Polyethylene and Hydrogen Peroxide Hybrid Testing at the United States Air Force Academy

Abstract

The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) has been conducting propulsion research over the past several years and has recently been focusing on hydrogen peroxide applications. A hybrid motor configuration using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizer and polyethylene as the fuel was first tested at USAFA in the spring of 1996. While the propellants have not changed since the first test firing, significant advancements have been made in catalyst design, ignition, nozzles, and thrust levels. Three static tests and one sounding rocket flight were accomplished during the spring semester 1998 at USAFA. The static test goals were: (1) Demonstrate autoignition of single and multiple port motors; (2) Examine methods for reducing ignition time; (3) Characterize fuel regression; (4) Gather data on flux rates through the catalyst material and fuel port; (5) Characterize and validate performance accurately through simulation; and (6) Develop sufficient thrust for a sounding rocket.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 10, 1998
Accession Number
ADA367246

Entities

People

  • Michael Bettner
  • Ronald W. Humble

Organizations

  • United States Air Force Academy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Autoignition
  • Catalysts
  • Combustion
  • Dielectric Polymers
  • Flow Rate
  • Hydrogen
  • Ignition
  • Mass Flow
  • Materials
  • Propellants
  • Rocket Oxidizers
  • Rockets
  • Sounding Rockets
  • Static Tests
  • United States
  • United States Air Force Academy

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.