Library - IBB.ch

Here you can find various papers mainly about rocket propulsion and related topics. Our library page acts also as an internal library of IBB.ch, so some publications are not publicly available due the copyright or other reasons. If you find a paper which should not be public available due to copyright or other reasons, please let us know, we will delete it or move it to an area with restricted access.

Go directly to section:

Nitrous Oxide N2O related
- N2O Safety
- N2O-Patents
Conference Papers (Mainly ESA and other European organizations)
Rocket Noise and mitigation
Igniters (Torch, Catalytic, Pyro, others like acoustic resonance tubes)
Cold gas thrusters
NASA SP Papers Chemical Propulsion, old but precious
General procedures and Standards (Leak-, pressure-testing of tanks, vibration testing etc)
Pyro stuff (Mainly about safety but maybe more in the future)

Nitrous N2O related publications

NITROUS OXIDE / HYDROCARBON FUEL ADVANCED CHEMICAL PROPULSION: DARPA CONTRACT OVERVIEW, by Roger Herdy Qualis Corporation Huntsville, Alabama
Combining Residual Gas Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry to Develop Catalysts for Low Energy N2O Mirco-thrusters. By Euesden, C.; Sermon, P.; Zakirov, V.; Gibbon, D.; University of Surrey, United Kingdom
DEVELOPMENT OF A NITROUS OXIDE-BASED MONOPROPELLANT THRUSTER FOR SMALL SPACECRAFT
Nitrous Oxide as a Green Monopropellant for Small Satellites, by J. Wallbank et al.
N2O Research at Tsinghua: 2003, by V. Zakirov
N2O PROPULSION RESEARCH AT TSINGHUA: 2006, by Vadim Zakirov(1), Ke Wan(2)
SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF IRIDIUM- HEXAALUMINATE CATALYSTS FOR NITROUS OXIDE DECOMPOSITION, by Shaomin Zhu, Xiaodong Wang, Yu Cong, Aiqin Wang
PERSPECTIVE CATALYSTS FOR N2O DECOMPOSITION, by T. P. Gaidey(1) et al
Performance of 1N Model Thruster on Nitrous Oxide, by Vladimir Sadov et al
Satellite Microthrusters where Catalysts are fed with green premixed N2O-Hydrocarbon Mixes, by P.A. Sermon
N2O Properties, taken from Cindas Data Series on Material properties, Volume V-1, Properties of Inorganic and Organic Fluids
An Update on Surrey Nitrous Oxide Catalytic Decomposition Research, by Vadim Zakirov and Prof. Martin Sweeting
Investigation of Decomposition Characteristics of Gaseous and Liquid Nitrous Oxide, by G. W. Rhodes, Air Force Weapons Laboratory 1974
Summary of Nitrous Oxide Investigations, Air Force Weapons Laboratory 1976
THERMOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF NITROUS OXIDE, BY T. CARLTON-SUTTON
STUDIES ON THE DECOMPOSITION OF NITROUS OXIDE, by E. STOKES FISHBURNE J).R. NICHOLSON, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Catalytic Decomposition of nitrous oxide for spacecraft propulsion applications, by V. Zakirov
The physics of Nitrous Oxide, by Rick Newlands
Equilibria for mixtures of oxygen with nitrous oxide
Fluessigkeit/Dampf-Gleichgewichte der binaeren Systeme N2O/O2 bei tiefen Temperaturen und hohen Druecken, by Hannelore Zeitiger
Catalytic Ignition of Nitrous Oxide With Propane/Propylene Mixtures for Rocket Motors, by Balasubramanyam M.S., Moser M.D., University of Alabama in Huntsville
The Nitrous Oxide – Propane Rocket Engine, Final Report for BAA 99-22, GASL TR No. 387
Nitrous Oxide Application for Low-Thrust and Low-Cost Liquid Rocket Engine, by Tomasz Palacz
Experimental Investigation of a Monopropellant Thruster Using Nitrous Oxide, by L. Hennemann, J. C. de Andrade and F. de Souza Cost
Research into Resistojet Rockets for small Satellite Applications, by T. J. Lawrence
Modeling of N2O Decomposition Events, AIAA-2008-4933
Engineering Model for Self-Pressurizing Saturated-N2O-Propellant Feed Systems, by S. A. Whitmore and S. N. Chandler, AIAA Journal of Propulsion, (Restricted access)
Densities of Sulfur Hexafluoride and Dinitrogen Monoxide (N₂O) over a Wide Temperature and Presure Range in the Sub- and Supercritical States, by Christian Ihmels and Juergen Gmehling, International Journal of Thermophysics Vol 23, No 3, May 2002, (Restricted access)
HYDRAZINE CATALYST PRODUCTION – SUSTAINING S-405 TECHNOLOGY, by E. J. Wucherer, Timothy Cook and Mark Stiefel, (Restricted access)
NITROUS OXIDE MONOPROPELLANT GAS GENERATOR DEVELOPMENT, by K. A. Lohner and Y. D. Scherson, (Restricted access)
ESDU 91022 Thermophysical properties of nitrous oxide, (Restricted access)
Nitrous oxide cooling in hybrid rocket nozzles, by Patrick Lemieux, (Restricted access)
Development and Testing of a Multiple Use Plug Hybrid for Nanosats MUPHyN , by Shannon D. Eilers, (Restricted access)
Nitrous oxide as a rocket propellant, by V. Zakirov, (Restricted access)
Remote Operation for Nitrous Oxide in High-Powered Hybrid Rocketry, by Charles Van Steenwyk, Eric Venenga, and Dr. Dianne DeTurris (Restricted access)
Nitrous oxide, Saturation properties and the phase diagram, by A.G.M. Ferreira, L.Q. Lobo (Restricted access)
Two-Phase Flow Effects at the Injection of Nitrous Oxide in a Hybrid Rocket Engine with a Vapor Pressurization System, by Julius Wymann (Waiting for permission)
Catalytic Decomposition of Nitrous Oxide Monopropellant for Hybrid Motor Ignition, by Matthew D. Wilson
Experimental analysis of the heat fluxes during combustion of a N₂O/C₂H₄ premixed green propellant in a research rocket combustor, by Lukas Werling and Till Hörger. Local File (restricted).
Entwicklung und Erprobung von Flammensperren für einen vorgemischten, grünen Raketentreibsto aus Lachgas (N₂O) und Ethen (C₂H₄), by Lukas Werling, Local File
Nitrous Oxide Fuels Blends: Research on premixed Monopropellants at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) since 2014, by Lukas Werling et al, local file (restricted)
US8,230,672 Patent SPARK-INTEGRATEDPROPELLANT NECTOR HEADWITH FLASHBACK BARRIER. Related to Lukas Whrling’s work, local file
Deflagration-to-Detonation Transition in Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen-Fuel Mixtures for Propulsion, by Prashanth Bangalore Venkatesh et al, local file (restricted)

