Analysis of air-turborocket performance

In order to assess the capabilities of the air-turborocket, an off-design analysis of a representative LOX-LH2 fed engine is carried out. Operating lines are drawn on an advanced compressor map for different flight conditions along the typical flight path of a transatmospheric vehicle. The characteristic aspects of the air-turborocket behavior, in the spontaneous and controlled mode, are highlighted. The full throttle specific thrust and propellant consumption are computed, both in the dry and augmented mode. The performance that can be achieved by exploiting the permissible mass flow range of the compressor map via the variation of the nozzle throat area is shown.