Workshop Other Colloquium: Ruben van den Berg (Space Flight) 2023

The electric-pump cycle is an alternative rocket engine configuration that uses an electric motor instead of a turbine to power the pumps. It offers advantages like simpler design and lower costs, but has reduced performance compared to conventional cycles. Previous research focused on comparing it to the gas generator cycle, but now a Rocket Cycle Analysis Tool called RoCAT has been developed to analyze various cycles, including the open expander cycle, across different thrusts, burn times, chamber pressures, and propellants. RoCAT also optimizes inputs for each cycle to ensure a fair comparison. This research not only examines the current performance of the electric-pump cycle, but also predicts its future performance based on historical trends in battery and electric motor technologies.