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SABREUnlocking the Future of Hypersonic

Flight and Space AccessTom Burvill – Head of Applied Technologies

28/02/18

Contents

• Introduction – Sixty Years of Space Access

• The SABRE Engine

• An Introduction to Reaction Engines

• The SABRE Development Programme

• The SABRE Engine Test Facility

• Hypersonic Flight and Space Access

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Sixty Years of Space Access

Accessing Space – The Rocket LauncherThe rocket has carried us to great places…however current launchers are:

• Expensive (~$10,000/kg)

• Long Lead Time (years to build, months to prepare)

• Low Reliability (2-5% failure rate)

As well as making existing Space products very expensive, they have also led to a severe restriction on the development of the Space market, despite the current evolution in the technology.

1957 Today

…little change in launch vehicle technology in almost 60 years…

The Winged Launch Vehicle - The Spaceplane A winged-vehicle (much like an aircraft) offers the prospect of a lower cost, more reliable and responsive access to Space

The key to achieving a successful Spaceplane concept is to develop a high performance multi-role propulsion system. This is the origin of the SABRE engine – Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine

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The SABRE Engine

The SABRE Engine

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Air Intake

Pre-cooler

Thrust Chamber

Air Compressor

Air Bypass Duct

Bypass Burners

Core Thermodynamic Cycle

SABRE - Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine –is a new class of engine able to propel both high-speed aircraft and space vehicles

SABRE is capable of Mach 5+ in air-breathing mode, and speeds up to orbital velocity in rocket mode

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SABREREL’s HX technology is a key element of the SABRE engine

1. CoolCool the hot incoming air from 1000oC

in 1/20th second (Mach 5)

2. RegenerateRe-inject the heat captured into the

engine to drive the turbo-machinery, thereby reducing fuel consumption

3. IntegrateCombine jet and rocket engines to

create an engine class capable of high Mach atmospheric and Space flight in a

single engine

SABRE PerformanceSABRE provides improved performance over a wide speed range for thrust and efficiency compared with other propulsion systems

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Mach Number

0 2 4 6 8 10

Engi

ne

thru

st t

o w

eigh

t

Spec

ific

Imp

uls

e (E

ffic

ien

cy)

(sec

on

ds)

Mach Number

0 2 4 6 8 10

Operates from a standing start

High fuel efficiency in air breathing mode up to Mach 5.5

Fuel efficiency drops to align with conventional rocket when switching to rocket mode as liquid oxygen has to be used instead of atmospheric air

Step change in thrust to weight ratio when switched to rocket mode to power the platform into space

Switches to rocket mode when altitude too high to use atmospheric air

1

2

3

4

5

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An Introduction to Reaction Engines

Overview• Reaction Engines Limited (REL) is a private UK company developing an advanced

combined cycle air-breathing engine “SABRE” (Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine)

• SABRE is a new class of engine combining an air-breathing mode of operation, with the option to transition to pure rocket mode for space access, all in a single engine installation

• Developed as part of the SABRE programme, REL’s core IP is centred on ultra light weight heat exchangers, which have applications in other market sectors

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Recent Developments• In December 2015, BAE Systems invested £20.6m for 20% of REL. REL also secured a UK

Government Grant of £60m

• During 2016 and 2017 the company has matured through building an industry experienced team, reshaped the SABRE programme to fit customer needs, secured test facilities and raised industry and public profile

• Most recently (Sept-2017), REL has contracted with DARPA for funding to conduct a hot HX test in the USA

• Further investment will fund REL’s programme to develop and test a SABRE core engine demonstrator to valid the technology

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Locations

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SABRETM TF1rocket test

facilityWestcott,

Buckinghamshire, UK

(operational 2020)

HEADQUARTERSCulham,

Oxfordshire, UKSABRETM programme,

heat exchangerdesign and testReaction

Engines Inc.Colorado, US

US Office, Business Development

Colorado USA

Manufacturing Solutions Division,

Didcot Park,Oxfordshire, UK

Manufacturing Solutions Division,

Didcot Park,Oxfordshire, UK

Reaction Engines SitesReaction Engines HQ:

Culham, Oxfordshire UK

Engineering

& Design

Pre-cooler

Testing

Manufacturin

g

R o c k e t Te s t S i t eWe s t c o t t , B u c k i n g h a m s h i r e , U K

Phase 3

Test site

J-Site

SABRE System

Test site

Rocket Test Site: Westcott,

Buckinghamshire, UK

REI: Castle Rock, CO, USA

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Team

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REL has built a diverse and talented team, with a culture of innovation and delivery

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The SABRE Development Programme

The SABRE Development Programme

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H1 2018HOT HX TEST

2022-24INTEGRATED

TEST

2025-30FIRST ENGINE APPLICATION

2020SABRETM CORE

TEST

2023-25FLIGHT TEST

SAB

RE

Co

re

Pro

gram

me

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Pre-cooler testing at Reaction Engines• Reaction Engines Pre-cooler coupled to a

Rolls-Royce VIPER jet engine.

• Test verified Pre-cooler operation(2012-2013).

• Inlet air cooled to < -100C

Rocket Engine Testing

• Adaptive nozzles have potential for improved engine performance

• Joint programmes with Airborne Engineering Ltd and University of Bristol

Nozzle tests at Westcott

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The SABRE Engine Test Facility

Test Facility 1 –Testing the SABRE Demonstrator

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Test Facility 1 has been designed to enable testing of the SABRE demonstrator in 2020. Construction is underway with completion scheduled for September 2019

TF1 is being built at the Westcott Venture Park, near Aylesbury

Test Facility Progress

November 2017

January 2018

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Hypersonic Flight and Space Access

Space Access

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SABRE enables new mission profiles – low cost, responsive and reliable

Source: USAFSpaceWorks

SABRE-powered Hypersonic Vehicles

• Huge speed range: 0 to Mach 5+

• Brussels to Sydney in 5 hours

• Could be used for suborbital flights

• Ground-testable sooner and more affordably than alternatives

*artists’ illustrations of vehicle concepts

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Heat Exchanger Applications

Applications

The REL heat exchangers have characteristics that make them attractive to a numberof adjacent applications

HIGH PERFORMANCE & EFFECTIVENESS

ULTRA COMPACT & LIGHT WEIGHT

CHALLENGING WORKING FLUID &

HIGH TEMP