44th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit AIAA 2008-4840

21 - 23 July 2008, Hartford, CT

Operational Conditions of P4.1 Altitude Simulation

for VINCI® Upper Stage Engine

K. Schäfer1 , H. Zimmermann2 , C.. Pauly3

Institute of Space Propulsion

German Aerospace Centre (DLR)

Lampoldshausen, Germany

Since February 2005 the new high altitude simulation test facility P4.1 for the VINCI ®
upper stage engine is operational in Lampoldshausen, the European test centre for rocket
propulsion. VINCI® is an expander cycle upper stage engine of 180 kN thrust developed by
SNECMA Moteurs. The paper deals with the operational conditions of the altitude
simulation especially the behavior of the super sonic center body diffuser. High nozzle
expansion ratios, different test configurations and the re-ignition conditions drive the
challenges of the high altitude simulation P4.1.

I. Introduction

F ROM the very beginning in the 1960s, the DLR in Lampoldshausen has been involved in all European launcher
programs and one of its special tasks has always been testing of rocket engines especially in space
environmental conditions. The need to develop, qualify and accept propulsion systems under actual flight conditions
in high altitude with fully expanded nozzle defines the essential operational criteria for the test facilities.

SNECMA is demonstrating a new Expander-Cycle-Technology with the rocket engine called VINCI®. For the
VINCI® engine tests the test bench P4.1 (Figure 1) was adapted by a new altitude simulation. The P4.1 starts with
test operation in 2005.

Figure 1: High Altitude Simulation P4.1

The task of altitude simulation consists of creating the test condition within a vacuum cell. This is primarily low
ambient pressure of just few mbar. Special operational conditions are linked to the transients during Start-Up and
Shut-Down of the engine with respect to the nozzle loads. Maintenance of the vacuum with running engine is

1
Director, DLR Institute of Space Propulsion, 74239 Hardthausen, Germany, [email protected]
2
Scientist, DLR Institute of Space Propulsion, 74239 Hardthausen
3
Scientist, DLR Institute of Space Propulsion, 74239 Hardthausen
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Copyright © 2008 by DLR German Aerospace Center. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., with permission.
achieved by using the energy of the exhaust jet. The supersonic gas flow is decelerated and compressed by a
diffuser. Additional extraction of the exhaust gas by steam jet ejectors and condensation maintains the necessary
pressure conditions. To provide the large quantities of steam, rocket steam generators with liquid Oxygen and
Alcohol are used. The principle of rocket steam generators is to inject water into the hot gases of a rocket
combustion chamber and to evaporate the water in a mixture chamber.
Using the test results the operational behavior especially of the super sonic center body diffuser is investigated.
The objective is to verify the static and dynamic operational behavior of the system and to predict precisely the test
conditions with respect to the test request and test configurations.

II. Test Requirements

The VINCI® engine with 180 kN thrust is tested in 3 test configurations, the combustion chamber up to
expansion ration of ε= 22,3 (Figure 3), the chamber with fix nozzle up to ε= 93 (Figure 2) and the complete engine
with the extendable nozzle up to ε= 243.

The required P4.1 test conditions are:

− Vertical test position with maximum test time of

770 s.
− Pressure at engine interfaces during chill down p
< 200 mbar.
− Ignition at ambient pressure p < 60 mbar.
− Start up phase with simulation of in-flight engine
start up conditions.
− Steady state phase with the operational envelope
in vacuum conditions.
− Shut down phase with transients considering the
maximum nozzle loads.
− Ballistic phase and re-ignition in vacuum
Figure 3: VINCI® ε= 22,3 conditions. Figure 2: VINCI® engine ε= 93
In vacuum chamber P4.1 In vacuum chamber P4.1

III. High Altitude Simulation Test Facility

The basic design of the altitude simulation P4.1 (Figure 4) includes the VINCI® engine inside a vacuum
chamber, a center body diffuser, a two stage ejector system and a condenser between the ejectors stages.
Chill down ejectors maintains the
vacuum at the engine interfaces during
the pre cooling phase.

Main parameters are:

Vacuum chamber: ∅ = 5 m / h = 6,2 m
Diffuser: ∅ = 2,38 m / l = 10 m
Cooling Water: 2,0 m³/s
First Ejector Stage: Steam: 2 x 55 kg/s
Condenser: Water: 3,6 m³/s / 10°C
Second Ejector Stage: Steam: 2 x 59 kg/s
Chill down Ejectors: Steam: 2 x 8 kg/s
Steam generation plant: 600 MW power Figure 4: Schematic of test facility P4.1

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Special developments were done concerning:
1. Centre Body Diffuser:
Due to the dimensions of the nozzle a center body diffuser were developed for the existing P4.1 test position.
The centre body diffuser has a similar behavior like a second throat diffuser. The second throat is realized by a ring
channel around a centre body. The length-to-diameter ratio of the diffuser is optimized to the diffuser efficiency and
the intensively cooling. After Start of the supersonic flow the operation is stable down to lower pressures ratios
(Hysteresis). Main design parameters are the characteristics of the engine, the extendable nozzle geometry and the
suction system.

