| PROPULSION ENGINE TYPES | ||
To find an example of a chemical engine using a solid fuel, refer back to the first rockets of the Chinese. These were the simplest of solid rockets and the weakest. The propellant they used was a solid, an early form of gunpowder. The propellant grain (the gunpowder) was placed in a combustion chamber -- the rocket’s wrapping. With an opening at one end for a fuse, the gunpowder was ignited at the lower surface. The shape of the opening affected the burning rate of the fuel and, thereby, the thrust of the engine. After being ignited, the propellant grain burned on the entire inside surface of the opening. The hot combustion gases were then ejected through the opening to produce thrust. |
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