AbstractThe present research dealt with the concept of green hypergolic combination to replace the toxic hypergolic combinations. Hydrogen peroxide was selected as a green oxidizer. A novel recipe for the non-toxic hypergolic fuel (Stock 3) was suggested. Sodium borohydride was blended into the mixture of energetic hydrocarbon solvents as an ignition source for hypergolic ignition. The main ingredient of the mixture was diethylenetriamine. By mixing some amount of tetrahydrofuran with diethylenetriamine, the mixture became more flammable and volatile. The mixture of Stock 3 fuel remained stable for four months in the lab scale storability test. Through a simple drop test, the hypergolicity of the green hypergolic combination was verified. Comparing to the toxic hypergolic combination MMH/NTO as the reference, the theoretical performance of the green hypergolic combination would be achieved about 96.7% of the equilibrium specific impulse and about 105.7% of the density specific impulse. The applicability of the green hypergolic combination was successfully confirmed through the static hot-fire tests using 500N scale hypergolic thruster.
HighlightsA novel recipe of energetic green hypergolic combination was suggested.High concentration of hydrogen peroxide was introduced as a green oxidizer.Non-toxic energetic hypergolic fuel was produced by diethylenetriamine.Demonstration of the green hypergolic combination via static hot-fire tests.Investigating the startup characteristics of the demonstrator.
Green hypergolic combination: Diethylenetriamine-based fuel and hydrogen peroxide
Acta Astronautica ; 137 ; 25-30
2017-04-07
6 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch