AE 6504

PROPULSION-II

UNIT-I

PART A

1. What are the advantages of SCRAMJET engine.

2. Sketch a SCRAMJET engine and level the components.
3. What are disadvantages of SCRAMJET engine.
4. What is the need for supersonic combustion.
5. Why hydrogen is the suitable fuel for Hypersonic vehicle?
6. What is the function of isolator.
7. Sketch ramp type injector.
8. Which type of flame holder is used in Scramjet engine.
9. What is the need for Hypersonic vehicle.
10. What is difference between ramjet and scramjet engine.
11. What are the advantages of ramp type injector.

PART B

1. A scramjet powered aircraft flys at Mach 5 at 16.75 km where Ta=216.67 K and

Pa=9.122 kPa. The intake has a shock structure of two oblique shocks with both
deflection angles θ=10°. By burning hydrogen fuel (Q=120,900 kJ/kg), the temp is raised
to 2000 K. The nozzle expansion ratio is A5/A4 = 5.0. The inlet and the exit areas are
A1=A5= 0.2 m2. If Cp= 1.51 kJ/kg.K ; ηcc= 0.8

Calculate :
i) Mach number at combustion chamber inlet
ii) Exhaust jet velocity
iii) Overall efficiency

2. Sketch and explain the working principle of a Hypersonic vehicle?

3. What are the challenges for Hypersonic vehicles and how to overcome it?

4. A scramjet powered aircraft flys at Mach 5 at 16.75 km where Ta=216.67 K and

Pa=9.122 kPa. The intake has a shock structure of two oblique shocks with both
deflection angles 10° & 12° each. By burning hydrogen fuel (Q=120,900 kJ/kg), the temp
is raised to 2200 K. The nozzle expansion ratio is A5/A4 = 5.0. The inlet and the exit
areas are A1=A5= 0.2 m2. If Cp= 1.51 kJ/kg.K ; ηcc= 0.8

Calculate :
i) Mach number at combustion chamber inlet
ii) Exhaust jet velocity
iii) Overall efficiency

5. Sketch and explain the working principle of a Scramjet engine?

6. What are the challenges for Hypersonic vehicles and how to overcome it?
 UNIT-II

PART A

1. State two advantages of solid rocket motors.

2. Name any two oxidizer-fuel combinations used for hybrid rockets.
3. Compare air breathing engine and rocket engine.
4. Define Specific impulse.
5. What is the basic principle of operation of a solid propellant rocket?
6. What do you mean by hypergolic propellant? Give one example. ( May 14)
7. Define web fraction?
8. Define (a) mass ratio (b) specific impulse.
9. Define specific impulse. (Dec 14)
10. Define characteristic exhaust velocity.
11. What do you mean by thrust coefficient? What is the condition for optimum thrust
coefficient.
12. What is effective jet velocity? (May 12)
13. Define divergence factor for conical nozzle. (May 12)
14. Define and write the equations for specific impulse and specific thrust. (Dec 12)
15. What is supercritical and subcritical nozzle? (Dec 12)
16. Describe briefly three important applications of rocket propulsion.(May
13)
17. Define the characteristic velocity with respect to a rocket system.(May
13)
18. What are the internal ballistics factors in rockets? (Dec 13, Dec 14)
19. How rockets nozzles are classified? (Dec 13)

PART B

1. A rocket projectile has the following characteristics:

Initial mass 200 kg

Mass after rocket operation 130 kg
Payload, nonpropulsive structure, etc. 110 kg
Rocket operating duration 3.0 sec
Average specific impulse of propellant 240 sec
Determine the vehicle's mass ratio, propellant mass fraction, propellant flow rate,
thrust, thrust-to-weight ratio, acceleration of the vehicle, effective exhaust velocity,
total impulse, and the impulse-to-weight ratio.

