There’s documentation that nitrous should be hypergolic with TEA/TEB and
possibly just neat TEA, and proposals hypothesizing that based on chemical
analysis it should be with TEA/hexane and TEA/methanol and probably other
hydrocarbon dilutents, with little ISP loss.
Data validating the models, showing ignition over what temperature ranges and
pressure ranges, seems lacking.
-george
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 4, 2023, at 1:50 PM, Norman Yarvin <yarvin@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Tue, Apr 04, 2023 at 01:49:41PM +0200, Ben Brockert wrote:
Curious if anyone has interesting thoughts on
https://payloadspace.com/transitioning-space-propulsion-to-a-nitrous-based-industry-standard/
They don't mention what fuel they'd be pairing it with, I suppose
because there are many suitable fuels -- but probably none that are
hypergolic. The industry has moved away from hypergolics for launch,
but not for precise orbital maneuvering, likely because it's a big
advantage to be able to just release a blip of fuel and oxidizer and
know they will combust immediately: no having to wait for a torch
igniter to fire up.
My guess is that one could design a spark igniter that worked as well:
basically, just keep ramping up the spark power until ignition is
reliable. Even if that wasn't viable in ye olden days, it should be
with modern electronics. Still, it might take a fair bit of work; it
doesn't seem appropriate to just assume it will work, and even less
appropriate to make no mention of the issue.