India's Semi-Cryogenic engine undergoing qualification test

Ranchi: It was a proud moment for the engineers and the management of Mecon Limited in Ranchi on May 10 as the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully tested one of its semi-cryogenic rocket engines at the newly commissioned propulsion complex in Tamil Nadu’s Mahendragiri.

A team of 10 mechanical and electrical engineers from Mecon, a Ranchi-based subsidiary of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), heaved a sigh of relief after the testing stand they built and commissioned over a course of seven years, held the engine perfectly during the tests.

Initiated in 2016 at 55 crore, the project is specifically built for ISRO to test its new semi-cryogenic engines. It will also help ISRO get rid of its dependency to ship out their semi-cryogenic engines to countries such as Ukraine for testing.

“Semi-cryogenic engines use a specific quality of kerosene and liquid oxygen as fuel unlike the cryogenic engines which use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The use of these engines reduces fuel consumption and as a result makes the rockets capable of carrying higher payload into the space,” said A Srinivas, senior general manager (rolling mills) at Mecon, who led the 10-member project and design team which built the stand.

Though the construction began in 2016, the project completion was hit by the Covid 19 pandemic. Eventually, Mecon Limited handed over the stand to ISRO in March, 2021.

“These semi-cryogenic engines generate up to 200 tonnes of thrust, which is way higher than cryogenic ones. Hence, these cannot be tested on a stand used to test cryogenic engines and a new one had to be built,” Srinivas told TOI.

Spanning 20 meters and rising to 40 metres, the new testing stand, made of steel, is equipped with flame deflectors and explosion proof equipment. It also has two deflector pits which are dug 30 metres deep into the ground.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Mecon said, “This has paved the way for boosting ISRO’s payload capacity for all its future launch vehicles. This is a leap towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and towards fulfilling India’s dreams of undertaking a human space exploration mission.”