The use of the Methane as coolant in a regenerative liquid rocket engine (LRE) presents some difficulties since transcritical fluidynamics operating conditions occur in the cooling channels. Transcritical conditions cause large fluid properties variation that strongly influences the coolant performance. The HYPROB program is carried out by CIRA under contract by the Italian Ministry of Research with the main objective to improve National system and technology capabilities on liquid rocket engines for future space applications, with specific regard to LOx/LCH4 technology. Among its objectives are the design and development of technology LRE demonstrators, including a specific breadboard based on an electrical heating to validate numerical methodologies and to improve the understanding of relevant physics of methane thermal properties in transcritical conditions.
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