Chief Engineer
CurrentAs Chief Engineer of Ryerson's Propulsion Group, I strive to exceed expectations and work tirelessly to achieve the impossible. At RPG our mission is to develop a fully functioning Liquid Rocket Engine, capable of stable supersonic combustion with 350lbs of thrust. I'm proud to say that we have taken major steps in 2020-2021 towards accomplishing this goal, despite the added complications of C-19 restrictions. This was only possible by leading through example and providing a focus on constructive teamwork. Although the team is talented and comprised of many skillsets some major milestones stood as roadblocks to success. My contributions to the team focused on removing these roadblocks and pushing forward. For example, before my succession to chief engineer the team performed hand calculations to determine a single configuration. My first step was to write a MATLAB code to not only calculate any configuration but also to explore relationships between the mathematical principles used. This allowed me to understand the process and refine the entire design geometry to three input variables: mass flow, chamber pressure, and characteristic length. To truly observe the transient reaction of the rocket we choose to extend burn time, allowing more data to be collected. To be able to iterate this process quickly I developed a CATIA model using formula values. This allows a single CAD model to be quickly changed to the new parameters. This model could then be saved as an STP file and imported into Solidworks Flow simulator for CFD verification. As we work through the approval process for testing the engine, R&D is being continually refined. The first engine configuration is complete and ready for testing. The team is currently in Phase 1 testing. This testing will be used to establish testing parameters, determine priming sequences, fine tune ignition sequences, determine geometric efficiency, and provide confidence in propellant management systems.
