METHOD FOR INCREASING THE SPECIFIC IMPULSE IN A LIQUID-PROPELLANT ROCKET ENGINE AND ROCKET POWER UNIT FOR REALISING THE SAME

摘要

The present invention pertains to the field of rocketry and more precisely to liquid-propellant rocket engines and to rocket power units. This invention essentially relates to a method for increasing the specific impulse in a liquid-propellant rocket engine, wherein said method involves using oxygen as well as a hydrocarbon fuel consisting of dicyclobutyl (C8H14). The dicyclobutyl provides for a substantial increase in the specific impulse of the liquid-propellant rocket engine when compared with kerosene. This invention also relates to a power unit for a rocket that comprises tanks for liquid oxygen and for the hydrocarbon fuel. Since the fuel tank is filled with dicyclobutyl (C8H14), it is thus possible to increase the thrust, the specific impulse as well as the in-flight operation duration of the engine, and to reduce the weight of the tanks without any substantial change in the circuits of the liquid-propellant rocket engine and of the rocket power unit.