Centre Body Diffuser

Cold Gas Model Centre Body Diffuser Hot Gas Model;
Ø = 130 mm Ø = 300 mm ⇒ Scale1:8
⇒ Scale 1:18
Diffuser P4.1 Ø=2380 mm

Figure 5: Development of the center body diffuser P4.1

2. Suction system:
The main parameters for the suction system were linked to the transient pressure conditions during Start-Up and
Shut-Down of the engine. The trade-off was between powerful ejector system with high steam consumption for fast
transients and a big condenser with high cooling water flow.
The development of the steam generator units for P4.1 (Figure 6), the cooling water supply and the maximum
nozzle loads were the main drivers for the design of the suction system.

Igniter Development Focuses

ALC Focus Subject Investigations
HF Triggering Bombing
stability
Face
Plate
Quarter wave HF transducer inside
tubes cavity
Baffles HF transducer near
Combustion faceplate
Chamber
Ignition Ignition shock Vibration transducer at
injector plate
Start Up Water spray tests with
conditions high speed camera

Wall Wall Infrared camera

cooling temperature
Figure 6: Steam Generator Development
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 3. Modular System for the different test configurations:
Different adapters are used to test the VINCI® configurations (Figure 7).
The adapter for the ε = 22,3 configuration with the combustion chamber is designed like a tube diffuser. The
centre body diffuser itself guides the exhaust gases to the first ejector stage.
The adapter for the ε = 93 configuration with the fix nozzle replace the extendable nozzle. The function of the
altitude simulation is similar to the complete engine tests with the extendable nozzle.
The center body diffuser is designed to test the extendable nozzle.

ε=22,3 ε=93 ε=243

Figure 7: Test Configurations VINCI

IV. Operational Conditions

A. Test Phases:
There are different test phases with special operational conditions:
1. Test Preparation
During the test preparation the vacuum flap is closed and the vacuum chamber is evacuated by mechanical
pumps.

2. Chill Down Phase

The chill down is performed at low ambient pressure. To maintain the vacuum < 200 mbar at the engine
interfaces LH2 and LOX is extracted by steam ejectors. Conditioning systems and emergency purging prevents icing
and the back flow of steam and air during operation and in case of emergency shut down of the ejectors.

3. Ignition
To maintain the conditions during ignition at low ambient pressure < 60 mbar the system is pre evacuated and the
exhaust is extracted by the ejector system.

4. Start Up
During the transient start up phase the ambient conditions of the engine has to maintain:
¾ Sonic condition in the throat of the combustion chamber for the simulation of the chamber pressure gradient,
¾ Full flowing expansion part (chamber, fix nozzle, expandable nozzle) for the heat loads, pressure gradients and
the verification of side loads.

During start up of the engine the super sonic flow of the diffuser starts. The starting of the diffuser depends of the
VINCI® combustion chamber pressure gradient and the characteristic of the altitude simulation. The transient
behaviour of the supersonic diffuser (START conditions) is essential parameters of the design. The smooth pressure
evolution of the vacuum chamber during start up is supported by the reaction time to reach steady state conditions.

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 5. Steady State
For the altitude simulation there is a constant supersonic flow of the diffuser for all operational points of the
engine. Another objective is the thermal balance of the engine. Heat is only emitted due to radiation. Part of the
engine like the radiative cooled nozzle will be tested at maximum temperature reaching material limits. Important
aspects include the simulation of environmental conditions for nozzle loads and the heat protection of sensitive
parts. Additionally the gimballing has to be respected.
During the test campaigns the internal flow inside the vacuum chamber becoming more and more important. To
verify the impact of the internal flow conditions CFD calculations with CFX were performed and adjusted by the
test results.
6. Shut Down
Main objectives of the shut down conditions are the prevention of back flow of hot gases to the vacuum cell and
the reduction of nozzle loads.
The nozzle loads occur by flow separation inside the nozzle and back flow of hot gases. The UN-Start conditions
of the diffuser, the pressure gradients of the combustion chamber and suction system and at the nozzle flow
conditions are essential parameters of the shut down.
For the verification of the shut down conditions CFD calculations with CFX were performed and adjusted by the
test results.
7. Ballistic Phase and Re-ignition
The vacuum conditions during shut down, stand by phases and re-ignition have to be maintained to simulate the
mission requirements of the ballistic phases and firing phases. The altitude simulation with running steam generators
and ejectors is needed for the hot run; the vacuum of the ballistic phase is maintained by mechanical pumps. Re-
ignition of the steam generators is one of the necessary functions for the simulation.

B. CFD- Calculations, Steady State

1. Test Configuration ε = 22,3 (combustion chamber and adapter):
The CFD calculation shows internal vortexes (Figure 10) inside the vacuum chamber triggered by the free jet
between nozzle and adapter (Figure 9). The vortexes are influenced by the gap between nozzle and diffuser. The
diffuser is designed for gimballing including an increased diameter. The impact of the jet to the wall of the diffuser
is given by increased angel. This influences the pressure level (Figure 8). Actual the configuration will be optimized.

