Ameer Randolph
The V-2 rocket was a liquid-propellant rocket vehicle developed during World War II in Nazi Germany. It was the first modern long-range ballistic missile and the ancestor of today's large-scale liquid-fuel rockets. The V-2 rocket was powered by a liquid-propellant rocket engine, burning alcohol and liquid oxygen. The fuel and oxidizer pumps were driven by a steam turbine, fueled by the decomposition of concentrated hydrogen peroxide. The turbopump delivered 55 kg of alcohol and 68 kg of liquid oxygen per second to a combustion chamber at 1.5 MPa. The engine produced 8 tons of thrust during the preliminary stage, increasing to 25 tons as the turbopump pressurized the fuel. So, how much fuel did a V-2 rocket use per second?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Alcohol and liquid oxygen |
| Fuel mixture | 75% alcohol/water |
| Fuel pump | Steam turbine |
| Fuel pump rpm | 4,000 |
| Fuel mixture and oxygen pumped into combustion chamber | 125 liters (33 US gallons) per second |
| Fuel burn duration | 60 seconds |
| Fuel burn until speed of sound | 30 seconds |
| Fuel burn until peak speed | 60 seconds |
| Fuel burn until exhaustion | 65 seconds |
| Fuel compartment | Present |
| Fuel cutoff | Present |
| Fuel type | Liquid propellant |
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What You'll Learn
The V-2 rocket used a liquid propellant engine
The V-2 rocket, developed and used by Nazi Germany during World War II, was the world's first long-range guided ballistic missile and the first large-scale liquid-propellant rocket vehicle. It was also the first artificial object to travel into space, crossing the Kármán line during its vertical launch in June 1944.
The V-2 rocket used a liquid-propellant rocket engine, specifically an ethanol-water mixture for fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) for oxidiser. The water in the fuel mixture acted as a coolant, turning into steam, and also reduced the flame temperature and thermal stress. The turbopump, rotating at 4,000 rpm, forced the fuel mixture and oxygen into the combustion chamber at 125 litres per second, where they were ignited by a spinning electrical igniter.
The V-2 rocket engine was a significant technical achievement, utilising high-speed pumps to rapidly move large volumes of fuel into the thrust chamber. The engine produced 8 tons of thrust during the preliminary stage, before increasing to 25 tons as the turbopump pressurised the fuel. The combustion gases exited the chamber at an extremely high temperature of 2,820 °C and a speed of 2,000 m per second.
The V-2 rocket's liquid-propellant engine enabled it to reach a height of 80 km or 264,000 ft after engine shutdown, showcasing the power and capabilities of this technology during World War II.
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The fuel was a mixture of alcohol and liquid oxygen
The V-2 rocket, developed and used by the Germans during World War II, was the world's first large-scale liquid-propellant rocket vehicle. It was the first modern long-range ballistic missile and the ancestor of today's large-scale liquid-fuel rockets and launch vehicles. The V-2 rocket was the result of a series of prototypes, with the A-4, also known as the Aggregat-4, going to war as the V-2.
The V-2 rocket was powered by a liquid-propellant rocket engine that used a mixture of alcohol and liquid oxygen as fuel. The alcohol was mixed with water for engine cooling. The fuel mixture and oxygen were forced into the combustion chamber at 125 liters (33 US gallons) per second by a turbopump rotating at 4,000 rpm. The engine produced 8 tons of thrust during the preliminary stage while the fuel was gravity-fed, and this increased to 25 tons as the turbopump pressurized the fuel, lifting the 13.5-ton rocket. The turbopump delivered 55 kg (121 lb) of alcohol and 68 kg (150 lb) of liquid oxygen per second to the combustion chamber.
The alcohol and oxygen tanks were made of an aluminum-magnesium alloy and were located in the center section of the rocket, with the lox tank below and the larger fuel tank above. The lox tank was insulated with glass wool to maintain the desired temperature and prevent overheating from leftover propellants. The fuel tanks were also protected by a layer of glass wool to prevent the formation of ice, an issue that affected other early ballistic missiles.
The V-2 rocket had a fuel burn time of 60 seconds, during which it reached a peak speed of 5,760 km/h. After the fuel was exhausted, the rocket continued on a ballistic free-fall trajectory, reaching a height of 80 km (50 mi) or 264,000 ft.
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The turbopump delivered fuel at 125 litres per second
The V-2 rocket, also known as the A-4, was developed by Nazi Germany during World War II as a "vengeance weapon" to attack Allied cities in retaliation for bombings on German cities. It was the first large-scale liquid-propellant rocket vehicle, powered by a liquid-propellant rocket engine. The V-2 rocket burned alcohol and liquid oxygen, with a fuel mixture of 75% alcohol and water.
The V-2 rocket's engine was a significant technical achievement, utilising high-speed pumps to rapidly deliver large volumes of fuel into the thrust chamber. The turbopump, a critical component of the V-2 rocket's fuel delivery system, played a vital role in achieving this feat.
