Dhawan II Engine

Table of Contents☰

About Dhawan II Engine:

It is a 3D-printed cryogenic engine developed by the Skyroot Aerospace for its heavier vehicle, the Vikram II rocket.
Features:
- It uses a 3D-printed torch igniter and bellows actuated cryo-injection valve with a quick response time.
- It utilises two high-performance rocket propellants, liquid natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LoX), which require cryogenic temperatures (below -150° Celsius) for storage and operation.
Advantage: A cryogenic upper stage enhances the payload-carrying capacity of a rocket.
The cryogenic engine series is named in honour of Dr Satish Dhawan, an Indian rocket scientist.

What is 3D Printing?

3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file.
The creation of a 3D-printed object is achieved using additive processes.
In an additive process, an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced cross-section of the object.
3D printing enables you to produce complex shapes using less material than traditional manufacturing methods.

Q1) What is liquefied natural gas?

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a natural gas that has been converted to liquid form for ease of transportation and storage. Natural gas, which is primarily composed of methane, is liquefied by cooling it to approximately -162°C (-260°F) at atmospheric pressure.

Source: Skyroot testfires 3D-printed cryogenic engine