• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.38-51
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• 2018

This study was carried out to improve the performance characteristics of nozzleless boosters that are used in ramjet boosters. A propellant using Zr as the metal fuel was developed, which provided a higher density than the propellant using Al as the metal fuel. The developed propellant was cast using the nozzleless booster and a ground test was carried out by varying the length-to-diameter ratio (L/D ratio) of the propellant. From a comparison between the performance characteristics of propellants using Zr and Al, it was proved that the performance of the propellant using Zr is higher than that of propellant using Al, except for the specific impulse, under all tested conditions. As the length-to-diameter ratio was increased, the specific impulse of the propellant using Zr was decreased by 88% compared with that of the propellant with Al. However, because of the density difference between the propellants, the impulse density of the propellant with Zr was higher than that of the propellant with Al under all tested conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.52-62
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• 2017

The study for the performance characteristics of the nozzleless booster used in ramjet booster was carried out. Performances related to pressure and thrust for nozzleless booster are lower than classical motor those because of absence of convergent and divergent sections of nozzle. To solve this problem, it developed a high-performance propellant with maximum impulse density included Al as metal fuel. Using the nozzleless booster casted the propellant, ground test of it was carried out by varying the length-to-diameter ratio (L/D ratio) of the propellant. Specific impulse of nozzleless booster was limited to about 75 percents of its value compared with that of classical motor adapted nozzle in the same propellant and propellant length and will be estimated approximately 85 percents of its value compared with that of classical motor at same average pressure in terms of the curve fitting by our test results.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.18-25
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• 2017

The study for the combustion characteristics of propellants for nozzleless boosters was carried out. The metal fuels of Al and Zr were introduced into solid propellant formulations in order to enhance the density-specific impulse and the high burning rate with low pressure exponent was investigated as the major combustion characteristic of propellant to design nozzleless boosters. The burning rate of Zr-containing propellant was higher than Al-containing propellant and, $13{\mu}m$ Zr-containing propellant exhibited the burning rate of 35 mm/s (at 1000 psi)and pressure exponent of 0.3282. The benefit of using Al and Zr-containing propellant into nozzleless boosters was demonstrated in these results.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.9-15
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• 2012

As a propellant of a high speed underwater vehicle, the hydro-reactive solid metal particles using seawater as a oxidizer maximizes its specific impulse when the solid metal particles and the seawater are uniformly mixed in the combustion chamber. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of injector geometry on the particle distribution of similarity point of view. For the purpose of this similarity of the mean velocity and particle number density along the radial direction was measured by Particle Image Velocimetry(PIV).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.314-317
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• 2004

On 9/5/2003, the planet probe “HAYABUSA” as MUSES-C project was launched by The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. “HAYABUSA” has microwave discharge ion engines and these engines are characterized by their high efficiency and specific impulse in comparison with chemical engine. A large ion engine can be used as a planet explorer, while a small ion engine can be used as attitude control of small satellite. We have been developing a high thrust density microwave discharge ion engine using “Multi-Monopole Antenna”. The performance of this engine are: ion cost of 344W/A, propellant utilization efficiency of 52% and thrust density of 0.055mN/$\textrm{cm}^2$ for Kr gas flow rate of 2.5sccm, microwave(2.45㎓) power of 32W and acceleration voltage of l.4㎸.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.96-106
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• 2011

There are many advantages in applying gel propellant to a gel propulsion system. These include higher performances, the energy management of liquid propulsion system, reliable storability and low leakage characteristics. Additionally, gel propulsion system are preferable to the high density impulse of propulsion system. Also, when compared to liquid propellants, the gel propellants acquire greater heat energy. Gel propellants achieve a high specific impulse when metal particles with aluminum and boron are added. With respect to atomization, an inactive process occurs due to the variable viscosity of the metal particles and gelling agents. To improve the defect of atomization and combustion characteristics of gel propellant, a variety of issues related to spray and combustion is introduced here.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.21-35
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• 2017

Hydrogen peroxide is being considered as a monopropellant in micropropulsion systems for the next generation of miniaturized satellites ('nanosats') due to its high energy density, modest specific impulse and green characteristics. Efforts at the University of Vermont have focused on the development of a MEMS-based microthruster that uses a novel slug flow monopropellant injection scheme to generate thrust and impulse-bits commensurate with the intended micropropulsion application. The present study is a computational effort to investigate the initial decomposition of the monopropellant as it enters the catalytic chamber, and to compare the impact of the monopropellant injection scheme on decomposition performance. Two-dimensional numerical studies of the monopropellant in microchannel geometries have been developed and used to characterize the performance of the monopropellant before vaporization occurs. The results of these studies show that monopropellant in the lamellar flow regime, which lacks a non-diffusive mixing mechanism, does not decompose at a rate that is suitable for the microthruster dimensions. In contrast, monopropellant in the slug flow regime decomposes 57% faster than lamellar flow for a given length, indicating that the monopropellant injection scheme has potential benefits for the performance of the microthruster.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.298-302
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• 2009

Low power Hall thruster is under development as one of the core technologies for STSAT-3. The Hall thruster has several advantages such as its simple structure, high thrust density and specific impulse etc. Development target values deduced by analyzing requirements are consumed electrical power, thrust, thrust efficiency, and specific impulse of < 300 W, > 10 mN, ~ 35%, and > 1000 s, respectively. In order to achieve the target specifications, two prototype Hall thrusters were developed and compared. To date, thrust and efficiency are 11 mN and 37% under the total power of 290 W with 0.97 mg/s Xe propellent supply.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.3159-3162
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• 2008

A sensitivity analysis of the liquid rocket engine has been made. A mode analysis program is used to predict the performance change due to the variation of rocket engine operating environment. The propellant supply pressure and density are the major variables of the operating condition. The material properties of the turbine driving gas is assumed as the function of mixture ratio. The discrepancies of performance change between constant turbine driving gas properties and variable properties are greater for the case of fuel pump inlet pressure change than the oxidizer pump inlet pressure change.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.577-587
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• 2004

A coaxial pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) with a Teflon cavity was designed, and its performance characteristics were examined varying stored energy, cavity length and capacitance. The PPT was tested as the entire system including the discharge circuit, and the results were explained with both the transfer efficiency and the acceleration efficiency. The transfer efficiency is defined as the fraction of energy in capacitors supplied into plasma, and the acceleration efficiency as the fraction of energy supplied into plasma converted to thrust energy. To estimate these efficiencies, the equivalent plasma resistance was defined and calculated using energy conservation during discharge. The equivalent plasma resistance proportionally increased with cavity length, and therefore the current peak increased with decreasing cavity length. The energy density calculated by the transfer efficiency was increased with decreasing cavity length. As a result, higher acceleration efficiency and lower transfer efficiency were obtained with shorter cavity length. Accordingly, there was an optimal cavity length for the thrust efficiency. The specific impulse and the impulse bit per unit stored energy ranged from 390 s and 50 $\mu$ Ns/J for a cavity length of 34 mm to 825 s and 11 $\mu$ Ns/J for a cavity length of 4 mm when the stored energy was fixed to 21.4J. Thus, it was showed that the performance of this PPT approached that of electromagnetic-acceleration-type PPT with decreasing cavity length. The PPT achieved thrust efficiencies of 10-12% at 21.4 J and 6-7% at 5.35 J at cavity lengths between 14 mm and 29 mm.