BLT supports flight test of Longyun liquid oxygen-methane engine powered rocket
July 15, 2024
JiuZhou Yunjian Space Technology Co Ltd, Beijing, China, has completed a 10 km-level flight and recovery test of its Longyun liquid oxygen-methane engine at the Jiuquan Dongfeng Launch Site. Bright Laser Technologies (BLT), based in Xi’an, developed and additively manufactured critical components for the rocket, including parts for the thrust chamber and turbopumps.
The maiden flight evaluation showcased stable performance across all parameters, including a reportedly faultless execution of start-up and shut-down sequences, thrust vectoring, and modulation. This test is said to represent China’s largest-scale vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) flight trial for reusable rockets to date, and marks the inaugural deployment of a domestically developed deep-throttleable liquid oxygen-methane engine in a 10 km-level return flight.
The thrust chamber cap, integral to the functionality of the liquid oxygen-methane engine by transmitting thrust and housing propellants, has historically posed manufacturing challenges due to its reliance on segmented welding methods, reports BLT. These methods are susceptible to cracking under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure.
Addressing these challenges, BLT opted for the high-temperature alloy In718 for its superior properties. Utilising a BLT-S450 Additive Manufacturing machine, BLT achieved integrated manufacturing of the thrust chamber cap in seven days. This approach enables high levels of precision and product quality whilst accelerating manufacturing timelines, facilitating rapid technological advancements and enhanced development efficiency for its clients.
From the outset, BLT integrated Additive Manufacturing principles into the development of turbopump components. Collaborating closely with clients, BLT successfully produced intricate parts such as oxygen and methane pump impeller and casing blanks. These components feature complex blade structures, demanding precise blade profiles and surface roughness. Metal Additive Manufacturing technology employed by BLT ensures the efficient and high-quality production of these parts.
One such example is where the BLT-S450 enables batch manufacturing of six high-temperature alloy In718 oxygen pump impeller banks per run; each part requires an average production time of approximately fifty-two hours. These parts exhibit consistent quality and performance, striking a balance between superior functionality and economic feasibility.
Components crafted using BLT’s metal Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) technology with high-temperature alloy In718 exhibit superior surface quality, robust mechanical properties, density, and internal defect control compared to conventional methods. These components meet stringent technical requirements, including room and low-temperature tensile strength exceeding 1300 MPa respectively, yield strengths surpassing 1000 MPa and 1200 MPa, and elongation rates exceeding 20%, all validated through rigorous client assessments. Ultimately, BLT delivered a batch of high-quality components to clients on schedule, helping them complete flight and recovery missions effectively.
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