ISRO Tests SemiCryogenic Engine

Recently, ISRO successfully conducted the second short-duration hot test of its semicryogenic engine at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC),Mahendragiri,Tamilnadu validating engine start-up sequence and stable ignition.

About ISRO’s Semicryogenic Engine

ISRO’s semicryogenic engine uses liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer and refined kerosene (RP-1) as fuel, operating at extremely high pressures and temperatures.
Features: It offers higher thrust, better efficiency, reusability potential, and simpler handling compared to full cryogenic systems, operating partly under cryogenic conditions.
Significance: It will enhance ISRO’s launch vehicle capabilities, making them more powerful, cost-effective, and globally competitive for heavier payloads.

Difference Between Cryogenic and Semicryogenic Engines

Aspect	Cryogenic Engine	Semicryogenic Engine
Fuel Used	Liquid hydrogen (LH2)	Refined kerosene (RP-1)
Oxidizer Used	Liquid oxygen (LOX)	Liquid oxygen (LOX)
Operating Temperatures	Extremely low (both fuel and oxidizer are cryogenic)	Oxidizer is cryogenic; fuel is at normal temperature
Complexity	Higher (due to LH2 handling and storage challenges)	Moderate (kerosene is easier to store and use)
Thrust	Generally lower for size	Higher thrust compared to cryogenic for size
Efficiency (Specific Impulse)	Very high efficiency	Moderate to high efficiency
Use Case	Upper stages of launch vehicles (precision)	Core/first stages (initial heavy lift-off)

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