Novel Structured Catalysts for Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition in Monopropellant and Hybrid Rockets

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a novel catalytic system capable of decomposing hydrogen peroxide. The system is based on ceramic honeycombs in yttria-stabilized zirconia, with manganese oxides as the active phase. The effectiveness of different catalyst preparation procedures, entirely developed in house, has been evaluated using a plug-flow reactor operating with diluted hydrogen peroxide vapors. A monopropellant test bench has been then assembled to verify the performance of a selected number of catalytic samples in a test environment closer to the actual operating conditions of a space propulsion system: the catalysts have demonstrated decomposition efficiencies exceeding 90%. The concept has been finally scaled up to a hybrid configuration based on the utilization of hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizer and high-density polyethylene as the fuel: the possibility to ignite and reignite the fuel grain has been demonstrated and propulsive efficiencies close to 90% have been measured.

Experimental set up for characterization of carbide-based materials in propulsion environment

“…12 Being equipped with a test bench and a general purpose acquisition system, it is extremely versatile as it is possible to easily adjust the experimental apparatus to several classes of tests, including evaluation of performances of propellants and combustion processes, testing of sub-components and/or complete power systems, nozzles, air intakes, catalytic systems, burners, ignition and cooling systems. [13][14][15][16] The layout of the engine used in the present work, including injector, ignition, single-port cylindrical fuel grain, pre and postcombustion chambers, and expansion nozzle, is illustrated in Fig. 1.…”

Ultra-High-Temperature Ceramic Matrix Composites in Hybrid Rocket Propulsion Environment

“…The test rig is a versatile set up primarily designed for testing hybrid rocket engines of several sizes [15]. It is equipped with a test bench and a general-purpose acquisition system, which allow evaluating propellant performance and combustion stability [16], testing of sub-components and/or complete power systems, nozzles [17], air intakes, catalytic devices [18], burners, ignition and cooling systems [19,20]. For the current research activities, a novel, dedicated test set-up was developed to expose different UHTCMC samples to the supersonic exhaust jet of a 200Nclass hybrid rocket nozzle, in order to characterize the material behavior and select the most suitable candidates for manufacturing near-zero erosion rocket nozzles.…”

Hydrogen Peroxide used as a Solar Fuel in One‐Compartment Fuel Cells

“…Thus, H 2 O 2 in a plastic container can provide high portability with a high energy density per volume . Because the disproportionation of two H 2 O 2 molecules to H 2 O and O 2 releases a large amount of energy (Figure ), H 2 O 2 has been used as an effective fuel and oxidant in rocket propulsion and micromotors . In industry, H 2 O 2 is produced by the anthraquinone catalytic process, in which O 2 is reduced by H 2 …”