Location
Utah Valley University Sorensen Center
Start Date
5-9-2016 9:51 AM
End Date
5-9-2016 10:03 AM
Description
Utah State University has researched and developed a hybrid rocket system that uses a non-toxic, simple, and 3D printed plastic as the fuel. This plastic is ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) which is a common material used in pipe systems, automotive components, and toys such as Lego bricks. As a fuel, ABS has structural properties that outweigh other polymer fuels; has matching or better performance than most commonly used propellants; is an environmentally-friendly fuel; and is easily manufactured and assembled. Furthermore, Utah State University has developed a novel ignition technology for hybrid rocket systems that involves pyrolyzing a marginal portion of the ABS fuel into a vapor rich in hydrocarbons which, when introduced to an oxidizer, initiates rapid combustion. Thus, the system simply requires a valve and spark command which grants restart and throttle capability. Although this technology has the potential to become a game-changing propulsion system for both the launch vehicles and small satellite communities, its performance and stability are still relatively uncharacterized. Many tests have been implemented at Utah State University and the performance model continues to be improved still. Recently, we have conducted tests on smaller-scale motors suited towards small spacecraft and have noticed a surprising trend in the oxidizer-to-fuel (O/F) ratio. Most results for hybrid rocket performance indicate that this ratio increases as the fuel is burned away, meaning that the combustion product becomes more oxidizer-rich as the motor is being fired. However, the results from the smaller-scale motors indicate that the oxidizer-to-fuel ratio decreases as the fuel is burned away. We believe that this trend towards a more fuel-rich burn is due to a neglected radiation effect that enhances the fuel regression rate. The goal of this research is to investigate this phenomena through running extensive tests as well as redevelop the equations describing fuel regression rate.
Effects of Radiation Heating on Additively Printed Hybrid Fuel Grain Oxidizer-To-Fuel Ratio Shift
Utah Valley University Sorensen Center
Utah State University has researched and developed a hybrid rocket system that uses a non-toxic, simple, and 3D printed plastic as the fuel. This plastic is ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) which is a common material used in pipe systems, automotive components, and toys such as Lego bricks. As a fuel, ABS has structural properties that outweigh other polymer fuels; has matching or better performance than most commonly used propellants; is an environmentally-friendly fuel; and is easily manufactured and assembled. Furthermore, Utah State University has developed a novel ignition technology for hybrid rocket systems that involves pyrolyzing a marginal portion of the ABS fuel into a vapor rich in hydrocarbons which, when introduced to an oxidizer, initiates rapid combustion. Thus, the system simply requires a valve and spark command which grants restart and throttle capability. Although this technology has the potential to become a game-changing propulsion system for both the launch vehicles and small satellite communities, its performance and stability are still relatively uncharacterized. Many tests have been implemented at Utah State University and the performance model continues to be improved still. Recently, we have conducted tests on smaller-scale motors suited towards small spacecraft and have noticed a surprising trend in the oxidizer-to-fuel (O/F) ratio. Most results for hybrid rocket performance indicate that this ratio increases as the fuel is burned away, meaning that the combustion product becomes more oxidizer-rich as the motor is being fired. However, the results from the smaller-scale motors indicate that the oxidizer-to-fuel ratio decreases as the fuel is burned away. We believe that this trend towards a more fuel-rich burn is due to a neglected radiation effect that enhances the fuel regression rate. The goal of this research is to investigate this phenomena through running extensive tests as well as redevelop the equations describing fuel regression rate.