2. Explain the working principle of a liquid rocket motor with gas pressure feed system
with neat sketch.
3. The following measurements were made in a sea level test of a solid propellant rocket
motor:

Burn duration 40 Sec

Initial mass before test 1210 kg
Mass of rocket motor after test 215 kg
 Average thrust 62,250 N
Chamber pressure 7.00 MPa
Nozzle exit pressure 0.070 MPa
Nozzle throat diameter 0.0855 m
Nozzle exit diameter 0.2703 m

Determine the 𝑚̇, V2, C*, C, and Is at sea level, and C and Is at 1000 and 25,000 m
altitude. Assume an invariant thrust and mass flow rate and negligible short start and
stop transients.

4. Explain the working principle of a liquid rocket motor with turbo pump feed system
with neat sketch.

5. An ideal rocket operates at a combustion chamber pressure of 3X 106 N/m2 & expands
to an ambient pressure of 3X 104 N/m2. The specific heat ratio of the working
substance is 1.2 and the gas constant is 287 J/kg K. If the temperature of the working
substance at the inlet of the nozzle is 2700 K, determine the velocity at the throat, ideal
exhaust velocity and nozzle expansion ratio.
6. Derive an expression for ideal nozzle exhaust velocity with the assumptions

(i) What are the types of nozzle? Explain the various operating conditions of
a C-D nozzle.
(ii) Explain the various methods of thrust vector control with sketches.

7. The following data are related to a rocket thrust chamber. The chamber pressure &
temperature are Po = 12 MPa & To = 2950 K. The molecular weight of hot gas in the
nozzle is 13.4; average specific heat ratio is 1.2. The ambient pressure is 97.5 kPa. The
throat diameter of the nozzle is 150 mm. Determine:
a. The mass flow rate;
b. exhaust velocity
c. The thrust;
d. Characteristic velocity for the optimum expansion. (May 12)

8. The following data are given for a certain rocket unit: thrust 8896 N; propellant
consumption, 3.867 kg /s; velocity of vehicle, 400 m /s; energy content of propellant,
6.911 MJ/kg, Assume 100% combustion efficiency. Determine the effective velocity,
the kinetic energy rate per unit flow of efficiency, the specific impulse, the specific
propellant consumption.

9. The following data are given for an optimum rocket:

Average molecular mass 24 kg/kg-mol

Chamber pressure 2.533 MPa
External pressure 0.090 MPa
Chamber temperature 2900 K
Throat area 0.00059 m2
Specific heat ratio 1.30
Determine,
throat velocity,
 specific volume at throat,
propellant flow rate and specific impulse,
thrust,
Mach number at throat.

10. What are the types of nozzles used in rockets, explain with their advantages &
disadvantages. (Dec 13, Dec 14)

11. With a neat sketch explain the operation of a hybrid rocket. What are its advantages
and limitations?

12. The inlet conditions for rocket nozzle are given by total temperature 2800 K; total
pressure 43 bar and the inlet velocity can be neglected when compared to nozzle outlet
velocity. The nozzle throat diameter is 5.2 cm. Estimate the mass flow rate through the
nozzle. Assuming optimum expansion at sea level, determine nozzle exit velocity, exit
Mach number and the thrust developed by the rocket unit. Take ratio of specific heat as
1.35. (May 12)

13. An ideal rocket nozzle is designed to give 5000 N thrust at a chamber pressure of
2.068 MPa and a chamber temperature of 2800 K at an altitude of 25 km. Assuming
specific heat ratio 1.3 and R = 355.4 J/kg-K, determine the throat area, exit area, throat
velocity, and exit temperature.

14. A chemical rocket is used for launch into earth orbit. At the end of the combustion
chamber the stagnation temperature is 3000 K. The molecular weight of the
combustion product is 26. The gases expand isentropically as an ideal gas mixture with
specific heat ratio 1.2. The area ratio Ae/A* of the nozzle is 20 & the throat is 0.1 m in
diameter. At sea level, determine:
The stagnation pressure if the expansion is correct;
The rocket thrust.

