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: Aluminum is treated with an agent to prevent passivation of the aluminum during oxidation. The passivation preventing agent is a metal alloy containing gallium, preferably a eutectic alloy of gallium, indium and tin. The surface of the metallic aluminum is wetted with the eutectic alloy, suitably by scouring and/or immersion. The treated aluminum may be mixed with water, hydrogen peroxide or other suitable oxidizer in a controlled manner to produce hydrogen, heat, steam or oxygen for the use in power generation or chemical reactions. The passivation removal agent can be used in small quantities and is readily recoverable following the reaction.

Abstract: Propellants flow through specialized mechanical hardware that is designed for effective and safe ignition and sustained combustion of the propellants. By integrating a micro-fluidic porous media element between a propellant feed source and the combustion chamber, an effective and reliable propellant injector head may be implemented that is capable of withstanding transient combustion and detonation waves that commonly occur during an ignition event. The micro-fluidic porous media element is of specified porosity or porosity gradient selected to be appropriate for a given propellant. Additionally the propellant injector head design integrates a spark ignition mechanism that withstands extremely hot running conditions without noticeable spark mechanism degradation.

Abstract: Ammonium dinitramide based liquid monopropellants exhibiting stabilised combustion characteristics and improved storage life, containing ammonia, a base weaker than ammonia, or a base which is sterically hindered, added in an amount of 0.1 to 5% of the total weight of the other components of the propellant.

Abstract: A system to provide a two piece robust fluid injector. According to various embodiments, the fluid injector is a fuel injector for a combustion engine. The injector includes two coaxially formed annuluses. One annulus is formed in a face plate and the second annulus or hole is defined by a tube extending through the face plate. The tube extends through the face plate in a portion of a through bore which also is used to define the second annulus. The second annulus is formed using a throughbore through which the tube extends. This allows the second annulus to always be formed inherently and precisely substantially coaxial with the first annulus. Moreover, the second annulus can be formed with a much greater tolerance than if other independent components needed to be added.

Abstract: A pulse combustion device has a number of combustors with upstream bodies and downstream nozzles. Coupling conduits provide communication between the combustors. For each given combustor this includes a first communication between a first location upstream of the nozzle thereof and a first location along the nozzle of another. There is second communication between a second location upstream of the nozzle and a second communication between a second location upstream of the nozzle of a second other combustor and a second nozzle location along the nozzle of the given combustor.

Abstract: In a supersonic nozzle incorporating injectors and a combustion chamber as part of an expander cycle rocket engine, the oxidizer is injected in two streams. One of the streams, preferably a small fraction of the total, is injected into an upstream or preburner section of the combustion chamber and the other to a downstream or main section of the chamber. The preburner combustion gas is cooled in a substantially uniform manner to a moderate temperature by cooling the bulk of the gas rather than cooling only the gas in a boundary layer adjacent to the chamber wall. The combustion gas produced in the downstream section is hotter, and heat from that gas is drawn through the chamber wall into a jacket. The limited combustion in the preburner permits the use of a cooling element with highly intimate heat exchange construction, extracting a high level of energy from the preburner gas without damage to the cooling element and an overall improvement in the regenerative cooling.

Abstract: A method and assembly for manufacturing and storing a cryogenic monopropellant, such as cryogenic mixtures of liquid methane and liquid oxygen, and the components thereof. A fuel, such as liquid methane, is manufactured and stored safely and effectively without venting any methane vapors. Liquid methane and liquid oxygen are manufactured such that these components are mixed at thermal equilibrium thereby preventing the formation of vapors in the liquid phase. In this manner, the mixture can be safely stored and used.

Abstract: The multifuel combustion engine is a Lenoir cycle (constant volume), pulst combustion engine capable of operating on gasoline, diesel or kerosene based fuels. Although the preferred embodiment is described in terms of Lenoir cycle pulsejet engines, the present invention has application to combustion engines in general. The conventional Lenoir cycle engine has been modified to provide a direct, premixed fuel-air spray to the combustion chamber and means for igniting the fuel-air spray. Said fuel-air spray is separate and distinct from the fuel-air charge which is fed to the combustion chamber from the engine head. Additionally, means are provided for preheating the combustion chamber so that the same fuel-air ratio mixes can be fed to the combustion chamber for cold start or hot restart of the engine. A method of burning different fuels in combustion engines is also claimed. The present invention includes the application of the modified Lenoir cycle engines to smoke generator equipment.

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

Abstract: A bi-propellant self-contained propulsion system is provided for powering rockets. A plurality of turbopump assemblies are provided to take liquid propellants from low pressure storage tanks to a substantially higher pressure thrust chamber. Substantially all of the liquid propellants are pressurized and gasified within the plurality of turbopumps. Substantially all of the gasified propellants are then used to drive the turbopumps that pressurize the liquid propellants. Gasification preferably occurs within a preburner internal to the turbopump assembly that combines a small portion of one of the propellants with a substantial portion of the other. The proportions are selected so that gasification of all of the propellants is ensured yet relatively low preburner temperatures are maintained. A multi-stage pintle assembly may be provided to vary the exit-to-throat area ratio of the nozzle. The total thrust and the mixture ratio may be controlled by shutting down some of the turbopumps.

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 woven, silicon carbide fiber inner wall forms a combustor liner and a nozzle throat liner, and a woven silicon carbide fiber outer wall is spaced from the inner wall to form a fuel passageway. The silicon carbide fibers are woven to conduct heat from the combustor and nozzle throat to the fuel passageway and thereby provide heat for the endothermic pyrolysis of the fuel in a propulsion system having a rocket casing containing a combustor, propellant injectors, nozzle throat and nozzle. The fuel passageway is adjacent to and surrounds the combustor and nozzle throat, and fuel is endothermically pyrolyzed in the fuel passageway.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and the fuel therefor for creating a hot gas jet hydrogen peroxide in a maximum aqueous solution of 55% to which is added a burnable substance. The mixture is passed through a permeable mass of catalytic material such as manganese dioxide in the form of granules of natural pyroluside where the hydrogen peroxide is broken down into water and oxygen. The oxygen thus formed is combined with the burnable substance which may be sugar, coal dust, alcohol, gasoline or other common fuels. Water is added to the mixture to insure storage stability of the hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A mixture of aqueous nitric acid (about 90 volume percent HNO.sub.3 and 10 volume percent H.sub.2 O) and Decalin are used as a propellant for a liquid propellant gun.

Abstract: At least one combustion modifier is incorporated in liquid propellants by ssolving the modifier in at least one solvent such as alkoxypolyethylene glycol ether or a bis(alkoxypolyethylene glycol) formal to form a solution and mixing the resulting solution with the energetic component of the liquid propellant. Similar solutions of combustion modifier are also suitable for use as casting liquids in cast double-base propellants.

Abstract: A technique is provided for making a granulated propellant suitable for gas generation for an automobile passenger restraint bag. The propellant is about 1/4 anhydrous nickel formate and 3/4 potassium chlorate. The dry powders are blended and mixed with about 12 to 15% of liquid comprising water and up to 50% methanol. The blended mixture is granulated and dehydrated.