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Conceptual design of an impulse turbine and gas generator for a rocket engine turbopump
Schneider, M. D. 2025. Conceptual Design of an Impulse Turbine and Gas Generator for a Rocket Engine Turbopump. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/da903599-6e5f-488d-ab0d-52814d882653
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614092484673536 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Schneider, Matthew Dylan |
| author2 | Van der Spuy, Sybrand Johan |
| author_browse | Schneider, Matthew Dylan Van der Spuy, Sybrand Johan |
| author_facet | Van der Spuy, Sybrand Johan Schneider, Matthew Dylan |
| author_sort | Schneider, Matthew Dylan |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Schneider, M. D. 2025. Conceptual Design of an Impulse Turbine and Gas Generator for a Rocket Engine Turbopump. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/da903599-6e5f-488d-ab0d-52814d882653 |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132446 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:32.674Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132446 Conceptual design of an impulse turbine and gas generator for a rocket engine turbopump Schneider, Matthew Dylan Van der Spuy, Sybrand Johan Brooks, M. J. Snedden, G. C. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering. Rocket engines Gas-turbines -- Thermodynamics Aerospace engineering Combustion -- Mathematical models UCTD Schneider, M. D. 2025. Conceptual Design of an Impulse Turbine and Gas Generator for a Rocket Engine Turbopump. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/da903599-6e5f-488d-ab0d-52814d882653 Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis presents a conceptual design and validation of an impulse turbine and gas generator for a turbopump-fed rocket engine, currently under development by the Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI). With the recent growth in the private space sector and the rise of "NewSpace" companies, the demand for efficient, domestically produced launch systems has increased. South Africa, with a growing satellite industry, but limited launch capabilities, stands to benefit greatly from a domestic launch platform. The goal of this study is to establish foundational design methodologies for a gas generator and impulse turbine, enabling local advancements in rocket propulsion and contributing to the development of South Africa’s First Integrated Rocket Engine (SAFFIRE). A design methodology for a supersonic, partial admission impulse turbine is presented. This methodology was validated through numerical simulation of a baseline design, confirming the performance of the design under operating conditions. A gas generator design methodology was defined to provide an initial conceptual framework for the SAFFIRE gas generator configuration. This methodology, grounded in an extensive literature review, did not incorporate simulation-based analysis. Key interdependencies between the gas generator and turbine were identified, highlighting how these systems interact and influence each other’s performance. This project’s findings serve as a valuable reference for future work within ASRI. The study provides a preliminary roadmap for the development of gas generators and impulse turbines locally, paving the way for further refinement, manufacturing, and experimental testing of these components. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskif handel oor die konsepontwerp en validasie van ’n impulsturbine en gas-generator vir ’n vuurpylenjin wat deur ’n turbopomp gevoer word. Die enjin word tans ontwikkel deur ASRI (Aerospace Systems Research Institute). Gegewe die onlangse groei in die private ruimtesektor en die opkoms van "NewSpace" maatskappye, het die vraag na doeltreffende, plaaslik vervaardigde lanseerstelsels toegeneem. Suid-Afrika, met ’n groeiende satellietbedryf, maar beperkte lanseervermoëns, sal baie baat vind by ’n plaaslike lanseerplatform. Die doel van hierdie studie is om basiese ontwerpsmetodologieë vas te stel vir ’n gas-generator en impulsturbine, wat plaaslike vooruitgang in vuurpyl ontwikkeling moontlik sal maak en sal bydra tot die ontwikkeling van die SAFFIRE enjin. ’n Ontwerpmetodologie vir ’n supersoniese, gedeeltelikeinlaat impulsturbine word verduidelik. Hierdie metodologie is deur ’n numeriese simulasie van die basisontwerp, wat die prestasie van die ontwerp onder bedryfstoestande verteenwoordig, bevistig. ’n Gas-generator ontwerpsmetodologie is ook gedefinieer. Die metode verskaf ’n aanvanklike konsepraamwerk vir die SAFFIRE gas-generator. Belangrike verwantskappe tussen die gas-generator en turbine is geïdentifiseer, wat beklemtoon hoe die komponente se prestasie deur stelsel-interaksie beïnvloed word. Hierdie projek se bevindinge dien as ’n verwysing vir toekomstige werk binne ASRI. Die studie verskaf ’n voorlopige padkaart vir die ontwikkeling van plaaslike gas-generators en impulsturbines, wat die weg baan vir verdere verfyning, vervaardiging en eksperimentele evaluasie van hierdie komponente. Masters 2025-06-09T06:36:47Z 2025-06-09T06:36:47Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132446 en Stellenbosch University xvi, 122 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Rocket engines Gas-turbines -- Thermodynamics Aerospace engineering Combustion -- Mathematical models UCTD Schneider, Matthew Dylan Conceptual design of an impulse turbine and gas generator for a rocket engine turbopump |
| title | Conceptual design of an impulse turbine and gas generator for a rocket engine turbopump |
| title_full | Conceptual design of an impulse turbine and gas generator for a rocket engine turbopump |
| title_fullStr | Conceptual design of an impulse turbine and gas generator for a rocket engine turbopump |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conceptual design of an impulse turbine and gas generator for a rocket engine turbopump |
| title_short | Conceptual design of an impulse turbine and gas generator for a rocket engine turbopump |
| title_sort | conceptual design of an impulse turbine and gas generator for a rocket engine turbopump |
| topic | Rocket engines Gas-turbines -- Thermodynamics Aerospace engineering Combustion -- Mathematical models UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132446 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT schneidermatthewdylan conceptualdesignofanimpulseturbineandgasgeneratorforarocketengineturbopump |