Liquid Propellant Technology

 
Liquid propellants are among the most reactive materials to be used in any industrial application. When these materials are confined for long period of times in propulsion systems, interaction between the propellant and the surfaces of the containment materials may result in effects which can jeopardise the operation the these systems. Some of these processes are outlined below:

In order to achieve the optimised usage of liquid propellants it is helpful to have a detailed knowledge of their chemical behaviour and the compatibility of the materials to be used in the construction of the propellant storage and feed system. Because such data is difficult to obtain experimentally, the available database tends to have been accumulated through project-specific studies, so that even after 40 years in-service, it is still the case that it is sometimes difficult to find reliable information with which to address current problems.

Edotek specialises in undertaking a wide range of laboratory testing which can provide data concerning the behaviour of liquid propellants. This service is focused on providing the answers to practical engineering issues, designing tests which are cost effective and timely.

Edotek has in-house expertise with most of the storable liquid propellants and the materials used in the construction of propellant storage and feed systems including:

Propellants:

NTO / MON 

IRFNA (liquid and gelled) 

Hydrogen Peroxide 

Hydrazine 

MMH 

Materials:

CRES Steels 

Ti alloys 

Al alloys 

EPDM elastomers 

fluoro-polymers 

Edotek also has expertise working with tests systems handling gases and liquids at temperatures up to 900°C and 200bar pressure.

 
Programmes of work on propellants have included:

• Investigation of old and new "green" propellants (e.g. hydrogen peroxide and DMAZ)
• developing production, analytical methods and compatibility test procedures for gelled propellants (IRFNA)
• test-firing pyrotechnic valves pressurised with oxidiser (MON)
• compatibility testing with toxic fuels (MMH)
• measurement of physical properties (MON)
• assessment of the future compatibility test requirements of "next-generation" propellants

• EADS-Astrium
• Bradford Engineering
• European Space Agency
• FiatAvio
• MAN Technologie
• QinetiQ Ltd
• Roxel
• UK Ministry of Defence