Hybrid Rocket Technology

Sankaran Venugopal; K K Rajesh; V Ramanujachari

doi:10.14429/dsj.61.518

Sankaran Venugopal DRDL, HYDERABAD
K K Rajesh DRDL, HYDERABAD
V Ramanujachari

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.61.518

Abstract

With their unique operational characteristics, hybrid rockets can potentially provide safer, lower-cost avenues for spacecraft and missiles than the current solid propellant and liquid propellant systems. Classical hybrids can be throttled for thrust tailoring, perform in-flight motor shutdown and restart. In classical hybrids, the fuel is stored in the form of a solid grain, requiring only half the feed system hardware of liquid bipropellant engines. The commonly used fuels are benign, nontoxic, and not hazardous to store and transport. Solid fuel grains are not highly susceptible to cracks, imperfections, and environmental temperature and are therefore safer to manufacture, store, transport, and use for launch. The status of development based on the experience of the last few decades indicating the maturity of the hybrid rocket technology is given in brief.

Defence Science Journal, 2011, 61(3), pp.193-200, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.61.518

Author Biographies

Sankaran Venugopal, DRDL, HYDERABAD

Mr S. Venugopal has obtained his MTech (Mechanical Engineering) from IAT, Poona University in 1986. He is pursuing his PhD (Mechanical Engineering) from JNTU, Hyderabad. Presently working as Scientist‘G’ at the Defence Research & Development Laboratory, Hyderabad. His research and work experience includes theoretical and experimental aerodynamics, aerospace structures and mechanisms, aerospace manufacturing, testing and qualification of airframes and sub-systems, system integration and hybrid propulsion.

K K Rajesh, DRDL, HYDERABAD

Dr K.K. Rajesh obtained PhD (Aerospace Engineering) from IIT, Madras in 2000. He worked as a Lady Davis Postdoctoral Fellow at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, before his present assignment as Scientist ‘E’ at the DRDL, Hyderabad. His research and work experience includes solid propellant technology, hybrid and ramjet propulsions, development and testing of rocket motors.

V Ramanujachari

Dr V. Ramanujachari obtained PhD (Mechanical Engineering) from IIT Madras, Chennai in 1993. Presently, working as Scientist ‘G’ at DRDL, Hyderabad and is the Project Director of the Hypersonic Demonstration Vehicle Project. His research and work experience includes solid, liquid, and hybrid rocket propulsions, development of high-energy fuel-rich propellants, development of supersonic combustor, project management and teaching. He has guided more than 50 students in MTech and PhD dissertations.