PS4 Engine – 3D Printing

Context:

ISRO successfully conducted hot testing of 3D printed rocket engine at ISRO Propulsion Complex (Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu).

PS4 Engine:

• A liquid rocket engine
• Oxidiser – Earth-storable bipropellant combinations of Nitrogen Tetroxide.
• Fuel – Mono Methyl Hydrazine (in pressure-fed mode)
• Developed by – ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) using Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) concept
• Technology –
  • Manufactured through 3D Printing or additive manufacturing (AM)
  • Laser Powder Bed Fusion technique – resulted in saving of raw material usage and production time.
• Usage –
  • Used for the 4^th stage of PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle).
  • Used in the Reaction Control System (RCS) of the 1^st stage (PS1) of PSLV.

3D Printing [Additive Manufacturing (AM)]:

• Technology that constructs a 3-dimensional object from a digital 3D model by adding material layer by layer.
• Opposite of subtractive (traditional) manufacturing, in which an object is created by cutting away at a solid block of material.
• Examples of AM materials – thermoplastics, metal and metal alloys, ceramics and biomaterials such as bioinks.
• Key Applications –
  • Healthcare – Custom implants, tumour models, surgical instruments etc.
  • Aerospace and defence – Components like airframes, landing gears, drones etc.
  • Electronics – Wearable devices, robots, RFID devices etc.
  • Others – Construction, consumer goods including clothing, furniture, automotive etc. 
• Advantages of AM technology – Lower inventory, reduced time, creating complex and custom designs, little wastage, create objects with functionally-graded materials etc.

Rocket Engine testing:

• Cold flow tests and pressure tests –
  • Fuel and oxidiser are flowed through the engine without being ignited
  • Purpose – To verify the flow paths and check for leaks.
• Hot fire tests –
  • Conducted after successful cold flow tests – Here, engine is ignited.
  • Purpose –  To measure performance.

Related Articles: India’s first 3D printed post office | 3D Printed Brain Tissue

Source: Indian Express

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Previous Year Question

“3D printing” has applications in which of the following?
1. Preparation of confectionery items
2. Manufacture of bionic ears
3. Automotive industry
4. Reconstructive surgeries
5. Data processing technologies
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]

(a) 1, 3 and 4 only
(b) 2, 3 and 5 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Answer: (d)

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