Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide is a non toxic, low cost, green monopropellant with a significant potential for applications in satellite microthrusters. It presents a density-specific impulse, similar to hydrazine. A new bulk mixed oxide catalyst for decomposition of hydrogen peroxide has been developed and tested in a 2 N thruster with modular parts, allowing the use of catalytic beds with different diameters and lengths. A method of experiment design with a star configuration was implemented to optimize the catalytic bed geometry, in order to yield complete peroxide decomposition, reduce thruster size and volume and provide maximum thrust.
Highlights
Nowadays, most satellites in Earth orbit utilize hydrazine catalytic decomposition within their propulsion systems
The traditional catalyst used for H2O2 decomposition is made of superposed silver gauzes which form the catalytic bed
The use of solutions with high concentration of H2O2 leads to the increase of the adiabatic decomposition temperature of the monopropellant (632°C for 85%; 755°C for 90%; 953°C for 98% in mass), making not viable the application of pure silver or silver coated catalysts in long duration operations
Summary
Most satellites in Earth orbit utilize hydrazine catalytic decomposition within their propulsion systems. Hydrazine (N2H4) is an expensive and highly toxic (carcinogenic) monopropellant. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is one of the most important candidates for application as a non-toxic, low cost, green-propellant in satellite propulsion systems (Wernimont, 2009). The use of solutions with high concentration of H2O2 leads to the increase of the adiabatic decomposition temperature of the monopropellant (632°C for 85%; 755°C for 90%; 953°C for 98% in mass), making not viable the application of pure silver or silver coated catalysts in long duration operations. The melting point of silver (962°C) is very close to the decomposition temperature of H2O2 and, besides, the formation of silver oxide does not allow the extended use of this type of catalyst (Kappenstein et al, 2002). It is notorious that the H2O2 purity level, meaning the amount of stabilizers present in the monopropellant, has high influence in the efficiency of the catalytic system
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