🚀 go-pugleaf

Philip R. Forrest (Forrest@eng.au) writes:
>Here's a good trivium...How can ANY engine develop more than 100% of rated 
>power output ?? (i.e. 104% ?)

I'm an electrical engineer, not a rocket scientist, but if principles of
electrical generators apply to rockets...

Electrical generators in hydro stations routinely run at 110% (or whatever) of
rated capacity during peak loads.  In one respect, the rating is a somewhat
'soft' ceiling and the actual load can be exceeded for 'short' periods of
time.  The term 'short' for large generators can be measured in days.  The
rating assumes steady state operation (which it isn't) and is mostly thermal
in nature.  It takes a long time to heat up one of those suckers, and 'burn
out' would have to be pretty drastic over a long period of time.

Same thing with circuit breakers.  While a 35 amp breaker is designed to trip
at about 35 amps steady-state operation, it is also designed to pass much
larger currents (ie. about 200 amps) in surges for short periods of time to
allow for things like motors to start up.  A motor will routinely generate
this kind of load when you turn it on.

Is this applicable to shuttle engines?  Do I get a gold star?
_______________________________________________________________
Harvey Brydon         | Internet:   brydon@dsn.SINet.slb.com
Dowell Schlumberger   | P.O.T.S.:   (918)250-4312
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