15. What do you understand by choked flow in a nozzle? Show that the critical conditions
exist at the throat of a choked C-D nozzle. Also mention the pressure and temperature
at the throat.

16. A rocket nozzle has a throat area of 20 cm2 and a combustion chamber pressure of 25
bar. If the specific impulse of nozzle is 127 seconds and weight flow rate is 45 N/s.
Determine, (i) Thrust coefficient, (ii) Propellant weight flow coefficient, (iii) Specific
propellant consumption and (iv) Characteristic velocity. (Dec 13)

17. A rocket has a propellant flow rate of 5 kg/s, nozzle exit diameter of 10 cm, nozzle exit
pressure of 1.02 bar, ambient pressure of 1.013 bar, thrust chamber pressure of 20 bar
and thrust of 71 kN. Calculate the specific impulse, specific propellant consumption
and effective jet velocity. (Dec 14)

18. A rocket is to be designed to produce 5 MN of thrust at sea level. The pressure in the
combustion chamber is 7 MPa and the temperature is 2800 K. If the working fluid is
assumed to be a perfect gas with the properties of air at room temperature, determine
the following;
 a. Specific impulse
b. Mass flow rate
c. Throat diameter
d. Exit diameter. (Dec 14)

19. The hot gas supply to a propulsion nozzle is at a pressure of 55 kPa and a temperature
of 800 K. The ambient pressure is 15 kPa. If the ratio of specific heats is
1.33,approximately constant, and the molecular weight of the mixture is 30, determine the
ratio of gross thrusts for two cases:
(i) The nozzle is converging-diverging with the area ratio for correct expansion to
ambient pressure.
(ii) The nozzle is converging only.
What is the nozzle-exit-to-throat area ratio for case (i)? The gross thrust is the contribution
to engine thrust made by the exhaust nozzle only. (May 15)

UNIT-III
PART-A

1. Name any two oxidizer-fuel combinations used for hybrid rockets.

2. Compare air breathing engine and rocket engine.
3. Define Specific impulse.
4. What is the basic principle of operation of a solid propellant rocket?
5. What do you mean by hypergolic propellant? Give one example. ( May 14)
6. Define web fraction?
7. Define (a) mass ratio (b) specific impulse.
8. Define specific impulse. (Dec 14)
9. Define characteristic exhaust velocity.
10. What do you mean by thrust coefficient? What is the condition for optimum thrust
coefficient.
11. What is effective jet velocity? (May 12)
12. Define divergence factor for conical nozzle. (May 12)
13. Define and write the equations for specific impulse and specific thrust. (Dec 12)
14. What is supercritical and subcritical nozzle? (Dec 12)
15. Describe briefly three important applications of rocket propulsion. (May
13)
16. Define the characteristic velocity with respect to a rocket system. (May
13)
17. What are the internal ballistics factors in rockets? (Dec 13, Dec 14)
18. How rockets nozzles are classified? (Dec 13)

PART-B

1. (i) An ideal rocket operates at a combustion chamber pressure of 3X 106 N/m2 &
expands to an ambient pressure of 3X 104 N/m2. The specific heat ratio of the working
substance is 1.2 and the gas constant is 287 J/kg K. If the temperature of the working
substance at the inlet of the nozzle is 2700 K, determine the velocity at the throat,
ideal exhaust velocity and nozzle expansion ratio.
 (ii) Derive an expression for ideal nozzle exhaust velocity with the assumptions

2. (i) What are the types of nozzle? Explain the various operating conditions of a C-D
nozzle.
(ii) Explain the various methods of thrust vector control with sketches.
3. The following data are related to a rocket thrust chamber. The chamber pressure &
temperature are Po = 12 MPa & To = 2950 K. The molecular weight of hot gas in the
nozzle is 13.4; average specific heat ratio is 1.2. The ambient pressure is 97.5 kPa.
The throat diameter of the nozzle is 150 mm. Determine:
(i) The mass flow rate;
(ii) exhaust velocity
(iii) The thrust;
(iv) Characteristic velocity for the optimum expansion. (May 12)

