Session
Weekend Session 1: Advanced Concepts - Research & Academia I
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
Additive manufacturing changes the electrical breakdown properties of certain 3D-printed thermoplastics like Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), and when printed materials are presented with a high-voltage electrical potential, electrical-arcing along the layered surface pyrolizes the material. This electrostatic property has been harnessed to develop a High-Performance Green Hybrid Propulsion (HPGHP) technology that has capability for reliable start, stop, and re-ignition. HPGHP operates reliably using gaseous oxygen (GOX) as the complementing oxidizer; but has experienced reliability and ignition latency issues when GOX is replaced by Nytrox, a higher-density blend of nitrous oxide and GOX. Ignition issues are overcome by infusing small amounts of ruthenium catalyst into the base print feedstock. Catalytic-assist works by partially decomposing the incoming oxidizer to release free oxygen in the upper section of the combustion chamber. This paper describes the catalyst infusion process and filament production details. Results from static hot-fire tests are presented with baseline GOX/ABS propellant tests being compared against Nytrox/ABS tests with and without catalytic additives. The catalyst additive significantly increases ignition reliability, reduces ignition latency, and lowers the required ignition energy. The catalyst-infused ABS fuels exhibit a slightly reduced performance level, as compared to GOX/ABS, but with significantly increased system volumetric efficiency.
Fabrication of Catalyst Infused Filament for 3-D Printing of Hybrid Rocket Fuels
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Additive manufacturing changes the electrical breakdown properties of certain 3D-printed thermoplastics like Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), and when printed materials are presented with a high-voltage electrical potential, electrical-arcing along the layered surface pyrolizes the material. This electrostatic property has been harnessed to develop a High-Performance Green Hybrid Propulsion (HPGHP) technology that has capability for reliable start, stop, and re-ignition. HPGHP operates reliably using gaseous oxygen (GOX) as the complementing oxidizer; but has experienced reliability and ignition latency issues when GOX is replaced by Nytrox, a higher-density blend of nitrous oxide and GOX. Ignition issues are overcome by infusing small amounts of ruthenium catalyst into the base print feedstock. Catalytic-assist works by partially decomposing the incoming oxidizer to release free oxygen in the upper section of the combustion chamber. This paper describes the catalyst infusion process and filament production details. Results from static hot-fire tests are presented with baseline GOX/ABS propellant tests being compared against Nytrox/ABS tests with and without catalytic additives. The catalyst additive significantly increases ignition reliability, reduces ignition latency, and lowers the required ignition energy. The catalyst-infused ABS fuels exhibit a slightly reduced performance level, as compared to GOX/ABS, but with significantly increased system volumetric efficiency.
