ISRO achieves breakthrough in Semicryogenic engine development for LVM3

ISRO has announced significant progress in the design and development of a Semicryogenic engine or Liquid Oxygen/Kerosene engine with a high thrust of 2,000 kN that will power the Semicryogenic booster stage of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3. The first major breakthrough in the semicryogenic engine development programme was achieved on March 28, when the first successful hot test of Engine Power Head Test Article, was carried out at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, said the organisation Highlighting that the Friday’s test demonstrated the smooth ignition and boost strap mode operation of the engine for a test duration of 2.5 seconds, the space agency said the objective of the test was to validate the integrated performance of the critical subsystems such as the pre-burner, turbo pumps, start system and control components by carrying out a hot-firing for a short-duration. Prior to the conduct of integrated engine level hot tests, it is planned to carry out performance evaluation tests of the intermediate configuration, designated as Power Head Test Article, which comprises all the engine systems except the thrust chamber, informed the statement. “All subsystems for the test were realised and had undergone rigorous qualification tests prior to integration to Power Head Test Article,” the space agency said. “A series of tests were successfully completed using the PITA, and the optimum start sequence for the power head test article was derived,” said the agency.