Difference between revisions of "LV-T45 "Swivel" Liquid Fuel Engine"

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(Usage: Overhauled for 1.0)
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== Usage ==
 
== Usage ==
  
The LV-T45 is very similar to the [[LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine]]. It is slightly less powerful and slightly heavier, but it has thrust vectoring and higher specific impulse in vacuum conditions. Thrust vectoring means that the engine is able to slightly change the angle it is pointing to, which gives the player the ability to steer the rocket while the engine is burning. This allows efficient control of the rocket when it is most needed - during ascent and orbit correction burns.  
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The LV-T45 is similar to the [[LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine]], but with a slightly smaller thrust chamber, higher expansion ratio, and thrust vector control.  Its slightly reduced thrust and considerably increased mass reduces its specific thrust, making it less suitable for first stages. It is best suited in second stages and the core stage of parallel lift-off configurations, where longer operating times and higher altitudes bring out this engine's advantage in specific impulse.
  
Parallel ignition of several LV-T30 and LV-T45 engines at lift-off can lead to maximized thrust without losing control. But keep in mind that having the same specific impulse with less thrust means that it burns slightly longer than the LV-T30 with the same amount of fuel.
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There are two excellent applications of this engine: in the core stage of parallel booster configurations, where its thrust vector control allows active control of a vehicle powered chiefly by LV-T30 or [[BACC]] Thumper solid boosters for lift-off, followed by the LV-T45 engine(s) continuing to operate after the strap-on stages have depleted and separated.  And in the second stage of an aerodynamically stabilized booster started aloft using a suitable solid motor stage where the operation of the first stage is controlled by reaction wheels or the first stage burns out prior to the commencement of the gravity turn.
 
 
Like LV-T30, the LV-T45 cannot be placed on radial [[decoupler]]s and are typically reserved as a main engine after lift-off. The LV-T45 must be directly below a non-empty fuel tank to produce any thrust.
 
  
 
== Product description ==
 
== Product description ==

Revision as of 21:00, 12 May 2015

LV-T45 "Swivel" Liquid Fuel Engine
Part image
Liquid fuel engine by
Jebediah Kerman's Junkyard and Spacecraft Parts Co

Radial size Small
Cost (total) 1 200.00 Funds
Mass (total) 1.50 t
Drag 0.2
Max. Temp. 2000 K
Volume  ?
Impact Tolerance 7 m/s
Research Basic rocketry.png Basic Rocketry
Unlock cost 3 500 Funds
Since version 0.12
Part configuration liquidEngineLV-T45.cfg
Liquid fuel engine
Maximum thrust (1 atm) 167.97 kN
(vacuum) 215.00 kN
Isp (1 atm) 250 s
(vacuum) 320 s
Fuel consumption 13.70 Units of fuel/s


Thrust vectoring 3 °
Testing Environments
On the surface Yes
In the ocean Yes
On the launchpad Yes
In the atmosphere Yes
Sub orbital Yes
In an orbit Yes
On an escape Yes
Docked No
Test by staging Yes
Manually testable Yes

The LV-T45 Liquid Fuel Engine is an engine which requires fuel from external liquid fuel tanks, and must be either connected beneath them or be on the receiving end of a fuel line.

Usage

The LV-T45 is similar to the LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine, but with a slightly smaller thrust chamber, higher expansion ratio, and thrust vector control. Its slightly reduced thrust and considerably increased mass reduces its specific thrust, making it less suitable for first stages. It is best suited in second stages and the core stage of parallel lift-off configurations, where longer operating times and higher altitudes bring out this engine's advantage in specific impulse.

There are two excellent applications of this engine: in the core stage of parallel booster configurations, where its thrust vector control allows active control of a vehicle powered chiefly by LV-T30 or BACC Thumper solid boosters for lift-off, followed by the LV-T45 engine(s) continuing to operate after the strap-on stages have depleted and separated. And in the second stage of an aerodynamically stabilized booster started aloft using a suitable solid motor stage where the operation of the first stage is controlled by reaction wheels or the first stage burns out prior to the commencement of the gravity turn.

Product description

The LV-T45 engine was considered a breakthrough in the LV-T series due to its Thrust Vectoring feature. The LV-T45 can deflect its thrust to aid in craft control. All these added mechanics however, make for a slightly smaller and heavier engine in comparison with other LV-T models.

Changes

1.0
  • Isp decreased from 370 s (vacuum) / 320 s (1 atm) to 320 s (vacuum) / 270 s (1 atm)
  • Gimbal range increased from 1° to 3°
  • Cost increased from 950 to 1200
0.22
  • Electricity production increased to 6.0
0.18
Pre-0.18 appearance
  • New model and texture
  • Alternator added, engine now gains 1.0 electricity
0.16
  • Major CFG revision (most notably Isp added)
0.12
  • Initial Release