| PROPULSION ENGINE TYPES | ||
A common example of a liquid fuel chemical engine is the one used by a car. Gasoline makes up one element (the fuel), and is certainly a fluid. An oxidizer makes up the second element. The term ‘oxidizer’ is used to specify the source of the oxygen. The Earth’s air, which contains 21% oxygen, is the oxidizer for our gasoline-fueled car. When both these items are mixed, an igniter (a spark) is added, and combustion occurs. The heat created by this process provides the energy to move the vehicle. A rocket engine capable of space flight has to be designed differently because it can’t get oxygen from the air while in space -- there isn’t any -- so a rocket must carry its own supply of oxidizer. |
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