Taking the heat out of space flight
10th January 2014
Breakthrough heat exchange technology is the driving force behind a new generation of engines with the ability to operate in space and the earth’s atmosphere.
The SABRE (Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine) is a new engine class that can operate as a jet and a rocket. Developed by Reaction Engines Ltd over the last 20 years, the engine can power aircraft to speeds in excess of 6,000 kilometres per hour (Mach five) in the atmosphere, and around 30,000 kilometres per hour in space flight (Mach 25).
The engine has been made possible with the development of ultra-lightweight heat exchangers needed by aircraft to cool hot air entering their engines, as well as frost prevention technology.
The SABRE engine is able to cool the incoming airstream very quickly and effectively, from over 1,000°C to minus 150°C in less than 1/100th of a second (six times faster than the blink of an eye). They are extremely lightweight — approximately 100 times lighter than current technology — allowing them to be used for aerospace applications for the first time.
Chemical engineers can find out more about the SABRE engine from Dr Rob Bond, corporate programmes director at Reaction Engines, at a special event hosted by the Institution of Chemical Engineer’s (IChemE) Thames Valley Members Group on 23 January 2014 in Reading, UK.
Dr Prab Mistry, chair of IChemE’s Thames Valley Members Group, said: “The SABRE engine and Reaction Engine’s work to develop SKYLON – an unpiloted, reusable spaceplane intended to provide reliable, responsive and cost effective access to space –has received major world-wide attention.
“Reaction Engine’s work has the potential to revolutionise space travel and their work has wider applications of great interest to chemical engineers, especially heat transfer.
”It is a privilege and an honour to welcome Rob to the Thames Valley and a unique opportunity for chemical engineers to listen first-hand about Reaction Engine’s amazing work.”
Dr Bond said: “I very much look forward to presenting the work of Reaction Engines to the IChemE and to describe the unique and challenging opportunities afforded by the SABRE engine technology.”
The event is free and open to IChemE members and non-members. Registration is mandatory1.