4. (i) How does the shape of the nozzle affect performance? How do you overcome the
thrust loss associated with over expansion?
(ii) Explain the various methods of thrust vector control with sketches.
5. The following data are given for a certain rocket unit: thrust 8896 N; propellant
consumption, 3.867 kg /s; velocity of vehicle, 400 m /s; energy content of propellant,
6.911 MJ/kg, Assume 100% combustion efficiency. Determine the effective velocity,
the kinetic energy rate per unit flow of efficiency, the specific impulse, the specific
propellant consumption.

6. The following data are given for an optimum rocket:

Average molecular mass 24 kg/kg-mol
Chamber pressure 2.533 MPa
External pressure 0.090 MPa
Chamber temperature 2900 K
Throat area 0.00059 m2
Specific heat ratio 1.30
Determine,
(i) throat velocity,
(ii) specific volume at throat,
(iii) propellant flow rate and specific impulse,
(iv) thrust,
(v) Mach number at throat.

7. The following measurements were made in a sea level test of a solid propellant rocket
motor,

Burn duration 40s

Initial mass before test 1210 kg
Mass of rocket motor after test 215 kg
Average thrust 62 250N
Chamber pressure 7 MPa
Nozzle exit pressure 0.07MPa
Nozzle throat diameter 0.0855 m
Nozzle exit diameter 0.2703m
 Determine the mass flow rate, exit velocity, characteristic velocity and specific
impulse at sea level.
8. (i) What are the types of nozzles used in rockets, explain with their advantages &
disadvantages. (Dec 13, Dec 14))

(ii) With a neat sketch explain the operation of a hybrid rocket. What are its
advantages and limitations?
9. The inlet conditions for rocket nozzle are given by total temperature 2800 K; total
pressure 43 bar and the inlet velocity can be neglected when compared to nozzle
outlet velocity. The nozzle throat diameter is 5.2 cm. Estimate the mass flow rate
through the nozzle. Assuming optimum expansion at sea level, determine nozzle exit
velocity, exit Mach number and the thrust developed by the rocket unit. Take ratio of
specific heat as 1.35. (May 12)

10. An ideal rocket nozzle is designed to give 5000 N thrust at a chamber pressure of
2.068 MPa and a chamber temperature of 2800 K at an altitude of 25 km. Assuming
specific heat ratio 1.3 and R = 355.4 J/kg-K, determine the throat area, exit area,
throat velocity, and exit temperature.

11. A chemical rocket is used for launch into earth orbit. At the end of the combustion
chamber the stagnation temperature is 3000 K. The molecular weight of the
combustion product is 26. The gases expand isentropically as an ideal gas mixture
with specific heat ratio 1.2. The area ratio Ae/A* of the nozzle is 20 & the throat is
0.1 m in diameter. At sea level, determine:
(i) The stagnation pressure if the expansion is correct;
(ii) The rocket thrust.

12. (i) Define and briefly discuss the various correction factors to predict the mass flow
rate and thrust from an actual rocket motor.
(ii) What do you understand by choked flow in a nozzle? Show that the critical
conditions exist at the throat of a choked C-D nozzle. Also mention the pressure and
temperature at the throat.

