// PROPULSION SYSTEMS AND ENGINE TECHNOLOGY TERM
Pressure-Fed Engine
A pressure-fed engine is a simple type of rocket engine that uses a high-pressure gas, like helium, to push fuel and oxidizer into the combustion chamber. This design avoids the need for complex and heavy mechanical pumps.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
A pressure-fed rocket engine is a chemical propulsion system that employs a high-pressure inert gas (pressurant) to displace and force liquid propellants from their tanks into a combustion chamber for thrust generation, eliminating the need for turbopumps.
BACKGROUND
The pressure-fed engine is a class of rocket engine designs. A separate gas supply, usually helium, pressurizes the propellant tanks to force fuel and oxidizer to the combustion chamber. To maintain adequate flow, the tank pressures must exceed the combustion chamber pressure.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- pressurized feed system
- gas-pressurized system
- non-pump-fed engine
- blowdown system
USAGE NOTE
This design is favored for its reliability and simplicity in smaller applications like reaction control systems (RCS) and upper stage engines where performance is secondary to cost and dependability.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Pressure-Fed Engine.
Developing a reusable upper stage that utilizes a novel pressure-fed, full-flow staged combustion engine burning hydrogen and oxygen.
Manufactures and operates the pressure-fed Curie and HyperCurie engines for its Photon spacecraft, providing orbit insertion, maneuvering, and de-orbit capabilities.
Develops and utilizes the Draco and SuperDraco pressure-fed hypergolic engines for attitude control on its Falcon rockets and Dragon spacecraft, as well as for the Crew Dragon's launch escape system.
A historic and current leader in propulsion, producing numerous pressure-fed systems, including reaction control thrusters for the Orion spacecraft, NASA's SLS, and various missile and satellite applications.
A major supplier of spacecraft components, specializing in designing and manufacturing a wide variety of pressure-fed monopropellant and bipropellant propulsion systems for satellite attitude control and orbital maneuvering.
Developed and flew the Delphin engine, a pressure-fed engine using kerosene and liquid oxygen, which powered the first stage of its Rocket 3 launch vehicle.
Developed the Orbiter spacecraft which is equipped with a pressure-fed chemical propulsion system using ethane and nitrous oxide for orbital maneuvering and deployment of customer satellites.