Hybrid Rocket Technology

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.

CoMn‐Spinel Oxides as Supported Catalyst for Rocket‐Grade Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition

“…The thruster loaded with the 5.4 % Co 0.5 Mn 2.5 O 4 /Al 2 O 3 catalyst achieved an average thrust of 2.04 N, very close to the theoretical value (2 N) with quite satisfactory stability. The small low frequency instability observed in the trace is not unusual and may be caused by coupling between the chamber and the supply line pressures, known as chugging, which is common in propulsive systems involving fluid feeding . However, no spikings were observed in all the tests performed.…”

Effect of Varying Design Options on the Transient Behavior of a Hybrid Rocket Motor

“…Problems related to regression enhancement have become a main focus of many researchers. Moreover, there are issues of fuel web burn out, combustion efficiency, combustion stability, throttling characteristics, and nozzle throat material response (Venuopal et al, 2011). Mainly, the performance of a hybrid rocket depends on the regression rate of the motor, which is defined as the rate at which the solid fuel regresses normal to the surface (Kumar and Kumar, 2012).…”