13. A rocket nozzle has a throat area of 20 cm2 and a combustion chamber pressure of 25
bar. If the specific impulse of nozzle is 127 seconds and weight flow rate is 45 N/s.
Determine, (i) Thrust coefficient, (ii) Propellant weight flow coefficient, (iii) Specific
propellant consumption and (iv) Characteristic velocity. (Dec 13)

14. A rocket has a propellant flow rate of 5 kg/s, nozzle exit diameter of 10 cm, nozzle
exit pressure of 1.02 bar, ambient pressure of 1.013 bar, thrust chamber pressure of 20
bar and thrust of 71 kN. Calculate the specific impulse, specific propellant
consumption and effective jet velocity. (Dec 14)
6
15. A rocket is to be designed to produce 5 MN of thrust at sea level. The pressure in the
combustion chamber is 7 MPa and the temperature is 2800 K. If the working fluid is
assumed to be a perfect gas with the properties of air at room temperature, determine
the following;
(i) Specific impulse 2
(ii) Mass flow rate 2
(iii) Throat diameter 2
 (iv) Exit diameter. (Dec 14) 2
16. Explain the performance of drag free, gravity free rocket. (Dec 14) 8

UNIT-IV
PART-A

1. Define temperature sensitivity coefficient of a solid propellant.

(May 13)
2. Define Characteristic velocity.
3. Define discharge correction factor. Can it be more than one? Justify your
answer.
4. What are the limitations of hybrid rockets? (May 12)
5. Define temperature sensitivity of burning rate?
6. Write two advantages of film cooling.
7. Give two examples of composite solid propellant rockets.
8. Define volumetric loading fraction?
9. What is erosive burning?
10. Define characteristic length.
11. What is progressive burning?
12. What are the limitations of hybrid rockets?
13. Name any two oxidizer-fuel combinations used for hybrid rockets. (Dec
14)
14. What is the basic principle of operation of a solid propellant rocket?
15. What is the importance of combustion index ‘n’? (May 12)
16. Write at least eight solid propellant properties. (Dec 12)
17. What are the cooling methods available for liquid propellant rockets?
(Dec 12)
18. Name any two properties of liquid propellant. (May 13)
19. What are the hardware components of solid propellant rockets? (Dec 13)
20. Define hybrid rocket. (Dec 13)
21. Name the hardware components of rocket. (Dec 14)

PART-B

1. (i) Explain with suitable sketch the operating principle of gas pressure feed system.
(ii) How do you classify solid propellant rockets? Name any four solid propellant
ingredients with two examples of each.
2. (i) Explain with suitable sketch the operating principle of turbo pump feed system.
(ii) How do you classify solid propellant rockets? Name any four solid propellant
ingredients with two examples of each.
3. (i) Explain the desirable physical and chemical properties of liquid propellants.
(ii) Explain the burning rate relation with pressure and temperature in case of solid
propellant rocket motor with suitable graph.
4. (i) Explain typical tank arrangements for large turbo pump-fed liquid propellant
rocket engines.
 (ii)What are the methods to evaluate burning rate in case of solid propellant. Explain
any one of the method.
5. Explain the types of injectors are used in case liquid propellant rocket motor with neat
sketch.
6. Sketch and explain Turbo pump feed system in details.
7. (i) Explain with suitable sketch the operating principle of gas pressure feed system.

(ii) How do you classify solid propellant rockets? Name any four solid propellant
ingredients with two examples of each.
8. (i) Explain with suitable sketch the operating principle of turbo pump feed system.

(ii) How do you classify solid propellant rockets? Name any four solid propellant
ingredients with two examples of each.
9. (a) How is regressive, neutral and progressive burning of the solid propellant grain
achieved? Explain with the aid of diagram.
(b) Explain briefly the following terms in solid propellant rocket:
i. Linear burning rate
ii. Combustion rate
iii. Propulsion area ratio
iv. Equilibrium combustion pressure
v. Cigarette burning
10. (i) With a neat sketch explain the operation of a gas pressure feed system of a liquid
propellant rocket engine.
(ii) With the help of schematics, briefly describe some six types of injectors
commonly used.
11. Mention some oxidizers, fuel and binders of solid propellant with their advantages
and draw backs. (May 12)
12. What are the common problems associated with liquid propellants and what are the
desired properties of liquid propellants. (May 12)
13. Explain the working principle of a solid propellant rocket with neat sketch. (Dec
2013) 8
14. Explain about propellant grain design considerations. (Dec 2013) 8
15. Explain the cooling in liquid propellant rockets. (Dec 2013) 8
16. Explain the selection criteria of liquid propellants. (Dec 2013) 8
17. Explain the selection criteria of solid propellants rockets. (Dec 2014) 8
18. Explain about cooling in liquid propellant rockets. (Dec 2014) 8
19. (i) A chemical rocket is used for launch into earth orbit. At the end of the combustion
chamber the stagnation temperature is 3000 K and the stagnation pressure is 2 MPa.
The molecular weight of the combustion product is 26. The gases expand
isentropically as an ideal gas mixture with specific heat ratio 1.2. The area ratio Ae/A
of the nozzle is 20, and the throat diameter is 0.1 m. At sea level determine the rocket
thrust. (Dec 2014) 8
(ii) What is the difference between liquid propellant rocket and solid propellant
rockets? (Dec 2014) 8
 UNIT-V
PART-A

