High-Performance Low-Toxicity Monopropellant Thruster for Micro-propulsion

EERGC, working in conjunction with the University of California at Irvine, has a concept for a new micro-thruster design based on an established miniaturized combustion chamber concept. The micro-thruster will operate with a high-performance low-toxicity monopropellant of direct interest to the Air Force, to produce thrust on demand at a high efficiency relative to the theoretical performance of that propellant.  The proposed project represents a significant departure and advancement over prior research and development efforts by providing a robust scale-down of monopropellant propulsion, adapted from a validated miniaturized air-breathing combustor design. The proposed concept is inherently compatible with high-viscosity liquid fuels and a high temperature oxidative combustion environment. BENEFIT: The ultimate product of this development effort will be a storable, highly efficient, lightweight, compact micro-propulsion system firing the proposed monopropellant. This will be useful for a broad range of military and commercial applications including miniaturized spacecraft and nanosatellites for applications including surveillance, navigation, and communications; as well as for compact power generators, and micro gas generators.)