Spontaneously Igniting Hybrid Fuel-Oxidiser Systems

  • S. R. Jain Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Keywords: Thermal decomposition, Rocket performance parameters, Hybrid rockets, Solid fuel liquid oxidiser systems, N N bonded compounds, Liquid oxidisers, Hypergolic ignition

Abstract

After briefly outlining the recent developments in hybrid rockets, the work carried out by the author on self-igniting (hypergolic) solid fuel-liquid oxidiser systems has been reviewed. A major aspect relates to the solid derivatives of hydrazines, which have been conceived as fuels for hybrid rockets. Many of these N-N bonded compounds ignite readily, with very short ignition delays, on coming into contact with liquid oxidisers, like HNO/sub 3/ and N/sub 2/ O/sub 4/. The ignition characteristics have been examined as a function of the nature of the functional group in the fuel molecule, in an attempt to establish a basis for the hypergolic ignition in terms of chemical reactivity of the fuel-oxidiser combination. Important chemical reactions occurring in the pre-ignition stage have been identified by examining the quenched reaction products. Hybrid systems exhibiting synergistic hypergolicity in the presence of metal powders have investigated. An estimation of the rocket performance parameters, experimental determination of the heats of combustion in HNO/sub 3/, thermal decomposition characteristics, temperature profile by thin film thermometry and product identification by the rapid scan FT-IR, are among the other relevant studies made on these systems. A significant recent development has been the synthesis of new N-N bonded viscous binders, capable of rataining the hypergolicity of the fuel powders embedded therein as well as providing the required mechanical strength to the grain. Several of these resins have been characterised. Metallised fuel composites of these resins having high loading of magnesium are found to have short ignition delays and high performance parameters.

Author Biography

S. R. Jain, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
Published
2013-01-01
How to Cite
Jain, S. (2013). Spontaneously Igniting Hybrid Fuel-Oxidiser Systems. Defence Science Journal, 45(1), 5-16. https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.45.4096
Section
Special Issue Papers