1. What is the basic concept in using advanced propulsion technique?

2. Why electrical rockets are called essentially power limited? (May 13)
3. Write two advantages of nuclear rocket propulsion.
4. Write two demerits of nozzle less propulsion systems.
5. Write two disadvantages of plasma rocket propulsion.
6. Write two merits of nozzle less propulsion systems.
7. Write any two non-aerodynamic applications of solar cells.
8. What is the basic concept of ion propulsion?
9. Compare the specific impulses of chemical rocket motors with
advanced propulsion systems.
10. Differentiate electric propulsion from electromagnetic propulsion.
11. What is nozzle less propulsion system? (May 12, Dec 13)
12. What are major disadvantages of nuclear rocket? (May 12)
13. Describe the principle of Electric propulsion system with neat diagram. (Dec
12)
14. Write at least six major advantages of Ion propulsion. (Dec 12)
15. Describe the basic principles of nuclear propulsion. (May 13)
16. State the types of nuclear rockets. (Dec 13)
17. What is the principle of ion propulsion rocket? (Dec 2014)
18. Define solar sail. (Dec 2014)

PART-B

1. Discuss the following advanced propulsion technique with suitable sketches.

(i) Electric propulsion;
(ii) Ion propulsion
2. Discuss the following advanced propulsion technique with suitable sketches.
(i) Solar Sail;
(iii) Nuclear propulsion (Dec 2014) 8
3. Discuss the following advanced propulsion technique with suitable sketches.
(i) Solar Sail;
(ii) Nozzle-less propulsion. (Dec 2014) 8
4. Compare the merits and demerits of any four electric propulsion systems.
5. Explain in detail the working principle, advantages and disadvantages of the;
(i) Hall-effect thruster;
(ii) Nuclear propulsion.
6. Determine the flight characteristics of an electrical propulsion rocket for raising a low
satellite orbit. Data given:
Is = 2000 s
F = 0.20 N
Duration = 4 weeks
Payload mass = 100 kg
α = 100 W/kg
ηt = 0.5
7. (i) Discuss Ion propulsion rocket technique with suitable sketches.
(ii) Explain the working principle of nuclear rocket motor with neat sketch.
8. Explain various thrust vector control methods used in rockets. How does the shape of
the nozzle affect performance? How do you overcome the thrust loss associated with
over expansion?
9. Discuss the following advanced propulsion technique with suitable sketches. What are
the limitations of an electrical rockets propulsion system? What are the various types
of electrical propulsion system? Explain one system with a neat sketch. (May 12)
10. Why are static tests conducted? List out parameters measured during static tests and
outline the principles of measurement. (May 12)
11. Explain the electric rocket propulsion with neat sketch. (Dec 2013,Dec 2014) 16
12. Explain the nuclear rocket propulsion with neat sketch. (Dec 2013) 16
13. Explain the hybrid rocket with neat sketch. State its advantages and disadvantages.
(Dec 2014) 8
14. Explain different types of propulsion systems which are used in space. (May 15)