Injector design /Choked Flow:
Effects of Injector Design and Impingement Techniques on the Atomization of Self-Pressurizing Oxidizers, by Benjamin S. Waxman, Professor Brian J. Cantwell, 2012 (restricted)
Mass Flow Rate and Isolation Characteristics of Injectors for Use with Self-Pressurizing Oxidizers in Hybrid Rockets, by E. Zimmerman, B. S. Waxman
Two-Phase Flow Effects at the Injection of Nitrous Oxide in a Hybrid Rocket Engine with a Vapor Pressurization System, by Julius Wymann (Waiting for permission)

Nytrox (N2O/Oxygen mixtures):
Nytrox-Patent 1 & 2, Space Propulsion Group
Nytrox as “Drop-in” Replacement for Gaseous Oxygen in SmallSat Hybrid Propulsion Systems, Stephen A. Whitmore
Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen Mixtures (Nytrox) as Oxidizers for Rocket Propulsion Applications, M. Arif Karabeyoglu , (Restricted access)
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF N₂O/O₂ MIXTURES AS VOLUMETRICALLY EFFICIENT OXIDIZERS FOR SMALL SPACECRAFT HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEMS, Rob L. Stoddard

Tank emptying/ Tank dynamics:
Propellant tank pressurization modeling for a hybrid rocket, by Margaret Mary Fernandez
Nitrous Oxide State Estimation in Hybrid Rocket Oxidizer Tanks, by Steven Borgdorff
Review and Evaluation of Models for Self-Pressurizing Propellant Tank Dynamics, by E. Zimmerman, B. S. Waxman
SELF-PRESSURIZING PROPELLANT TANK DYNAMICS, by Jonah E. Zimmerman. Local file
Modeling of Propellant Tank Pressurization, Greg Zilliac, AIAA-2005-3549, (Restricted access)
Modelling the tank emptying, By Rick Newlands
Tank emptying code, By Rick Newlands

