Firing Test of Hydrogen-peroxide-added ADN-based Monopropellant Using Catalytic Thruster

抄録

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for high-performance low-toxic monopropellants that can replace hydrazine. The mixture of ammonium dinitramide (ADN), monomethylamine nitrate (MMAN), and urea (AMU monopropellant) is one of the high-performance low-toxic monopropellants. Because the optimal ignition system for AMU monopropellant has not been established, we have been studying the application of the catalytic thruster system, which has been mainly used in hydrazine thrusters, to AMU monopropellant. When AMU monopropellant is applied to catalytic ignition thrusters, atomization of the propellant is necessary to promote ignition and combustion due to its high thermal stability and low reactivity. However, the high viscosity of the AMU monopropellant makes atomization difficult. In addition, low power consumption is preferred in spacecraft, but the catalyst must be preheated at high temperature to initiate the reaction of AMU monopropellant. As the solution, the addition of hydrogen peroxide solution to AMU monopropellant has been investigated. This study aims to improve the combustion efficiency and reactivity of AMU monopropellant by optimizing the amount of hydrogen peroxide solution and by using the optimal catalyst to promote the decomposition and combustion process of hydrogen-peroxide-added AMU monopropellant.