I Fundamentals of Hybrid Rocket \ Combustion and Propulsion Edited by Martin J. Chiaverini Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) Madison, Wisconsin Kenneth K. Kuo Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania Volume 218 PROGRESS IN ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS Frank K. Lu, Editor-in-Chief University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191-4344
Table of Contents Preface vii Chapter 1. Overview and History of Hybrid Rocket Propulsion... 1 David Airman, Space Propulsion Group, Inc., Menlo Park, California; Allen Holzman, Cupertino, California Introduction 1 Early History, 1933-1960 5 Typical Fuels and Oxidizers 7 Flight Programs 11 Fundamental Studies 14 Large-Scale Hybrids 19 High Regression Rates 23 Survey of University Work 28 Space Tourism 31 Highlights in Perspective 32 Conclusions 33 Chapter 2. Review of Solid-Fuel Regression Rate Behavior in Classical and Nonclassical Hybrid Rocket Motors 37 Martin Chiaverini, Orbital Technologies Corporation, Madison, Wisconsin Nomenclature 37 Introduction 39 Hybrid Motor Characteristics 40 Regression Rate Behavior of Classical Hybrids 49 Regression Rate Behavior in Nonclassical Hybrids. 93 Summary 116 Chapter 3. Solid-Fuel Pyrolysis Phenomena and Regression Rate, Part 1: Mechanisms 127 Guy Lengelle, ONERA, Chdtillon, France Nomenclature 127 Introduction 128 Condensed-Phase Behavior 128 Ablation Rate 136 Ablation of Various Solid Fuels 150 Conclusion 163 xi
xii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 4. Solid-Fuel Pyrolysis Phenomena and Regression Rate, Part 2: Measurement Techniques 167 Franck Cauty, ONERA, Office National a"etudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales, Chatillon, France; Nadir Seryn, Tubitak Sage, Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey; Daniel Gramer, Orbital Technologies Corporation, Madison, Wisconsin Nomenclature 167 Introduction 168 Ultrasound Measurement Method 169 Real-Time X-Ray Radiography 179 Microwave Technique 182 Plasma Capacitance Gauge 185 Resistance-Based Regression Measurement Technologies 188 Additional Regression Measurement Technologies 196 General Technique for Regression Data Reduction 197 Comparison of Nonintrusive Measurement Methods 200 Conclusions 203 Chapter 5. Analytical Models for Hybrid Rockets 207 Joseph Majdalani, University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, Tennessee Nomenclature 207 Introduction 208 Basic Hybrid Model 212 General Headwall Injection 222 CFD Verification '.' 237 Practicality and Significance 241 Summary 242 Chapter 6. Vortex Injection Hybrid Rockets 247 Joseph Majdalani, University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, Tennessee Nomenclature 247 Introduction 248 Mathematical Model 250 Inviscid Solution 253 Flowfield Characteristics 260 Viscous Corrections 266 Summary 275
TABLE OF CONTENTS xiii Chapter 7. High-Speed Flow Effects in Hybrid Rockets 277 Joseph Majdalani, University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, Tennessee Nomenclature 277 Introduction 278 Mathematical Model 281 Axisymmetric Solution 285 Flowfield Characteristics 289 Solution for Slab Rocket 309 Summary 316 Chapter 8. Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Hybrid Rocket Flowfields 323 Venkateswaran Sankaran, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana Introduction 323 Physical and Computational Modeling 326 Computational Results 333 Summary 345 Chapter 9. Combustion Instability and Transient Behavior in Hybrid Rocket Motors 351 Arif Karabeyoglu, Space Propulsion Group, Inc., Sunnyvale, California Nomenclature 351 Introduction 353 Relevant Transient Events -. 353 Hybrid Rocket Instabilities 354 Subsystems of Hybrid Rocket Motors 367 Thermal Lags in the Solid 368 Transient Boundary-Layer Combustion 386 Gasdynamics 394 Thermal-Combustion-Gasdynamic (TCG) Coupled System 398 Application of the Theory to ILFIs 400 Conclusions 406 Chapter 10. Metals, Energetic Additives, and Special Binders Used in Solid Fuels for Hybrid Rockets 413 G. A. Risha, B. J. Evans, E. Boyer, and K. K. Kuo, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania Introduction 413 Metallized Polymeric and Nonpolymeric Solid Fuels 420 Gas Generator and Specialized Solid Fuels 447 Environmental Aspects 448 Summary and Conclusions 450
xiv TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 11. Hydrogen Peroxide, Hydroxyl Ammonium Nitrate, and Other Storable Oxidizers 457 Stephen Heister, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana and Eric Wernimont, General Kinetics Inc., Huntington Beach, California Introduction 457 Propellant Performance Comparisons. 459 Prior Work Using HP, HAN, and N 2 O Oxidizers 462 Recent HP/PE Experience 463 Consumable Ignition Device 468 HP/PE Test Results 469 HP/DCPD Experience 477 Conclusions 485 Chapter 12. Similarity and Scaling Effects in Hybrid Rocket Motors 489 Alon Gany, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel Nomenclature 489 Introduction 490 Analysis 492 Model Discussion 497 Theoretical Model Predictions 499 Experimental Research and Validation of Theory 502 Conclusion 509 Chapter 13. Large-Scale Hybrid Motor Testing 513 George Story, NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama Nomenclature ;... 513 Introduction... 513 Background: Why Hybrids? 514 High-Energy Hybrid Space Engines 515 AMROC Experience 516 Hybrid Propulsion Demonstration Program 250,000-Pounds Force Hybrid Motor 523 Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne 545 Lockheed Martin/Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Falcon Testing 547 Lockheed Martin's Planned Fuel Expulsion 548 Conclusions 549
TABLE OF CONTENTS xv Chapter 14. Flight Testing of Hybrid-Powered Vehicles 553 George Story, NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama; Joe Arves, Lockheed Martin, New Orleans, Louisiana Introduction 553 Background 553 Lockheed Martin HYSR Project; 561 Fredericksburg Launches 569 Scaled Composites: SpaceShipOne 570 Recent Developments 573 Hybrid Strapon Concepts 579 Conclusions 587 Chapter 15. Challenges of Hybrid Rocket Propulsion in the 21st Century 593 Kenneth K. Kuo, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania; Martin Chiaverini, Orbital Technologies Corporation, Madison, Wisconsin Nomenclature 593 Introduction 594 Major Challenges in Hybrid Rocket Propulsion 606 Future Applications of Hybrid-Propulsion Systems 632 Summary and Conclusions 632 Recommendations for Future Research and Development 633 Index 639 Supporting Materials 649