N2O Safety:

“Safety of Nitrous oxide N2O in rocketry”. by Bruno Berger, Presentation given in the frame of the 4th AMRAS symposium 2007. It’s old, but it is referenced so many times all over the internet so we keep it online. It was one of the first documents about N2O safety available on the Internet. Most of the content is still valid, but some things are outdated
Scaled Composites Safety Guidelines for N2O
Rick Newlands paper about hybrid safety (mainly nitrous related stuff)
Nitrous Oxide Trailer Rupture July 2, 2001, Konrad Munke, Linde Gas AG
Flame Propagation in Gaseous Nitrous Oxide, A. A. Borisova, K. Ya. Troshina, and Yu. S. Biryulin
Modeling of N2O Decomposition Events, AIAA-2008-4933
THE EXPLOSIVE DECOMPOSITION OF NITROUS OXIDE, by Keith William Arthur Guy
Nitrous Oxide Explosive Hazards, , by Claude Merrill. It heavily references to Bruno’s old “Safety of Nitrous oxide N2O in rocketry” so we integrated it into our library
Pratt & Whittney Incident 1973
Investigation of Decomposition Characteristics of Gaseous and Liquid Nitrous Oxide, by G. W. Rhodes, Air Force Weapons Laboratory 1974
“Untersuchungen von Zerfallsfähigkeit von Disticksoffoxid”, Forschungsbericht 89, Bundesanstalt für Materialprüfung BAM, 1983 (“Investigations of the Decomposability of Disticksoffoxide”, Research Report 89, Federal Institute for Materials Testing BAM, 1983)
Thermal Decomposition of Nitrous Oxide Comparison of Theory with Experiment, by Wendell Forst
The Thermal Decomposition of Nitrous Oxide at Pressures up to Forty_Athmospheres, by E. Hunter old: 1934
Cavitation avoidance in nitrous oxide rocket engines using the efficient TRANSIENT 1D downwind prediction, by RUGESCU Radu Dan
SAFE PRACTICES FOR STORAGE AND HANDLING OF NITROUS OXIDE, by EIGA
Handling Considerations of Nitrous Oxide in Hybrid Rocket Motor Testing AIAA 2008-4830, by Zachary Thicksten (Restricted access)
Deflagration-to-Detonation Transition in Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen-Fuel Mixtures for Propulsion, by Prashanth Bangalore Venkatesh et al, local file (restricted)
Detonation Limits and Velocity Deficits of CH₄, C₂H₄, C₂H₆ and C₃H₈ with N₂O in a Small Diameter Tube, by Mitchell D. Hageman, David R. Hopper, and Michael S. Knadler (restricted access)
Explosion Limit Studies of Nitrous Oxide and Nitrous Oxide-Nitrogen- Air Mixtures to 200 ATM. and 1800 deg R, Juris O. Krisjansons
Nitrous Oxide Explosion, by U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), 2016
Cavitation Avoidance in Nitrous Oxide Rocket Engines Using the Efficient Transient 1D Downwind Prediction, RUGESCU Radu Dan, BOGOI Alina and CONSTANTINESCU Emil Cristian, 2014. local File

N2O Patents:

Nytrox-Patent 1 & 2, Space Propulsion Group
THRUSTER USING NITROUSOXIDE, Patent US2009/0007541

Conference Papers (Mainly ESA and other European organizations)

Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Green Propellant for Space Propulsion, In combination with the 4th International Hydrogen Peroxide Propulsion Conference, carried out by ESA-ESTEC, 20-22 June 2001 (This opens a new window. Only for IBB.ch internal use. A CD with all papers can be ordered via ESA.
Proceedings of the 2st International Conference on Green Propellant for Space Propulsion, 2-9 June 04 in Chia Laguna (Cagliari), Sardinia (This opens a new window. Only for IBB.ch internal use. A CD with all papers can be ordered via ESA
Proceedings of the 3st International Conference on Green Propellant for Space Propulsion, In combination with the 9th International Hydrogen Peroxide Propulsion Conference, carried out by ESA, 17-20 September 2006
Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Launcher Technology, Liquid Propulsion – Liège, Belgium – 3-6 December, 2002 (carried out by CNES,ESA and AAAF). Only for IBB.ch internal use.
4^th International Spacecraft Propulsion Conference , 2-9 June 04 in Chia Laguna (Cagliari), Sardinia (This opens a new window. Only for IBB.ch internal use.
7^th Space Propulsion 2020+1 (Virtual due to COVID). Only for IBB.ch internal use. Event program, Attendees (Yes, we attended too 🙂 ). Papers 1 , 2,3 (internal only!)
8^th Space Propulsion 2022 in Estoril, Portugal. Papers (IBB.ch internal use only)
9^th Space Propulsion 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. Preliminary event program (Yes, we will be there). Papers (IBB.ch internal use only)

