The AHRES software can be used for the preliminary design of entire hybrid and solid rocket engines or for the optimisation and further development of individual subsystems of existing engines. The modular structure of the software enables flexible use right up to the coupled design of the entire system. This reduces the overall time and financial outlay for iterative development and allows innovative findings to be taken into account in the interactions.
AHRES
Hybrid rocket engines are a promising alternative to solid and liquid rocket engines, which are primarily used in space transportation. By using solid fuels and liquid oxidisers, they combine the advantages of both systems, making spacecrafts more cost-effective, safer and environmentally friendly. A number of disadvantages that prevented commercial use in the past can now be overcome by innovative fuel compositions and modern production techniques. Nevertheless, the strong interactions within the combustion chambers pose technological challenges for the scalability of laboratory tests to engines to larger thrust classes.
AHRES-B
Test run of the innovative AHRES-B hybrid rocket engine on the DLR test rig in Trauen.
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To address this problem, the Spacecraft department is developing and validating the AHRES (Advanced Hybrid Rocket Engine Simulation) software, which enables the optimised design of a complete hybrid or solid rocket engine. The AHRES software is validated by means of numerical simulations, which can map all relevant physical and chemical processes within the engines. In addition, the DLR site in Trauen has its own test bench, which enables the use of highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide in engines with a thrust of up to 15,000 N. The use of modern measurement techniques and various test engines allows all relevant process parameters to be analysed, which are necessary for an in-depth understanding of the combustion processes and thus for the validation of the AHRES software.
Key features
- optimised design of hybrid and solid rocket engines
- modular design for individual engine subsystems
- transient consideration of the combustion process
- catalytic processes of hydrogen peroxide
- nozzle design taking thermal and mechanical loads into account
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License notice
Access to these software products can only be granted if the organization you are representing holds a valid license or your organization is interested in signing such a license. If either of the aforementioned two points are fulfilled please get in touch with us providing additional information. Afterwards, we will support you in getting access to our software products. Please note, that we are, in general, not signing license agreements with private individuals.