust is required for space maneuvers, while maximum output is essential for controlled landings on the Moon or Earth.

During static testing, the engine fared exceptionally well. It executed 17 pulses of 10 seconds each at constant thrust without issues. Subsequent tests included two 15-second pulses with thrust variations from 20 to 80% of the nominal value, which also proceeded without any complications.

Next Steps

Following the successful initial tests, engineers are set to remount the engine, analyze the results, and proceed with further testing, which will involve significantly longer pulse durations.

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