White Dwarf is a project that CUSF are undertaking in order to experiment with liquid engines in preparation for the creation of White Giant, the engine that will take Griffin 1 to the Karman line. This smaller scale engine uses the same architecture for the most important components, allowing us to test the principles on a more manageable scale before creating the full sized version.
It’s initial design was modelled using Bamboo, CUSFs python simulations package that completes a full structural and thermal analysis of the design. This was then adjusted to fit stock, weight and cost constraints.
White Dwarf utilises a water cooling system. The milled cooling channels are surrounded by a stainless steel casting.
The combustion chamber has a copper inner liner, and a nozzle insert made of graphite.