ISRO is seriously working on 100ton Methalox engine for NGLV
@Tactical Doge translate the video
Newsreader: Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre developed the hearts of PSLV(Vikas engine), GSLV and Mk2(CE-7.5 Cryogenic engine) LVM-3(CE-20 Crogenic engine). Now they are taking up the challenge of making engines for launchers bigger than GSLV, i.e, LOx Methane engine.
Dr. V. Narayanan: Using Liquid Oxygen and methane propellant, we have started a new engine development. A technology demonstrator has been realised and 6 to 7 test (or thrust?) experiment has been conducted using it. He have learned a lot of technology and using this knowledge, are developing a high thrust LOx engine based on the guidelines from chairman ISRO.
Newsreader: The first question is, if we already have liquid cryogenic engines, why do we need a new engine?
G. Nageshwaran: We use liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. Here we use liquid methane instead of liquid hydrogen in the LOx methane technology demonstrator engine and LOx scientific technology. The primary reason for that is that LNG, which is 95% methane is cheap and freely available. Cryogenic engines can be used in the final stage as well as a booster, so a single engine can be used for designing a rocket.
Newsreader: LOx engine is critical for interplanetary missions.
G. Nageshwaran: Jupiter, Uranus and the far away planets have oceans of liquid methane, which we can harness if we reach there. The speciality of this engine is that we can use that methane to run our engine.
Newsreader: The developments were very fast.
K. S. Bijukumar: Ordinarily, the LOx methane engine is a critical engine. But instead of testing the full engine in the first attempt directly, we tested ignition, which is the most important step. First we ignited the thrust chamber, then we ran the turbines and after that is the part called the gas generator, and after igniting it, we steadied(or studied?) the engine. Within a single year, we were able to realise the entire technology without any failure in the first try.
Newsreader: More powerful and re-usable engines will be a reality with LOx methane engines.
N. Jayan: ISRO is going to develop a 10 ton capacity reusable rocket that can be used multiple times, is very cheap and can compete in the international market, in the next 5 years. The most important component there is the LOx methane engine, and for that, LPSC has started the procedure for designing and developing a 100 ton thrust engine.