In this study, the effects of fuel port geometry and fuel additives on the performance characteristics of additively manufactured solid fuels in a hybrid rocket are explored. Static rocket motor firings were used to examine the performance characteristics, such as fuel regression rate and efficiency. Using a baseline fuel of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), a traditional center-perforated fuel grain as well as elliptical and swirl-elliptical port geometries were considered. The effect of aluminum as a solid fuel additive to the center-perforated fuel grain and the swirl-ellipse geometry was also investigated. Custom 3-D printer filament was developed, enabling the manufacture of fuels containing 10 and 25 wt % nano-aluminum as well as 25 wt % micron-sized aluminum allowing for a direct comparison of aluminum particle concentration and size. The swirl-ellipse geometry alone improved regression rates by about 35%, while exhibiting similar efficiency as the center-perforated fuel grain. The combination of the addition of nano-aluminum and the swirl-ellipse geometry resulted in an overall regression rate increase of about compared to the baseline PMMA center-perforated grain geometry.
Examining Port Geometry/Solid Loading for Additively Manufactured Fuels in Hybrid Rockets
Journal of Propulsion and Power ; 37 , 2 ; 305-313
2020-11-23
9 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Survey of Selected Additively Manufactured Propellants for Arc Ignition of Hybrid Rockets
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|Survey of Selected Additively Manufactured Propellants for Arc Ignition of Hybrid Rockets
Online Contents | 2016
|