Liquid Rocket Engine and Test System

The goal of this project is to design the University of Akron’s first design team built liquid propulsion rocket engine and testing system. The creation of this engine and testing system will create new opportunities for the Akronauts Rocket Design Team moving forward, allowing the team to enter more prestigious competitions, and will also enable students to better pursue opportunities in the space and defense industry by exposing them to more relevant industry experiences. The liquid rocket engine designed by the team will utilize ethanol and liquid nitrous oxide to generate approximately 500 lbf of thrust. An accompanying test system was designed for this motor with modularity and safety in mind. These design foci will enable the team to safely test motors of various thrust capacities without needing to make major modifications to the system. To verify the safety of the rocket engine and testing system, the team did hand calculations and computer analysis of critical components and their designs. To further verify the safety and functionality of the systems, physical testing of individual components and assembled subsystems will be completed once components are acquired