Research and Test Infrastructure

Test Bench P6

Down to the smallest detail

Detailed combustion tests using various fuels are carried out on the P6 test bench with corresponding model combustion chambers. These include gaseous hydrogen, oxygen, gaseous and liquid methane. These are modern propellants that take into account the environmental aspects of rocket propulsion.

Areas of application

    • High-pressure test bench for cryogenic space propulsion systems
    • Pre-development of individual components

Fuels

    • gaseous hydrogen
    • liquid oxygen
    • methane gaseous & liquid

Number of test positions

    • two test positions

History

Parallel to the engine tests that have been taking place since the 1960s, there is also a long tradition of research at the DLR site in Lampoldshausen, which provides important results in various areas of space propulsion and energy technology. Special research test stands have been set up for this purpose. The oldest of these is P6, which was built in 1966 and consists of the two test cells P6.1 and P6.2. Originally, high-energy rocket propellant combinations hydrogen / fluorine and hydrogen / oxygen vapor generators were developed here and research into lasers was carried out.

Here, fuels can be provided in a unique way that is not available in Europe (keyword: subcooled LOX and LNG). At the P6.1 test stand, it is possible to test rocket engines, test various operating cycles of the propulsion systems and optically evaluate combustion processes to verify modeling programs. Since the P6.1 was built with a focus on diagnostic access and precise, flexible measurement technology and the size of the test bench is in the technology sector, there are very few equivalent facilities in the world. At P6.2, altitude simulation technologies are developed and special nozzle flow phenomena are researched.

The P6 test bench thus complements the M3 technical center, where tests are carried out under laboratory conditions, and the P8 research and technology test bench, where combustion chamber ratios and fuel combinations can be tested under real engine conditions.

Research test stand P6
At the P6 research test stand, detailed combustion studies are carried out using model combustion chambers and altitude simulation technologies are developed.
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Front view of the test position in test stand P6.1.
The model combustion chambers are attached to the thrust block and various media that supply the combustion chamber are connected via interfaces to the test stand.
Image: 2/5, Credit:
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View of the cold gas test bench P6.1
The cold gas test stand P6.1 at the DLR Institute of Space Propulsion in Lampoldshausen is a rocket test stand and consists of a test cell for testing rocket engines using various propellants.
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Contact

Gerd Brümmer

Head of Test Facility
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Space Propulsion
Test Facilities
Im Langen Grund, 74239 Hardthausen
Germany