Technology status of HNF-based monopropellants for satellite propulsion
conference paper
This paper reports on significant technological progress made over the last few years in determining the feasibility of HNF-based monopropellants. An HNF-based monopropellant is an interesting alternative for hydrazine as monopropellant for satellite propulsion. New non-toxic monopropellants based on dissolved energetic oxidizer salts (e.g. HNF, HAN and ADN) have better performance, lower toxicity and higher storage density than hydrazine. New HNF-monopropellant blends will be presented which have a 5% and 10% higher performance than hydrazine at minimum storage temperatures of 0 and 10 degrees Celsius respectively. This is a major improvement compared with earlier HNF monopropellant blends with a performance equal to hydrazine which must be stored at a minimum temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, these blends are characterized by very low vapour pressures, which is beneficial for two reasons: very low risk of inhalation of harmful vapours and in case of spillage during handling or transport there will be a very low risk of crystallization of solid HNF-crystals. These new blends will be submitted to an extensive characterization program this year. This will include determination of physical properties (e.g. density and viscosity), explosion sensitivity and compatibility with common materials of satellite propulsion systems. Also catalytic ignition and production methods will be demonstrated this year.
Topics
TNO Identifier
238207
ISSN
0379-6566
Source title
Space Propulsion 2004 - 2nd International Conference on Green Propellants for Space Propulsion, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy, 7-8 June 2004 (Conference code: 65249)
Editor(s)
Wilson A.
Pages
107-112
Files
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