Rocket noise and mitigation

NASA-SP-8072 Acoustic loads generated by the propulsion system
US5422443 Patent. an interesting approach to reduce nose by decelerating the supersonic stream by a compression shock (Used in ICBM silos)
Study done by Gianni Ermini during his time at SPL to reduce test stand noise (In German only)
AIAA-93-4383 Progress and problems in Rocket Noise Prediction for Ground Facilities, by Louis C. Sutherland
AIAA-90-3981 Rocket Noise – A Review, by S. McInerny
A design strategy for water-based noise suppression systems in liquid rocket engines firing tests, by Paolo Maria Zolla, Matteo Fiore, Pasquale Eduardo Lapenna, Daniele Bianchi, Francesco Nasuti. Local File
Advanced acoustic measurement system for rocket noise source characterization, by Michael M. James and Kent L. Gee, local file
Space Launch System acoustics: Far-field noise measurements of the Artemis-I launch,by Kent L. Gee, Grant W. Hart, Carson F. Cunningham, et al. Local file
Commercial Space Operations Noise and Sonic Boom Modeling and Analysis (external link), RUMBLE and PCBoom (This directly downloads the executable! So be careful!)

Igniters (Torch, Pyro, Acoustic resonance igniters (aka Hartmann Sprenger tubes), others)

Torch Igniters, catalytic Igniters (Also Tridyne related) etc:
Pyro:
- NASA-SP-8051 Solid rocket motor igniters
- Study of igniter design and applications to low smoke solid rocket, AIAA 77-826
- Igniter material considerations and applications, AIAA 72-1195
- Design and development of a hot particle igniter, AIAA PAPER 72-1196
- Investigation of pyrotechnic MTV (Magnesium/Teflon/Viton) compositions for rocket motor igniters, AIAA PAPER 82-1189
- Development of MTV Compositions as Igniter for HTPB/AP Based Composite Propellants, by Ahmet Go Amez, Gurkan A. Yilmaz, and Fikret Peke
- Not really pyro, but an interesting source of ignition using foils of nickel and aluminum. An academic source “Combustion reaction in multilayered nickel and aluminum foils” and a video from one of my favorite Youtube channels Applied Science: “Multi-layer reactive foil: no fuel, no oxygen, tons of heat” . So no regulated chemicals, just apply electric current. That can of course trigger a pyro chain of MagTef or whatsoever.
Acoustic resonance igniters (aka Hartmann Sprenger tubes):
- Numerical Investigation of a Resonance Ignition System, by Christian BAUER, Paul LUNGU and Oskar J. HAIDN
- Development of a Resonance Igniter for GO2/Kerosene Ignition, by Mario Niwa, Santana, Jr., and Khoze Kessaev
- Coaxial Hydrogen/Oxygen Gas-dynamic Resonance Ignition Technology for Rocket Repetitive Starting, AIAA-2007-6157 by Guo-Zhou Zhang, Ya-Na Song, Nan-Jia Yu, Xiao-Yan Tong, and Bin Ma
- 3D printed acoustic igniter of oxygen-kerosene mixtures for aerospace applications. 8TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE FOR AERONAUTICS AND SPACE SCIENCES (EUCASS), local file
- GOX-Ethanol Resonance Ignition System Design, by Z. Dickert TU Delft
- US5109669, Passive self-contained auto ignition system (Patent on acoustic resonace igniters)
- US6272845, Acoustic igniter and ignition method for propellant liquid rocket engine (Patent on acoustic resonace igniters)
Others:
- Direct Electrical Arc Ignition of Hybrid Rocket Motors, by Michael I. Judson Jr.

