STEM Rocket 2 – How to design and build a rocket engine.

HOW A ROCKET WORKS

A rocket moves forward by ejecting gases backward, similar to a leaky balloon.

But instead of air, a rocket ejects hot gases produced by burning a mixture of fuel and oxygen. 

WHAT’S INSIDE A ROCKET?

HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A ROCKET ENGINE

Components of a rocket engine  

To build a rocket engine, we need to determine the following dimensions:

  • The throat diameter Dt.
  • The nozzle exit diameter De.
  • The combustion chamber diameter Dc.
  • The combustion chamber length Lc.
  • The combustion chamber wall thickness Tw
  • The water flow gap.
  • The diameter of the fuel injection holes (df).
  • The diameter of the oxygen injection holes (do).

The calculation formulas can be found in this document:

How to design, build and test small liquid-fuel rocket engines