Abstract: A non-woven fabric for reacting with a liquid to produce a gas is provided. The non-woven fabric includes at least one non-woven fabric fiber, a plurality of hot melt particles, and a plurality of solid particles. The non-woven fabric fiber has a first melting point. The hot melt particles are bonded with the non-woven fabric fiber and have a second melting point, in which the first melting point is higher than the second melting point. At least a part of the solid particles are bonded with the hot melt particles. Moreover, a method for fabricating the non-woven fabric and a gas generation apparatus using the non-woven fabric are also provided.

Abstract: Formulated propellants and methods of forming the same are described herein. The formulated propellants include a hydrocarbon fluid, wherein the formulated propellant exhibits a distillation curve 10% point at a temperature between 365° F. (185° C.) and 410° F. (210° C.) and an end point at or below 525° F. (273° C.).

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for propelling a vehicle. In an embodiment, by way of example only, a method includes flowing a decomposed hydroxylammonium nitrite (HAN)-based propellant into a chamber, introducing an aspirated non-polar fuel into the chamber, and combusting the decomposed HAN-based propellant and the aspirated non-polar fuel to produce an exhaust gas.

Abstract: A method for improving interpenetration, mixing, and combustion between a fuel and oxidizer reactant mixture and combustion product gases in engines having a combustor includes the step of providing an engine having a combustor in which the reaction mixture and product gases are subjected to acceleration directed transverse to a direction along which the reactant mixture flows through the combustor during combustion. One or more catalyst elements are positioned within the combustor to generate Rayleigh-Taylor instability and thereby enhance interpenetration of the reactant mixture and product gases within the combustor chamber during combustion.

Abstract: A catalyst bed assembly, comprising: an outer housing having an open interior, an inlet leading to the open interior, and an outlet from the open interior; a catalyst bed in the open interior; and a gap between the outer housing and the catalyst bed. The open interior receives material from the inlet. A portion of the material enters the catalyst bed to expose said material to a catalyst so that the material and the catalyst react and create heat within the catalyst bed assembly. A remainder of the material enters the gap between the outer housing and the catalyst bed to cool the catalyst bed assembly. The catalyst bed assembly could be part of a turbopump assembly. The turbopump assembly would further include a nozzle downstream of the outlet; a turbine downstream of the nozzle; and a pump driven by said turbine.

Abstract: Liquid monopropellants for passive vehicle restraint systems (e.g., air bags) include an aqueous solution of a water-soluble oxidizer and a water-soluble organic fuel miscible with the oxidizer. The oxidizer is most preferably ammonium nitrate, hydrogen peroxide or nitric acid, while the fuel is a lower alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, propanol or glycerol. The liquid monopropellants will advantageously have an oxidation ratio (OR) of greater than about 0.90.

Abstract: A method for accelerating a vehicle in the atmosphere, space or aerospace includes the steps of supplying a propellant having silicone hydride compounds into a combustion chamber, compressing air and delivering compressed air into a ring formed with a plurality of circumferential orifices which open into the combustion chamber, reaching thereby temperatures of about 3000.degree. C., cracking nitrogen molecules present in the air at the temperature which attack the silicon atoms to generate great mass.

Abstract: A liquid monopropellant composition comprising the water solution of an hydroxylammonium nitrate and a compatible water soluble or water dispersible fuel.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method of storing solar radiation energy in a spacecraft and using it with high efficiency for space propulsion.

Abstract: A compound having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is --N.sup.+ H.sub.3 as found in claim 1 and R.sup.2 is either the same as F.sup.1 or hydrogen. "A" is an oxidizing anion, and X is selected to provide a neutral charge balance for the compound. A method of making a compound of the indicated structure from a compound of similar structure by an anion exchange process is also disclosed. Finally, propellant formulations incorporating the novel compounds of the present invention as fuels and oxidizers are disclosed.

Abstract: A drive aggregate is operated independently from the availability of external air, by using a fuel being composed of a blend of hydrocarbons and metal, e.g. lithium hydrides in a pasty, pumpable, i.e., fluidized, condition, and a metal chlorate, e.g., lithium chlorate or metal perchlorate is used as an oxidizer, having been rendered fluid in a high concentration by the addition of water so that the oxidizer, when decomposing, yields oxygen which combines with hydrogen released from the fuel. Reaction products remain, or are pumped into the tanks or into the ambient sea.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus whereby typically furnished commercially nitrogen tetroxide propellants for rocket engines may be upgraded to decrease flow decay problems and to increase the shelf life of the product; thereby providing for longer duration trouble-free rocket engine performance. The raw MON material is initially converted if necessary to the "Red" type; dissolved iron salts and other dirt particulates are removed by cooling and filtering, and thenceforth throughout the process the material is filtered at each transfer operation. Specific apparatus arrangements are provided for facilitating the process and the end product is of increased purity; whereby upon being furnished to an engine for test or vehicle launching purposes the program may proceed as scheduled and the vehicle may be maintained in space for a longer period of time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the prevention of the formation of ammonia as a product in the reaction of hydrazine and a halogen oxidizer used in a liquid-propelled rocket engine and in chemical laser pumping systems. The method employs vanadium pentafluoride as an additive up to about 1% to the halogen oxidizer to thereby shift the equilibrium of the reaction between the hydrazine and the halogen oxidizer so that no ammonia is produced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of converting non-hypergolic, liquid, rocket propellants into hypergolic propellants. The method to accomplish the conversion relates to the use of ammonium metavanadate as an additive to the liquid oxidant, such as, red fuming nitric acid (RFNA). The RFNA with additive is hypergolic with the usual fuels with which RFNA has been employed where a separate ignition system is normally required. RFNA with additive is also hypergolic with fuels which have been non-hypergolic and which have not been so used in the past with RFNA. These additional fuel blends include a fuel material selected from turpentine, aniline, triethylamine, furfuryl alcohol or blends of these fuel materials.

Abstract: A liquid mixture of tetrafluorammonium bifluoride in anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride in the liquid and/or gaseous decomposed state serves as an oxidizer for fuels. Tetrafluorammonium bifluoride is present in the liquid in an amount up to about 50 mole percent.

Abstract: Nitric acid and n-octane are injected into a gun and utilized to propel pectiles.