Figure 9: CFD-VINCI ε = 22,3 Figure 8: CFD –

Pressure Level VINCI ε = 22,3

Figure 10: CFD - Vacuum Chamber

VINCI ε = 22,3
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 2. Test Configuration ε = 93 (combustion chamber, fix nozzle and adapter):
With the test configuration ε = 93 the center body diffuser and the adapter is in super sonic conditions. The CFD
calculations were done to verify the flow conditions (Figure 11) and the heat loads (Figure 12) for the adapter and
center body diffuser.

[W/m²]

Shell Centre Body

Engine
exhaust
⇒

Figure 13: Hot Gas Modell

Figure 12: CFD-Heat Loads

VINCI ε = 93
There is increasing heat loads (up to 5 MW/m²) compared to the CFD
calculation of the hot gas model (Figure 13 up to 3,8 MW/m²). This
phenomenon was already visible during the hot gas model tests. The CFD has
to be adapted to the measured values of wall temperature and cooling water
heating. Without adaptation to measurements the heat loads are under
Figure 11: CFD - Flow conditions
predicted.
VINCI ε = 93
3. Test Configuration ε = 243 (combustion chamber and extendable nozzle):
The CFD calculations for the extendable nozzle were done to predict the nozzle loads and the behavior of the
center body diffuser. Actual the extendable nozzle is not tested. The flow conditions for the vacuum chamber
(Figure 15) and the diffuser (Figure 14) were verified.

Figure 15: Flow conditions vacuum chamber Figure 14: Flow conditions
VINCI ε = 243 diffuser VINCI ε = 243

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 4. CFD- Calculations Steady State, Shut Down
To verify the shut down transients CFD calculations were performed for the test configuration ε = 93 (thrust
chamber and fix nozzle). With decreasing combustion chamber pressure the super sonic flow field moves upwards
to the conical adapter (Figure 16 picture 1 – 4). When the super sonic flow field arrives the inlet of the adapter
(Figure 16 picture 5) backflow occurs and the ambient pressure increases. With higher ambient pressure the
supersonic flow starts again (Figure 16 picture 7). Furthermore of decreasing the chamber pressure the super sonic
flow field moves from the adapter to the nozzle (Figure 17 picture 7 – 8). It becomes flow separation inside the
nozzle. Possible side loads has to be respected. Furthermore decreasing of the chamber pressure the super sonic flow
field moves to the chamber throat (Figure 17 picture 8 – 10).

1 2 3 4 5
Figure 16: Shut down transient VINCI ε = 93

6 7 8 9 10
Figure 17: Shut down transient VINCI ε = 93

Conclusion
The reception of altitude simulation P4.1 with the VINCI® engine is successful performed. All the calculated
parameters were reached within the expected limits. Nevertheless the ongoing testing of the VINCI® engine gives
the chance to improve the understanding and to optimize the behavior of the test bench. The objective is to improve
the operational model and to predict the test conditions precisely according the test requests. Additionally there is a
need of ongoing improvement of the systems for the test conditions and the test operation.

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 References
• AIAA-2006-4902, 42nd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, 9. - 12. July 2006, Sacramento,
USA
- K. Schäfer, H. Zimmermann „Development and Operational Conditions of VINCI Altitude Simulation Test Bench P4.1“,
• EUCASS, European Conference for Aerospace Sciences, Moscow, Russia, July 4.-7., 2005
− Schäfer, K.; Böhm, C.; Kronmüller, H.; Stark, R.; Zimmermann, H.: P4.1 Test Facility for Altitude Simulation of VINCI®
engine, Bench Development.
− Schäfer, K.; Krühsel, G.: Test Platform of LOX/Ethanol Rocket Steam Generators at DLR
• 2nd International Conference on green Propellants for space Propulsion, Caliari, Italy, June 7.-9. 2004
− Schäfer, K.; Dommers, M.: Alcohol LOX Steam Generator Test Experience.
• 39th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, Huntsville, Alabama, USA, July 20-23, 2003
− Krühsel G.; Schäfer K.: Design, Development Evolution of an Ethanol/LOX Injection Head for Rocket Steam Generator of
high Flow rate.
− Schäfer, K.; Zimmermann, H; Krühsel, G.: Altitude Simulation Test Bench for VINCI ®Engine.
• DGLR, German Aerospace Congress 2002, Stuttgart, Germany, September 23. - 26. , 2002
− Schäfer, K.: Höhensimulationsprüfstand P4.1 für das VINCI ® Triebwerk.
• International symposium on Propulsion for Space Transportation of the XXI Century, Palais des Congress, Versailles,
France, May 14 – 17 2002
− Schäfer, K.; Zimmermann H.: Altitude Simulation Test Bench P4.1 for VINCI® Upper Stage Engine
• st
1 International Conference on Green Propellants for Space Propulsion, Noordwijk, the Netherlands, June 20-22 2001
− Schäfer, K.; Krühsel, G.: Advanced Green propellant Steam Generator

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