A turbo-rocket engine.

Fig. 1-12 A turbo-rocket engine.

20. The turbo-rocket engine (fig. 1-12) could be considered as an alternative engine to the turbo/ram jet; however, it has one major difference in that it carries its own oxygen to provide combustion,
21. The engine has a low pressure compressor driven by a multi-stage turbine; the power to drive the turbine is derived from combustion of kerosine and liquid oxygen in a rocket-type combustion chamber. Since the gas temperature will be in the order of 3,500 deg. C, additional fuel is sprayed into the combustion chamber for cooling purposes before the gas enters the turbine. This fuel-rich mixture (gas) is then diluted with air from the compressor and the surplus fuel burnt in a conventional afterburning system.
22. Although the engine is smaller and lighter than the turbo/ram jet, it has a higher fuel consumption. This tends to make it more suitable for an interceptor or space-launcher type of aircraft that requires high speed, high altitude performance and normally has a flight plan that is entirely accelerative and of short duration.