Thermochemical Heat Storage: From Reaction Storage Density to System Storage Density

Long-term and compact storage of solar energy is crucial for the eventual transition to a 100% renewable energy economy. For this, thermochemical materials provide a promising solution. The compactness of a long-term storage system is determined by the thermochemical reaction, operating conditions, and system implementation with the necessary...

Minitature electro-pyrotechnic igniter, and ignition head for the same

An electric non-pyrotechnic ignition head (100) suitable for use in an electro- pyrotechnic igniter (1), comprising: a housing (102) defining a front opening (106); - an electrically insulative, thermally conductive bridge filament support body (130) that is at least partly disposed in said front opening, and that defines a frontal heating...

Thermochemical heat storage - system design issues

Thermochemical materials (TCMs) are a promising solution for seasonal heat storage, providing the possibility to store excess solar energy from the warm season for later use during the cold season, and with that all year long sustainable energy. With our fixed bed, vacuum reactors using zeolite as TCM, we recently demonstrated long-term heat...

Design and development of a propulsion system for a cubesat - Based on solid propellant cool gas generator technology

Orbital manoeuvring is the next challenge in the development of cubesats. In this study a propulsion system for a cubesat with the main purpose of providing orbit manoeuvring and formation flying has been designed. This propulsion system is basically a cold gas system but it does not use a pressurised tank to store the gas, instead the...

Propulsion and energetic materials research in the Netherlands

Fundamental research on new and existing propellant formulations and energetic materials in the Netherlands is essentially carried out by the Delft University of Technology, Utrecht University, the Dutch Defense Laboratory ‘TNO Defense Security and Safety’ and the SME Aerospace Propulsion Products. Some of the results of the fruitful cooperation...

Applications of Micro System Technology (MST) in propulsion, activities at TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory

MST offers the opportunity to make propulsion systems smaller, more effective and at lower costs. At the TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory (TNO-PML) several activities are underway to apply MST in both macro and micro propulsion systems. TNO-PML is active in three areas. It has developed software for analyses of injection, mixing, combustion and heat...

Developments on HNF based high performance and green solid propellants

Worldwide developments are ongoing to develop new and more energetic composite solid propellant formulations for space transportation and military applications. Since the 90's, the use of HNF as a new high performance oxidiser is being reinvestigated. Within European development programmes, significant improvements have been achieved with...

Modelling of composite propellant properties

State-of-the-art composite propellants are based on solid particles (AP, Aluminium) in a polymeric HTPB based binder system. The usability of a propellant for a particular application is dependent on a large number of properties. These different properties sometimes result in contradictory requirements and design trade-off need to be made. In...