DEVELOPMENT OF A HYBRID THRUSTER WITH CENTRAL INJECTION AND DUAL END-BURNING

• Grant number: 09/01902-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2009
• End date: June 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Aerospace Engineering - Aerospace Propulsion
• Principal Investigator: Fernando de Souza Costa
• Grantee: Ricardo Amaral Contaifer
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This doctoral Project aims the development of a 200 N hybrid thruster with central injection and dual end-burning, using N2O and H2O2 as oxidants and paraffin mixed with carbon nanofibers as fuel. The thruster will operate with a constant oxidizer/fuel ratio, yielding an approximately flat thrust curve and allowing a continuous operation in the optimum stoichiometry. The performance parameters, including thrust, specific impulse, thruste coefficient and characteristic velocity will be measured in a test bench for testing motors up to 500 N. A simplified theoretical model will be developed and the theoretical results will be compared to the experimental results, determining the thruster efficiency. The project has didactic, scientific and interdisciplinary characteristics, considering aspects of different areas: propulsion, combustion, chemical kinetics, chemistry, materials, mechanical design, manufacturing, simulation and modeling, diagnostics and instrumentation.