As dwindling federal funding continues to constrict the national space program, private entities have carried the torch of innovation in the aerospace industry. While the concept of hybrid rocket engines, systems where solid fuels and fluid oxidizers are used for combustion, was conceived during the mid-20th century, the aerospace industry only recently has substantially increased research and development of these engines. According to the literature, hybrids are safer and cheaper than their liquid counterparts due to the utilization of solid fuel and generally provide greater values of specific impulse, density specific impulse, and fuel energy density than traditional solid-fuel engines. This paper provides an overview of the design principles used to develop hybrid engines and discusses limitations currently faced by industry. Furthermore, development of hybrid engines to allow for both scalability and reusability are explored as private aerospace companies continue to demonstrate that reusable rockets are the future of rocket technology. With applications catering from low-payload cargo delivery to the increasing interest in space tourism and exploration, hybrid engines can provide a safer, less expensive solution than traditional and well-established engine selections. Suggestions for future design opportunities and methods are proposed and discussed to make the concept of hybrid engines a viable innovation in the future of rocketry.
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ASME 2017 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
November 3–9, 2017
Tampa, Florida, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- ASME
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5834-9
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Overview of Current Hybrid Propulsion Research and Development
Bao Nguyen,
Bao Nguyen
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
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Khulood Faruqui,
Khulood Faruqui
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
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Luis R. Robles,
Luis R. Robles
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
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Johnny Ho,
Johnny Ho
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
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Geoffrey Wagner,
Geoffrey Wagner
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
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Jeremy Surmi,
Jeremy Surmi
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
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Ashley Carter,
Ashley Carter
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
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Tom Hinz,
Tom Hinz
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
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Fady Kakish,
Fady Kakish
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
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Zachariah Zousel,
Zachariah Zousel
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
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Kory Matthys,
Kory Matthys
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
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Joseph Piacenza
Joseph Piacenza
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
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Bao Nguyen
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Khulood Faruqui
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Luis R. Robles
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Johnny Ho
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Geoffrey Wagner
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Jeremy Surmi
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Ashley Carter
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Tom Hinz
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Fady Kakish
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Zachariah Zousel
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Kory Matthys
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Joseph Piacenza
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Paper No:
IMECE2017-72429, V001T03A029; 10 pages
Published Online:
January 10, 2018
Citation
Nguyen, B, Faruqui, K, Robles, LR, Ho, J, Wagner, G, Surmi, J, Carter, A, Hinz, T, Kakish, F, Zousel, Z, Matthys, K, & Piacenza, J. "Overview of Current Hybrid Propulsion Research and Development." Proceedings of the ASME 2017 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 1: Advances in Aerospace Technology. Tampa, Florida, USA. November 3–9, 2017. V001T03A029. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2017-72429
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