Experimental Investigation of a Monopropellant Thruster Using Nitrous Oxide

Authors

  • Luciano Hennemann
  • José Carlos de Andrade
  • Fernando de Souza Costa

Keywords:

Satellite propulsion, Nitrous oxide, Rhodium oxide catalyst, Propulsive efficiency.

Abstract

Nitrous oxide is a monopropellant with potential for use in propulsion systems for orbit correction, positioning and attitude control of satellites. This paper presents experimental results with a 2N thruster prototype employing nitrous oxide gas decomposed by a rhodium oxide catalyst supported on alumina. Initially, the thruster design, the test bench and test procedures are described. Then the main experimental results, including thrust curves, mass flow rates, pressures and temperatures along the thruster are presented for pulsed operation. At the end specific impulses, characteristic velocities and thruster efficiencies
are determined, thus indicating a catalytic decomposition
efficiency of about 88%.


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Published

2014-11-23

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 4 (2014): OCT./DEC.

Section

Original Papers

License

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