The turbopump, rotating at 4,000 rpm, forced the fuel mixture and oxygen into the combustion chamber at an impressive rate of 125 litres (33 US gallons) per second. This high-speed fuel delivery enabled the engine to produce significant thrust. During the preliminary stage, the engine generated 8 tons of thrust, which increased to 25 tons as the turbopump pressurised the fuel, successfully lifting the 13.5-ton rocket.
The turbopump assembly consisted of two centrifugal pumps, one dedicated to the fuel mixture and the other to oxygen. The turbine was connected directly to the alcohol pump through a shaft, while a flexible joint and shaft connected it to the oxygen pump. This intricate mechanism allowed for the precise and controlled delivery of fuel and oxidiser, ensuring the rocket's efficient operation.
The V-2 rocket's fuel system and turbopump played a crucial role in its performance and success as one of the first modern long-range ballistic missiles, paving the way for future developments in rocket technology and space exploration.
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The engine produced 8 tons of thrust initially
The V-2 rocket, also known as the A-4, was developed in Nazi Germany during World War II as a "vengeance weapon" to attack Allied cities. It was the world's first large-scale liquid-propellant rocket vehicle and the ancestor of modern long-range missiles. The V-2 rocket's engine produced 8 tons of thrust initially during the preliminary stage, while the fuel was gravity-fed. The turbopump, rotating at 4,000 rpm, forced a fuel mixture of alcohol and liquid oxygen into the combustion chamber at 125 litres (33 US gallons) per second. The alcohol-water mixture was 75% alcohol, with the remaining 25% being water.
The V-2 rocket was a significant technological advancement, utilising high-speed pumps to move large volumes of fuel into the thrust chamber rapidly. The rocket's engine produced an impressive amount of thrust, contributing to its status as a formidable weapon during World War II. The V-2 rocket's engine burned alcohol and liquid oxygen, generating the necessary power to propel the rocket to its target.
The V-2 rocket's engine played a crucial role in its performance and effectiveness as a weapon. With an initial thrust of 8 tons, it provided the necessary force to propel the 13.5-ton rocket upwards. The engine's ability to produce this level of thrust during the preliminary stage was a remarkable engineering feat, showcasing the advancements in rocket technology during World War II.
As the turbopump pressurised the fuel, the engine's thrust increased significantly from 8 tons to 25 tons. This increase in thrust allowed the V-2 rocket to reach a height of 80 km (50 miles) or 264,000 feet. The combustion gases exited the chamber at an extremely high temperature of 2,820°C (5,100°F) and a speed of 2,000 m (6,600 ft) per second.
The V-2 rocket's engine, with its initial 8 tons of thrust, was a key factor in the rocket's success as a "vengeance weapon." The engine's ability to generate this level of thrust during the preliminary stage set the foundation for the rocket's subsequent boost in power, ultimately contributing to its destructive capabilities and impact during World War II.
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The V-2 rocket was the first modern long-range ballistic missile
The V-2 rocket, also known as the A-4, was developed in Nazi Germany during World War II as a "vengeance weapon" to attack Allied cities. It was the world's first large-scale liquid-propellant rocket vehicle, the first modern long-range ballistic missile, and the forerunner of today's large-scale liquid-fuel rockets and launch vehicles.
The V-2 rocket was powered by a liquid-propellant rocket engine, using a 75% alcohol/water mixture as fuel and liquid oxygen (lox) as the oxidizer. The fuel and oxidizer pumps were driven by a steam turbine, fueled by the decomposition of concentrated hydrogen peroxide (T-Stoff) with a sodium permanganate (Z-Stoff) catalyst. The turbopump rotated at 4,000 rpm, forcing 125 liters (33 US gallons) of the fuel mixture and oxygen per second into the combustion chamber, where they were ignited by a spinning electrical igniter.
The V-2 rocket had a maximum range of about 320 km (200 miles) and a one-ton warhead containing about 725 kg (1,600 lbs) of high explosive. It was 14 meters (47 feet) long and weighed 12,700-13,200 kg (28,000-29,000 lbs) at launch, developing around 60,000 lbs of thrust. The rocket was constructed mainly of thin sheet steel, with a wooden framework in some sections.
The first successful launch of the V-2 rocket occurred on October 3, 1942, and it was first fired against Paris on September 6, 1944. Beginning in September 1944, more than 3,000 V-2s were launched against Allied targets, primarily London, Antwerp, and Liège. The attacks from V-2s resulted in the deaths of an estimated 9,000 civilians and military personnel, as well as the deaths of thousands of forced laborers and concentration camp prisoners during the manufacturing process.
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Frequently asked questions
The V2 rocket used 55 kg (121 lb) of alcohol and 68 kg (150 lb) of liquid oxygen per second.
The V2 rocket's fuel mixture was 75% alcohol and water, with liquid oxygen as the oxidizer.
The V2 rocket burned fuel for around 60 seconds.
