Britain’s biggest fire cracker

20 October 2009

Britain’s biggest fire cracker

47 times the power of Jenson’s F1 Car, Britain’s biggest hybrid rocket was fired for the first time this weekend amid secrecy in the Mojave Desert - where the US tests many of its secret military aircraft.

On Saturday 17th October a team of experts, led by 25 year old rocket engineer Daniel Jubb successfully fired a unique prototype hybrid rocket, designed specially to power the BLOODHOUND Super Sonic Car through the sound barrier to 1,000 mph. It is the most advanced hybrid rocket ever created in the UK.

The BLOODHOUND combustion chamber is 14 feet long and weighs in at 400kg, the same length as a Formula 1 car and a little lighter, producing 17,500 lbs (77.8 kN) of thrust and 25 feet of flame during its ten second burn time. This is the equivalent of 47 times the power of Jenson Button’s Brawn GP world championship winning car. When fully developed, the rocket will generate an incredible 27,500 lbs (122 kN) equivalent to 133,000 bhp.

The successful rocket firing marks a significant milestone in the development of the BLOODHOUND Project. The rocket forms one of the three power plants the car will employ to reach its 1,000 mph top speed. The others are a Euro Fighter Typhoon jet engine and an 800 bhp V12 race engine – used to drive the HTP rocket oxidizer pump.

The BLOODHOUND Project aims to inspire future generations to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics by showcasing these subjects in the most exciting way possible.

The rocket development programme started in March 2008 with small scale 6” rockets and is now in the final and most spectacular stage. The tests  are used to refine the way the rocket burns.

“We now know that we can safely control a hybrid rocket to produce the required amount of thrust” said Jubb. “Now that we have completed the first firing we can commence with a rigorous programme of testing to refine the way the rocket burns. This is ground breaking science which will have applications in all areas of rocketry.”

End

For interviews, images and further information contact:
Jules Tipler at Mission 21 on 0845 226 0803
 
Or direct at:
jules.tipler@mission-21.com

Notes to Editors

How does a hybrid rocket work?
Hybrid rockets use a solid fuel and a liquid oxidizer. The fuel is contained within the combustion chamber and the liquid oxidizer is stored in a separate tank, pumped in at 1,100 lb/in2 (75.8 Bar) (or expelled under gas pressure) into the combustion chamber. In the case of the hybrid rocket for BLOODHOUND SSC (Super Sonic Car) at the top of the combustion chamber is a catalyst pack made up of 80 silver plated nickel disks, which decompose the HTP to steam and oxygen at 600 °C. These decomposition products enter the fuel grain causing automatic ignition. A hybrid rocket can be easily shutdown by turning off the supply of liquid oxidizer.

For further information visit:
www.bloodhoundssc.com/car/rocket_propulsion.cfm