TY - JOUR
T1 - A review on hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) decomposition techniques for propulsion application
AU - Chai, Wai Siong
AU - Cheah, Kean How
AU - Wu, Ming-Hsun
AU - Koh, Kai Seng
AU - Sun, Dashan
AU - Meng, Hua
N1 - Funding Information:
Increasingly rapid development in microsatellites has continuously driven the space propulsion sector over the past decade. This was supported by the increasing launch opportunities, which reduce space mission cost. In March 2021, the UK space agency has awarded 5 projects to tackle space debris and micropropulsion to support the nation's space ambitions through its National Space Technology Programme [ 1 ]. This is coherent to the recent efforts shown by academic, scientific and industrial communities in developing nano- and pico-satellites in which the conventional propulsion system is driven into microscale regime. Typically, the propulsion system for these miniaturized satellites should provide thrust forces between a few micro-newtons up to some milli-newtons, a specific impulse, that normally ranges from tens of seconds to thousands of seconds. Therefore, to achieve this, there is a stringent requirement for propellant option in which one of the favorable options presently is liquid propellant due to its high energy density.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 IAA
PY - 2022/7
Y1 - 2022/7
N2 - Development of green propellant is of importance for safer handling and higher cost effectiveness than conventional toxic hydrazine propellant. Among all green liquid propellant options, hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) offers better performance and exhibits lower toxicity than hydrazine. Extensive studies have been conducted on HAN decomposition using different techniques. Due to its ionic nature, HAN can be electrolyzed compared to hydrazine. Therefore, other than conventional thermal and catalytic decompositions, electrolytic decomposition of HAN is also possible. This review first discusses the decomposition mechanisms and summarizes the mechanisms involved in different decomposition techniques (thermal, catalytic, electrolytic and others). This review compares the relevant effects of various parameters in different decomposition techniques, with an overview on HAN-based propulsions systems developments systematically and comprehensively. Finally, this review concludes with future perspectives and challenges of different decomposition techniques. Herein, this work serves as a reference to understand the effects of various parameters under different HAN decomposition techniques, together with the limitations that hinders the application value of the decomposition techniques.
AB - Development of green propellant is of importance for safer handling and higher cost effectiveness than conventional toxic hydrazine propellant. Among all green liquid propellant options, hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) offers better performance and exhibits lower toxicity than hydrazine. Extensive studies have been conducted on HAN decomposition using different techniques. Due to its ionic nature, HAN can be electrolyzed compared to hydrazine. Therefore, other than conventional thermal and catalytic decompositions, electrolytic decomposition of HAN is also possible. This review first discusses the decomposition mechanisms and summarizes the mechanisms involved in different decomposition techniques (thermal, catalytic, electrolytic and others). This review compares the relevant effects of various parameters in different decomposition techniques, with an overview on HAN-based propulsions systems developments systematically and comprehensively. Finally, this review concludes with future perspectives and challenges of different decomposition techniques. Herein, this work serves as a reference to understand the effects of various parameters under different HAN decomposition techniques, together with the limitations that hinders the application value of the decomposition techniques.
KW - Decomposition behavior
KW - Decomposition techniques
KW - Hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN)
KW - Mechanisms
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129270935&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.04.011
DO - 10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.04.011
M3 - Article
SN - 0094-5765
VL - 196
SP - 194
EP - 214
JO - Acta Astronautica
JF - Acta Astronautica
ER -