DUAL MODE CHEMICAL ROCKET ENGINE AND DUAL MODE PROPULSION SYSTEM COMPRISING THE ROCKET ENGINE

摘要

The invention relates generally to dual mode bipropellant chemical rocket propulsion systems to be used in aerospace applications for 1) orbit raising, orbit manoeuvres and maintenance, attitude control and deorbiting of spacecraft, and/or 2) propellant settling, attitude and roll control of missiles, launchers and space planes. The present invention also relates to a dual mode chemical rocket engine for use in such systems. The engine uses low-hazardous storable liquid propellants and can be operated either in monopropellant mode or in bipropellant mode. The monopropellants used are a low-hazard liquid fuel-rich monopropellant, and a low-hazard liquid oxidizer-rich monopropellant, respectively.

主权项

1. A dual mode chemical rocket engine (100, 200) having a first primary reaction chamber (130) for a liquid fuel-rich monopropellant comprising a catalyst bed for the fuel-rich monopropellant, which first primary reaction chamber (130) is connected to a secondary reaction chamber (150) having means for injection (125) therein of a liquid, second, oxidizer-rich monopropellant, characterized in that the fuel-rich monopropellant is Ammonium DiNitramide (ADN) based or Hydroxyl Ammonium Nitrate (HAN) based.