Combustion experiments in hydrogen peroxide/polyethylene hybrid rocket with catalytic ignition

Results from 100 tests of lab-scale hybrid rochet motors using hydrogen per oxide and polyethylene are presented herein. The bulk of the tests utilized 85% hydrogen peroxide with low-density polyethylene, A new consumable cata lytic-ignition device has been developed to provide rapid, reliable ignitio n using stabilized hydrogen peroxide. Regression measurements indicate that at low chamber pressures (100 psi) a classic diffusion-dominated behavior is noted with mass flux exponents very near the theoretical value of 0.8, H owever, at higher chamber pressures tested (200 and 400 psi), radiative-dom inated behavior is noted for average mass fluxes varying between 0.1 and 0. 3 lb(m)/(in.(2) s). Through the optimization of aft mixing length, combusti on efficiencies in excess of 95% were obtained in these tests. No significa nt nonacoustic or acoustic instabilities were noted in these tests; chamber pressure fluctuations were less than 3.5% zero-to-peak of mean.