Igniter for Rocket Engines - Spline
Overview
Spline is a 3D printed methane, oxygen rocket engine igniter. It utilizes DMLS Additive technology to achieve internal geometries and shapes that would be impossible with traditional manufacturing techniques. I designed this to ignite the rocket engine I designed.
|
Technical
Injection & coolingSplines injector features four 90 degree doublet injector, with methane coming from the walls and Oxygen coming from the top of the ignition chamber. 4 swirl film cooling ports in the ignition chamber help to keep the chamber walls cool during operation by lowering the OF ratio at the wall, lowering the localized combustion temperature. It also utilizes the zero slip condition to keep a non-combusting layer of fuel on the wall. An outside jacket of methane provides cooling for the entire igniter. This also reduces the total OF ratio, decreasing the possibility of burn-through of the rocket engine chamber walls.
IgnitionSpline utilizes a modified Champion 220 Spark plug to ignite propellants in the ignition chamber. The 'spike' seen in the photo on the left provides a ground for the spark to jump to, causing ignition.
|
Cross section of 3D printed part of igniter
Photo looking top down showing the sparking post printed into the igniter.
|