[AR] N2O (was Re: catalyst additives...)
- From: Henry Spencer <hspencer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2016 14:31:59 -0400 (EDT)
On Sun, 14 Aug 2016, John Dom wrote:
H2O2 needs to be decomposed before it can act as an oxidizer...
The same is true of N2O, which is used quite routinely as an oxidizer
without prior decomposition. It just means having to work a bit harder
to ignite it.
And probably why N2O never made it beyond the HPR or sounding rocketry
world, hybrid or liquid.
If, that is, you discount the fact that Virgin Galactic is using it in a
large manned rocket vehicle.
The main reason why N2O has never been popular for large-scale rocketry is
its mediocre performance. Only about a third of its mass is oxidizer, and
the energy release from decomposition doesn't entirely make up for that.
(Peroxide has a similar problem, not as bad.) Plus you need heavy
high-pressure tanks if it's at ambient temperature (and if you resort to
chilling it, that removes most of its advantage over LOX).
Henry
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