Cold Gas Thrusters

Design considerations for supersonic micronozzles, by W.F. Louisos, A.A. Alexeenko, D.L. Hitt* and A. Zilić
Thrust Coefficients of Low-Thrust Nozzles, by Ernie W. Spiszj Pad F. Brinich. directly from NASA server
Design of a Cold Gas Propulsion Nozzle for Microsatellites Using Computational Fluid Dynamics and Response Surface Optimization, by Marion Lois S. Tan, Troy Alisther B. Alemania, Willard Chase J. Ong, and Gerardo L. Augusto
A CFD Investigation of Axisymmetric Microthruster Nozzles for use on Nano-Satellites , by Michael R. O’Gara
Fabrication and Testing of the Cold Gas Propulsion System Flight Unit for the Adelis-SAMSON Nano-Satellites, by Michael Zaberchik, Dan R. Lev, Eviatar Edlerman and Avner Kaidar
Design and testing of a cold gas system, by A. A. Hashem

NASA SP Papers Chemical Propulsion (Oldies but goldies)

NASA-SP-8025 Solid rocket motor metal cases (local File)
NASA-SP-8039 Solid rocket motor performance analysis and prediction. (local File)
NASA-SP-8041 Captive-fired testing of solid rocket motors (local File)
NASA-SP-8048 Liquid rocket engine turbopump bearings (local File)
NASA-SP-8051 Solid rocket motor igniters (local File)
NASA-SP-8052 Liquid rocket engine turbopump inducers (local File)
NASA-SP-8064 Solid propellant selection and characterization (local File)
NASA-SP-8072 Acoustic loads generated by the propulsion system, (local File)
NASA-SP-8073 Solid propellant grain structural integrity analysis. (local File)
NASA-SP-8075 Solid propellant processing factor in rocket motor design (local File)
NASA-SP-8076 Solid propellant grain design and internal ballistics (local File)
NASA-SP-8080 Liquid rocket pressure regulators, relief valves, check valves, burst disks (local File)
NASA-SP-8081 Liquid propellant gas generators (local File)
NASA-SP-8087 Liquid rocket engine fluid-cooled combustion chambers (local File)
NASA-SP-8088 Liquid rocket metal tanks and tank components (local File)
NASA-SP-8089 Liquid rocket engine injectors (local File)
NASA-SP-8090 Liquid rocket actuators and operators (local File)
NASA-SP-8093 Solid rocket motor internal insulation (local File)
NASA-SP-8094 Liquid rocket valve components (local File)
NASA-SP-8097 Liquid rocket valve assemblies (local File)
NASA-SP-8100 Liquid rocket engine turbopump gears (local File)
NASA-SP-8101 Liquid rocket engine turbopump shafts and couplings. (local File)
NASA-SP-8107 Turbopump systems for liquid rocket engines (local File)
NASA-SP-8109 Liquid rocket engine centrifugal flow turbopumps (local File)
NASA-SP-8110 Liquid rocket engine turbines (local File)
NASA-SP-8112 Pressurization systems for liquid rockets (local File)
NASA-SP-8113 Liquid rocket engine combustion stabilization devices (local File)
NASA-SP-8114 Solid rocket thrust vector control (local File)
NASA-SP-8115 Solid rocket motor nozzles (local File)
NASA-SP-8119 Liquid rocket disconnects, couplings, fittings, fixed joints, and seals (local File)
NASA-SP-8120 Liquid rocket engine nozzles (local File)
NASA-SP-8121 Liquid rocket engine turbopump rotating-shaft seals (local File)
NASA-SP-8123 Liquid rocket lines, bellows, flexible hoses, and filters (local File)
NASA-SP-8124 Liquid rocket engine self-cooled combustion chambers (local File)
NASA-SP-8125 Liquid rocket engine axial-flow turbopumps (local File)
NASA-SP-8126 Glossary of terms and table of conversion factors used in design of chemical propulsion systems. (local File)

Standards / General Procedures(Leak testing, pressure testing of tanks, vibration testing etc)

ECSS (European Cooperation for Space Standardization)
NASA Technical Standards System NTSS
AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) Standards
ASME PCC-2–2018, Part 5, specially Appendix 501-I deals with the safety of pressure testing of vessels (Safe Distance Calculations for Pneumatic Pressure Test using TNT Equivalent of the stored energy). Local file (Access restricted)
NASA-STD-7012A, Leak Test Requirements. Local file
ISO 19683:2017, Space systems. Design qualification and acceptance tests of small spacecraft and units. Local File (Access restricted)
ISO 15864:2021, Space systems. General test methods for spacecraft, subsystems and units. Local File (Access restricted)

Pyro Stuff (Safety, Igniters, solid propellant etc)

Safety recommendations when dealing with pyrotechnical compounds