Aerospace Division
The event was supported by the Society for Shock Wave Research and the Department of Aerospace Engineering, IISc. The distinguished lecturers were Dr Pramod Kumar of IISc and Rohan Ganapathy of Bellatrix, a company that is incubated by IISc.
Vijay Raman, Member IMechE Trustee Board and AED India Committee welcomed the guest speakers and the audience. Professor Gopalan Jagadeesh Chair, Centre of Excellence in Hypersonics, IISc and President, International Shock Wave Institute chaired the first lecture by Dr. Pramod Kumar of the Mechanical Engineering Department at IISc, a specialist in Thermal Science and Fluid Mechanics
Supercritical CO2 (s-CO2) heated above 31.1 C and 73.9 bar has the density of liquid and gas like characteristics. It offers tremendous opportunities for both power generation and refrigeration with efficient heat transfer, substantially smaller sized plant and pressures that are much lower than super critical steam. The lecture discussed the impacts of a mixture with propane, design and manufacture of micro channel heat exchangers by diffusion bonding, compact turbo machinery, high speed reluctance generators and the challenges posed in using nitrile rubber seals. The remarkable size of equipment used in developing s-CO2 was shown by a turbine with a diameter of 1.5 cm generating 20 Kw.
IISc has been a pioneer in India in research on s-CO2 power generation. It has developed a state-of-the-art s-CO2 Brayton test loop to address fundamental research issues and demonstrate technology deployment. The s-CO2 laboratory has collaborated closely with private sector industries and research labs to enable development in the country.
The second session was chaired by Ashok Baweja, Chair AeD India. The lecturer was Rohan M. Ganapathy CEO & CTO of Bellatrix, a young company incubated by IISc The company is involved in the development of in-space propulsion systems, electric propulsion, rocket propulsion and space systems engineering. Rohan developed and patented the Microwave Plasma Thruster, an advanced type of electric propulsion system that runs on water as a propellant and offers several advantages compared to conventional technologies. The company received a first of its kind developmental contract from the Indian Space Research Organisation for supply of these thrusters for their applications. The Company received the Technology Development Board’s national award in 2017.
The merits of electric propulsion of satellites for in-space positioning and orbit raising were discussed in comparison to conventional chemical propulsion using hydrazine. Three methods of electric propulsion were described – electro thermal, electrostatic and electromagnetic. Overall, electric propulsion was safe and more efficient than chemical engines, requiring much less propellant to produce the same effect.
Bellatrix Aerospace has developed microwave Electro-thermal thrusters, an advanced type of electric propulsion for satellites. These are efficient and able to work with several propellants such as Argon, Xenon, Nitrogen, Ammonia and Water Vapour. The thrusters are vortex stabilized and microwaves are used to heat the propellant to produce a high temperature exhaust for in-space propulsion. The thrusters offer ten times more specific impulse than chemical thrusters together with multiple restart capability. The weight saving in a satellite weighing 6 tons was twotons with these thrusters, thus increasing the usable payload. In addition, the orbital life span of satellites would increase by 5 years.
The lectures provided the audience with insights into cutting edge technologies that are well beyond the proof of concept stage. Some 60 engineers and distinguished scientists were present. This including 24 IMechE members, a number of IISc Masters’ students, as well as students from first degree colleges.