The design and performance on 200N-class bipropellant rocket engine using decomposed H2O2 and Kerosene

Abstract

Mono-propellant thrusters are widely utilized in satellites and space launchers. In many cases, they are using hydrazine as a propellant. However, hydrazine has high toxicity and high risks in using for launch campaign. Recently, low-toxic (green) propellant is being highlighted as a replacement for hydrazine. In this paper, 200N bi-propellant engine using hydrogen peroxide/kerosene was designed/manufactured, and the spray or atomization characteristic and inflation pressure were determined by cold flow test, and combustion and pulse tests in a single cycle same as previous methods were conducted. As uniformly supplying hydrogen peroxide through plate-type orifice to a catalyst bed, the hot gas was created as a reaction with hydrogen and catalyst. And then, it was confirmed that the ignition is possible on the wide range of O/F ratio without additional ignition source. The liquid rocket engine with bi-propellant of hydrogen peroxide/kerosene and design/test methods which developed in this study are expected to be utilized as an essential database for designing of the ignitor/injector of bi-propellant liquid rocket engine using hydrogen peroxide/kerosene with high-thrust/performance in near future.