TH-12
{{Short description|Rocket engine}}
{{infobox rocket engine
|name = TH-12
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|country_of_origin = China
|date =
|first_date =
|last_date =
|designer =
|manufacturer = Space Pioneer
|purpose =
|associated =
|predecessor =
|successor =
|status = Under development
|type = Liquid
|oxidiser = LOX
|fuel = RP-1
|mixture_ratio =
|cycle = Gas-generator
|pumps =
|description =
|combustion_chamber=
|nozzle_ratio =
|thrust =
|thrust_at_altitude=
|thrust(Vac) = {{convert|1350|kN|lbf|lk=on}}
|thrust(SL) = {{convert|1090|kN|lbf|lk=on}}
|thrust_to_weight= 163
|throttle_range = 40%~110%
|chamber_pressure=
|specific_impulse=
|specific_impulse_vacuum= 335s
|specific_impulse_sea_level= 285s
|total_impulse =
|burn_time =
|gimbal =
|capacity =
|dimensions =
|length =
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|dry_weight =
|used_in = Tianlong-3
}}
The TH-12 ({{zh|s=天火-12|p=Tiānhuǒ-12}}, lit. Sky Fire 12) is an oxidizer-rich gas-generator cycle rocket engine burning LOX and kerosene under development by Space Pioneer. The TH-12 utilizes 3D printing and has the highest target thrust among all commercial rocket engines in China. The engine features deep throttling for reusability, re-ignition, thrust vectoring, and multi-mode starters.{{cite web |title=天兵科技百吨级液体火箭发动机半系统热试车圆满成功 |url=http://www.jiuyoucapital.com.cn/Www/index/memorabilia_details.html?memorabiliaid=474 |website=www.jiuyoucapital.com.cn |access-date=25 November 2022}}
History
Space Pioneer proposed the TH-12 engine for its Tianlong-3 launch vehicle.{{cite web |last1=Brügge |first1=Norbert |title=SpacePioneer |url=http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_4/Space-Pioneer/Description/Text.htm |website=www.b14643.de |access-date=25 November 2022}} Engine development was underway in December 2020, with the first gas generator test performed in September 2022. In November 2022, a full-stage developmental TH-12 engine successfully completed its first static fire test.{{cite web |last1=Chang |first1=He |title=天兵科技 110 吨液体火箭发动机全系统热试车成功 |url=https://www.ithome.com/0/655/315.htm |website=ithome |access-date=25 November 2022}}
On July 24, 2023, the TH-12 engine, in the flight configuration of the first Tianlong-3 rocket, successfully completed a full-duration hot fire test at rated conditions for a single burn duration of 100 seconds, accumulating a total test duration of 200 seconds. This test demonstrated that the engine met the flight requirements for the Tianlong-3 rocket.{{cite web |author1=Space Pioneer |title=热烈庆祝天兵科技百吨级液体火箭发动机 首飞状态全系统长程热试车圆满成功 |url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/i4dCgr6_miHZ6GEno_RBFA |access-date=11 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311032507/https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/i4dCgr6_miHZ6GEno_RBFA |archive-date=2024-03-11 |language=zh-cn}}
In early January 2024, the TH-12 engine completed a calibration hot fire test for the first flight batch, subjecting the engine to a 50-second process verification test at rated conditions, demonstrating rapid startup, smooth operation, and normal shutdown.{{cite web |title=热烈庆祝天兵科技天龙三号批产发动机校准试车圆满成功 |url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/i5KRutcccubbzUZunIsfHQ |access-date=11 March 2024 |archive-date=2024-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311032712/https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/i5KRutcccubbzUZunIsfHQ |language=zh-cn}} Later that month, the TH-12 engine underwent a spot check hot fire test for the first flight batch, fully simulating the flight conditions of the inaugural Tianlong-3 launch. The test involved 6 consecutive ignitions of the engine without removal from the test stand, accumulating a total test duration exceeding 1,000 seconds, with the single engine operating time surpassing the planned flight duration by a factor of 6.{{cite web |title=热烈庆祝天兵科技天龙三号首飞批次发动机抽检试车圆满成功 |url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/zjPm7xF3OcLhQQn42s08eA |access-date=11 March 2024 |archive-date=2024-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311032824/https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/zjPm7xF3OcLhQQn42s08eA |language=zh-cn}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Rocket engines}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:TH-12}}
Category:Rocket engines of China
Category:Rocket engines using kerosene propellant
{{Rocket-stub}}