Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 829: Scientific Employment (Fourth Update, Please Subscribe)

"Other fuels?"

Eugene asked after a pause.

"Is it solid fuel?"

Because the Wanhu-4 rocket uses highly toxic UDMH as fuel, and you are familiar with this type of rocket, so you will not mention it again. Therefore, Eugene naturally thought of the solid rocket that Wanhujiao was researching, which had actually been used in the anti-aircraft missile project.

"It's not solid fuel. I'm talking about liquid fuel, such as the use of liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen propellant combination, which has high energy and high specific impulse of the rocket."

In another world, the Americans focus on liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen, which has extremely high specific impulse. High specific impulse means that the rocket exhaust rushes out at a higher speed, which means that with the same mass of fuel, hydrogen and oxygen can burst out greater power. But the disadvantages of hydrogen and oxygen engines are also obvious, high cost, extremely difficult storage, and low density of hydrogen and oxygen. The high price is because the working conditions of hydrogen and oxygen combustion are extremely harsh, high pressure, high temperature and high corrosiveness, which are very demanding on design and material selection. Hydrogen elements require extremely low temperatures to remain in liquid form, resulting in high storage costs.

Because of this, this type of rocket was a unique product of the United States for a long time.

In contrast, the Soviet Union and Tangshan have long focused on liquid oxygen-kerosene engines, which have relatively simpler technology, are cheap and easy to manufacture, and can also generate very violent thrust, making them very suitable for the initial stage of takeoff. Kerosene is also relatively easy to refine and store. The disadvantage of kerosene engines is that their specific impulse is not enough. And because of this, it even affected the Soviet Union's later lunar landing project because its thrust was relatively small.

Although the two paths seem to be technically complex and simple, from another perspective, the Soviet Union took the low-Earth orbit route, so the Soviet Union's kerosene engines were particularly good; the United States took the deep space exploration route, so the hydrogen-oxygen engines were particularly good.

Of course, this path choice was just an inevitable choice caused by insufficient technology. After all, the Soviet Union also wanted to conduct deep space exploration.

"However, the technology of hydrogen-oxygen engines is too complicated. I personally prefer methane engines."

Li Yian said.

"Methane engine?"

In response to Eugene's surprise, Li Yian explained.

"Yes, it is a liquid oxygen-methane engine. Compared with kerosene engines and hydrogen-oxygen engines, it has very good thrust, with a specific impulse between kerosene and hydrogen-oxygen. Methane is easy to mine and store, and its structure and materials are not very demanding. Moreover, it has zero pollution. Although it is not outstanding in all aspects, it can adapt to various tasks, whether it is a near-orbit mission or a deep space exploration mission, it can complete it very well."

The reason why Li Yian mentioned the liquid oxygen-methane engine was because he was inspired by another world. After all, even Chang Jiu had changed its liquid oxygen-kerosene engine to a liquid oxygen-methane engine.

We should learn from good experiences. Why should we follow the path repeated by others?
Then, Li Yian, as an engineer, analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of various fuels with Eugene.

"...The density of kerosene is 813 grams per liter, liquid methane is 422 grams, and liquid hydrogen is 70 grams. The density of liquid hydrogen is shockingly low. No matter what rocket it is, liquid oxygen cannot escape. Taking liquid oxygen as the standard, for complete combustion, 1 gram of kerosene must be matched with 2.7 grams of liquid oxygen. One gram of methane must be matched with 3.7 grams of liquid oxygen, and one gram of liquid hydrogen must be matched with 1 grams of liquid oxygen...."

After analyzing the fuel, Li Yian described it in simple and easy-to-understand words.

"In addition to the engine, rockets also have fuel tanks. For liquid oxygen-kerosene rockets, kerosene is a small tank, while liquid oxygen is a large tank. For hydrogen-oxygen rockets, liquid hydrogen is a super large tank, five times larger than the tank of liquid oxygen. This is the problem caused by ultra-low density. The tank is too large, which increases the weight of the structure. For methane, the tank is 40% larger than that of kerosene, but about the same size as the liquid oxygen tank, which is more average. All in all, it is cost-effective."

At the end, Li Yian emphasized again,
"So, after taking into account many, many factors, I think methane rockets are feasible and are the best solution. So..."

As Li Yian spoke, he took out the paper he had written and said.

"I hope you can conduct research in this area. Of course, hydrogen-oxygen engines and kerosene engines also need further research."

In fact, Li Yian feels that this is the meaning of his existence - to provide some appropriate guidance at the right time, sometimes directly participate in research, and sometimes just point out a direction. Even if it is just a few words or even very superficial knowledge that transcends the times, it is extremely precious to this era and may even bear unimaginable fruits. When the butterfly flaps its wings, what kind of storm will it bring to the world in the end?
No one knows.

After all, when it flaps its wings, it only creates a breeze, and this breeze must go through changes in time and distance before it eventually turns into a storm.

How can this storm be created?

It couldn’t be simpler.

What is the most important thing in the 21st century? Talent!
In Li Yian's view, what he needs is to make full use of talents, and in this era there are too many talents for him to utilize!
Unlike others, what Li Yian needs is not just how to use talents correctly.

Making the best use of people can certainly allow talents to be brought into play.

But those talented people only achieve the success they deserve within the known scope, which is nothing more than repetition.

They have little effect on the progress of the times. After all, the progress they have made is what they are destined to achieve in their lives.

Isn’t this a typical case of duplicate construction?

To develop science, we cannot be limited by the times, but must transcend the times. This transcendence means, to a certain extent, exerting a certain influence to allow the smartest talents of this era to study knowledge that is ahead of the times.

For example, if Einstein studied Hawking's theory, what kind of impact would it have on the progress of human physics?

In this way, Hawking could conduct research based on Einstein's research, thus achieving a leap forward in research.

Is this a case of forcing things to happen?
Of course not. It should be said that it is taking advantage of the times to help the geniuses or talents of this era broaden their horizons, giving them inspiration that transcends the times, and thus promoting a leap forward for the entire era.

Does this mean that if necessary, you can make full use of those talents and develop them into any field you need to break through?
Chemistry, biology, mathematics, physics, materials, mechanics, computers, aviation, aerospace...

With just the right guidance and hints, you can get unexpected rewards.

You can even directly produce a paper and then make great strides in advancing research in related fields. Just like integrated circuits, didn’t everything start with a paper?

It was precisely because of the inspiration from that paper that they were able to quickly make a breakthrough, and now, their breakthrough has changed the world.

There is also the Soviet rocket - Korolev's Cross. If we follow historical evolution, it would take almost two years for him to form the concept of a bundled rocket, and then after a large number of tests, he came to the final conclusion.

And now? As early as four years ago, I presented the concept of the bundled rocket to him, which saved Korolev a lot of time and facilitated the Soviet Union to launch an intercontinental missile three years ahead of schedule.

And turbofan engines and jet airliners...

Thinking about the inspiration or help he had given in other aspects over the past few years and the changes he had brought to the world, Li Yian's lips curled up slightly.

This is the true meaning of “scientific employment”!
(End of this chapter)