aircraft engine
A research team from the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, in cooperation with the New Zealand Agency – Callaghan Innovation, announced a new technology that turns hydrogen peroxide into a non-toxic fuel for rocket propulsion jet engines.
The lead author of the study, Simon Reed, explained that “hydrogen peroxide is largely non-toxic to humans, and has common household uses, such as: hair bleaching, or cleaning wounds,” noting that it is “a less toxic alternative to hydrazine, which is used in fuels. rocket engines, which require additional safety equipment when in use; This increases the cost of using fuel.”
Common methods of generating hydrogen peroxide thrust to power rockets rely on the use of precious metal catalysts, such as silver or platinum.
In this project, researchers in New Zealand were able to develop a low-cost technology and improve the performance of hydrogen peroxide, as a propellant.
According to the University of Canterbury website, “the research team used 3D printing to create new catalytic structures that have better properties and use less pressure, to improve the performance of the rocket’s propulsion engine.”
The researchers designed the new catalyst using the “geroid” pattern, a geometric shape used in 3D printing, to ideally print catalytic processes, which cannot be manufactured using traditional techniques.
The researcher, Simon Reed, explained that the design of the new catalyst was formed by coating the surface of the ceramic layer in the printer with the catalyst, so that hydrogen peroxide passes through it, which leads to converting it to water and oxygen, resulting in a large amount of energy and heat.
Simon Reed explained, “The heat evaporates the water and produces a gas at a high temperature, and the hot gas passes through a nozzle that provides a thrust.”
The researchers emphasized that the developed catalyst enables more efficient use of concentrated hydrogen peroxide in rocket engines that require low to medium thrust.
The research team noted that “a few airlines are seriously considering the use of hydrogen peroxide,” expressing their “hope that these developed catalysts will be a viable alternative to hydrazine, and help make the aviation industry safer.”
