Scaling and Evaluation of Pt/Al2O3 Catalytic Reactor for Hydrogen Peroxide Monopropellant Thruster

摘要

A scalingmethodology of hydrogen peroxidemonopropellant thruster is described. As the decomposition processnof the hydrogen peroxide on the surface of catalyst bed is extremely complex, empiricalmethod was taken for designnpurposes. A small-scale thruster was fabricated and important design parameters, including temperature atndifferent locations of the catalyst bed, weremeasured. Based on themeasurement, the catalyst bed size as a functionnof the propellant flow rate was estimated. Using the scaling methodology, a catalyst bed configuration for a thrusterncapable of delivering 50 N was estimated. The thruster built on this design produced 42 N at sea level and specificnimpulse of 123 s.