ISRO's PS4 Engine Design

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out a critical test on a 3D-printed liquid rocket engine.

1. This test marked a significant advancement in incorporating additive manufacturing (AM) techniques into India’s space exploration efforts.
2. With the successful completion of the full-duration hot test, ISRO has shown that it is feasible, and efficient, to use AM technology in building rocket engines for its PSLV programme.
3. This redesigned engine, a single-piece masterpiece, represents a remarkable breakthrough that saves 97% of raw materials and reduces production time by 60%.

What is the PS4 Engine ?

1. The PS4 engine serves as the uppermost stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), consisting of two Earth storable liquid engines.
2. It uses a bipropellant combination of nitrogen tetroxide as the oxidizer and monomethyl hydrazine as the fuel, both developed by ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
3. The same engine is utilized in the Reaction Control System (RCS) of the first stage (PS1) of PSLV.
4. ISRO redesigned the conventionally manufactured PS4 engine to align with additive manufacturing techniques, an approach known as Design for Additive Manufacturing, yielding extraordinary advantages.

Additive Manufacturing: Transforming Manufacturing Processes

1. Additive Manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is an emerging technology revolutionizing manufacturing processes worldwide.
2. It creates 3-dimensional objects by successively layering materials under computer control.
3. This technology involves layering materials like plastics, composites, or bio-materials to create objects with varying shapes, sizes, rigidity, and colours.
4. Compared to traditional subtractive techniques, 3D printing offers immense design flexibility, reduced waste, and the ability to produce complex geometries.

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