Comments on: British spaceplane concept gets infusion of cash https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/british-spaceplane-concept-gets-infusion-of-cash/ Thu, 05 Nov 2015 02:47:20 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Edward https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/british-spaceplane-concept-gets-infusion-of-cash/#comment-821671 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 02:47:20 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=36610#comment-821671 I have been fascinated by this concept for a few years, and I hope they succeed; they may give SpaceX and any other efficient launch providers an excellent source of competition. They have tested a ground version of their heat transfer system, “to cool an incoming airstream from 1,000 degrees C to minus 150 C almost instantly, at close to 1/100th of a second,” and it seems to have worked.

Six months ago, the US Air Force decided that the SABRE engine concept was feasible. This gives me some confidence that Reaction Engines may succeed, as opposed to them performing some form of scam on investors.

I have long wondered how they can cool the air to such a low temperature without clogging the heat exchanger with water ice. It could be quite some time before we know, because they are holding that proprietary information as a trade secret. I can only imagine (without any evidence or knowledge on the subject) that ice crystals don’t form fast enough to cling to the heat exchanger in the time (perhaps a little over a millisecond) that they have from reaching the freezing point to exiting the heat exchanger system.

For those who are interesed, this link helps to explain the engine, including the need to cool the air to such low temperature:
http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/sabre_howworks.html

]]> By: D.K. Williams https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/british-spaceplane-concept-gets-infusion-of-cash/#comment-821506 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 07:29:03 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=36610#comment-821506 This would be a remarkable achievement if the Brits can pull this off. Methinks it will take far more money than Her Majesty’s government will ultimately be willing to contribute.

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