Evaluation of metallized propellants based on vehicle performance
An analytical study was conducted to determine the improvements in vehicle performance possible by burning metals with conventional liquid bipropellants. These metallized propellants theoretically offer higher specific impulse, increased propellant density and improved vehicle performance compared with conventional liquid bipropellants. Metals considered were beryllium, lithium, aluminum and iron. Liquid bipropellants were H/sub 2//O/sub 2/, N/sub 2/H/sub 4//N/sub 2/O/sub 4/, RP-1/O/sub 2/ and H/sub 2//F/sub 2/. A mission with a delta V = 4267.2 m/sec (14,000 ft/sec) and vehicle with propellant volume fixed at 56.63 cu m (2000 cu ft) and dry mass fixed at 2761.6 kg (6000 lb) was used, roughly representing the transfer of a chemically propelled upper-stage vehicle from a low-Earth orbit to a geosynchronous orbit. The results of thermochemical calculations and mission analysis calculations for bipropellants metallized with beryllium, lithium, aluminum and iron are presented. Technology issues pertinent to metallized propellants are discussed.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 6084044
- Report Number(s):
- N-87-22806; CONF-8706157-4; NASA-TM-100104; E-3639; NAS-1.15:100104; AIAA-87-1773
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Nuclear reactor power for an electrically powered orbital transfer vehicle
Nuclear reactor power for an electrically powered orbital transfer vehicle
Related Subjects
400800* -- Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry
ADDITIVES
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALUMINIUM
AROMATICS
BERYLLIUM
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
COMBUSTION KINETICS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
ELEMENTS
FLUORENE
FUELS
HYDRAZINE
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
IRON
KINETICS
LIQUID FUELS
LITHIUM
METALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN
POWDERS
PROPELLANTS
REACTION KINETICS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS