CERAMIC COMPONENT FEASIBILITY DEMONSTRATION IN A SMALL TURBOJET ENGINE

AN OPERATIONAL DEMONSTRATION OF THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF A HIGH TEMPERATURE SMALL TURBOJET ENGINE IS PROVIDED BY THIS PROGRAM. THIS DEMONSTRATION CONFIRMS THAT A CERAMIC RADIAL TURBINE WHEEL CAN WITHSTAND THE SHORT DURATION HIGH TEMPERATURE EXPOSURE REQUIRED OF A SMALL TACTICAL MISSILE ENGINE. SINCE THE TURBINE WHEEL IS THE MOST CRITICAL CERAMIC COMPONENT OF A NEW HIGH TEMPERATURE ENGINE, THE OVERALL FEASIBILITY OF THIS NEW ENGINE IS ACCOMPLISHED. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES A NEW ENGINE DESIGN WHICH COMBINES TURBOCHARGER AND AVAILABLE CERAMICS TECHNOLOGIES TO PROVIDE A "TRULY EXPENDABLE" HIGH PERFORMANCE SMALL TURBOJET ENGINE. AN OVERALL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IS PROVIDED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CERAMIC COMPONENTS WITH THE LOWEST DEVELOPMENT. A SYSTEMATIC IMPLEMENTATION OF CERAMIC COMPONENTSIS OUTLINED WHICH INCLUDES THE TURBINE WHEEL, TURBINE BEARING, TURBINE NOZZLE, HEAT SHIELD, AND COMBUSTOR IN A MANNER THAT MINIMIZES DEVELOPMENT TIME AND COST.