Combustion performance of hybrid rocket fuels loaded with MgB2 and carbon black additives
Paraffin-based fuel has a great potential for several innovative missions, including space tourism, due to its safety, low environmental impact, high performance and low cost. Despite the fact that liquefying solid fuels increases the regression rate of hybrid rocket motors, incorporating energetic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Propulsion and Power Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212540X22000827 |
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| author | Yash Pal Sasi Kiran Palateerdham Sri Nithya Mahottamananda Subha Sivakumar Antonella Ingenito |
| author_facet | Yash Pal Sasi Kiran Palateerdham Sri Nithya Mahottamananda Subha Sivakumar Antonella Ingenito |
| author_sort | Yash Pal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Paraffin-based fuel has a great potential for several innovative missions, including space tourism, due to its safety, low environmental impact, high performance and low cost. Despite the fact that liquefying solid fuels increases the regression rate of hybrid rocket motors, incorporating energetic materials into solid fuel can still improve the performance. The objective and scope of this study is to increase the performance characteristics of the paraffin-based fuel by using magnesium diboride (MgB2) and carbon black (CB) additives. The cylindrical-port fuel grains were manufactured with various additives percentages in mass (wt%: CB-2% and MgB2-10%) and tested using a laboratory-scale ballistic hybrid motor under gaseous oxygen. The mechanical performance results revealed that adding CB and MgB2 improved the ultimate strength and elastic modulus of paraffin-based fuels. The addition of these fillers increased the hardness of fuel by developing a strong interaction in the paraffin matrix. Thermogravimetry (TG) results showed that CB inclusion improved the thermal stability of the paraffin matrix. The average regression rates of fuels loaded with CB and MgB2 were 32% and 52% higher than those of unmodified paraffin wax, respectively. The characteristic velocity efficiency was found in the range of 68%–79% at an O/F ratio of 1.5–2.6. The MgB2 oxidation/combustion in the paraffin matrix was described by a four-step oxidation process ranging from 473 K to 1723 K. Finally, a combustion model of MgB2 in the paraffin matrix was proposed, and four-step oxidation processes were discussed in detail. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:19:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8d45108a4b9c44d1ac93f80b5794efd6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2212-540X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:19:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Propulsion and Power Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-8d45108a4b9c44d1ac93f80b5794efd62023-07-05T05:15:59ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Propulsion and Power Research2212-540X2023-06-01122212226Combustion performance of hybrid rocket fuels loaded with MgB2 and carbon black additivesYash Pal0Sasi Kiran Palateerdham1Sri Nithya Mahottamananda2Subha Sivakumar3Antonella Ingenito4School of Aeronautical Sciences, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai 603103, India; Corresponding author.School of Aerospace Engineering, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00138, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Aerospace Engineering, BS Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science & Technology, Chennai 600048, IndiaSchool of Aeronautical Sciences, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai 603103, IndiaSchool of Aerospace Engineering, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00138, Rome, ItalyParaffin-based fuel has a great potential for several innovative missions, including space tourism, due to its safety, low environmental impact, high performance and low cost. Despite the fact that liquefying solid fuels increases the regression rate of hybrid rocket motors, incorporating energetic materials into solid fuel can still improve the performance. The objective and scope of this study is to increase the performance characteristics of the paraffin-based fuel by using magnesium diboride (MgB2) and carbon black (CB) additives. The cylindrical-port fuel grains were manufactured with various additives percentages in mass (wt%: CB-2% and MgB2-10%) and tested using a laboratory-scale ballistic hybrid motor under gaseous oxygen. The mechanical performance results revealed that adding CB and MgB2 improved the ultimate strength and elastic modulus of paraffin-based fuels. The addition of these fillers increased the hardness of fuel by developing a strong interaction in the paraffin matrix. Thermogravimetry (TG) results showed that CB inclusion improved the thermal stability of the paraffin matrix. The average regression rates of fuels loaded with CB and MgB2 were 32% and 52% higher than those of unmodified paraffin wax, respectively. The characteristic velocity efficiency was found in the range of 68%–79% at an O/F ratio of 1.5–2.6. The MgB2 oxidation/combustion in the paraffin matrix was described by a four-step oxidation process ranging from 473 K to 1723 K. Finally, a combustion model of MgB2 in the paraffin matrix was proposed, and four-step oxidation processes were discussed in detail.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212540X22000827Hybrid rocketParaffin waxRegression rateMagnesium diborideMechanical properties |
| spellingShingle | Yash Pal Sasi Kiran Palateerdham Sri Nithya Mahottamananda Subha Sivakumar Antonella Ingenito Combustion performance of hybrid rocket fuels loaded with MgB2 and carbon black additives Propulsion and Power Research Hybrid rocket Paraffin wax Regression rate Magnesium diboride Mechanical properties |
| title | Combustion performance of hybrid rocket fuels loaded with MgB2 and carbon black additives |
| title_full | Combustion performance of hybrid rocket fuels loaded with MgB2 and carbon black additives |
| title_fullStr | Combustion performance of hybrid rocket fuels loaded with MgB2 and carbon black additives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Combustion performance of hybrid rocket fuels loaded with MgB2 and carbon black additives |
| title_short | Combustion performance of hybrid rocket fuels loaded with MgB2 and carbon black additives |
| title_sort | combustion performance of hybrid rocket fuels loaded with mgb2 and carbon black additives |
| topic | Hybrid rocket Paraffin wax Regression rate Magnesium diboride Mechanical properties |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212540X22000827 |
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