Power Cycle ComponentGas Generatorby Various (integrated into engine)
Typical Specifications
Gas Temperature
700u2013900u00b0C
Mixture Ratio
0.3u20130.5 (fuel rich)
Flow Fraction
2u20135% of total propellant
Operating Principle
A small portion of propellants (2–5%) is burned at fuel-rich conditions (700–900°C) to produce high-pressure gas at temperatures safe for the turbine blades. This gas drives the turbine and is then exhausted, typically through a separate nozzle or into the main nozzle.
A gas generator is a small combustion device that burns a fraction of the engine’s propellants at fuel-rich mixture ratios to produce hot gas for driving the turbopump turbine. The gas generator cycle is the simplest and most common engine cycle, used in Merlin, F-1, RS-68, and many other engines. The turbine exhaust gas is typically dumped overboard, representing a small Isp loss.
Materials
Used In Engines
Common Failure Modes
Burnout from mixture ratio excursion, injector erosion, turbine inlet temperature overshoot, flashback
Recent Innovations
Integrated gas generators with turbopump assemblies, 3D-printed GG injectors, dual-propellant igniters
Related Components
View on Wikipedia →⚙ RELATED ENGINES
