High Density Liquid Hydrogen Missile Fuel

Fuel applications for scramjet powered flight greater than Mach 8 require the injection, mixing and combustion process to complete in a very short period of time. The one limiting factor restricting the speed at which a scramjet can operate relates directly to the time it takes for the fuel and air to mix and burn. Using hydrogen as the fuel source brings this time to a minimum. Due to the low density and storability issues associated with high pressure gas and cryogenic liquid many government programs have limited the operational speed to circumvent the issue. The Team recognizes the unique requirements for the development of H2 compounds that can conform to any tank geometry and provide long shelf life without the need for additional support hardware. To this end, the team proposes a phase changing solid with a potential yield of 19% by weight hydrogen content that can be adapted to missile defense applications that will solve the storability issues and excessive support hardware typically associated with the use of hydrogen fuel systems. In addition, the same fuel formulation is a prime candidate for advancing fuel cell technology.