Prev heroicrelics.org
Marshall Space Flight Center Site Index
J-2 Engine Thrust Chamber J-2111 Gallery
Next

dsca6530.jpg

Detail of the interior of the fuel manifold inlet.

Picture 3 of 5.

Liquid hydrogen from the turbopump is routed to the fuel manifold, where it enters the ends of these half-length regenerative cooling tubes. The fuel then travels through these tubes, down the thrust chamber, to the exit plane. There the reverse-flow manifold (variously called a fuel return manifold or turnaround manifold on other rocket engines) routes the hydrogen up the full-length regenerative cooling tubes to the injector.

The J-2 thrust chamber is constructed of 360 full-length "up" tubes running from reverse-flow manifold to the the injector, plus an additional 180 "down" tubes running from the fuel manifold to the reverse-flow manifold. This "pass-and-a-half" construction increases the number of tubes comprising the thrust chamber as the diameter of the nozzle increases, allowing for a high expansion ratio.

 
Interior of J-2 Engine Thrust Chamber J-2111 fuel manifold inlet, including down half tubes, at Marshall Space Flight Center
Time picture taken Tue Sep 16 09:17:20 2014
Location picture taken Building 4205
Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, AL
Prev J-2 Engine Thrust Chamber J-2111 Gallery Next