Mixtures

There are a number of propellant mixtures in use today, some of which have sufficient data to be included in RocketProps by default. The included mixtures are A50, MHF3, MON10, MON25 and MON30.

A number of mixtures, not included in RocketProps, are of interest, but must be estimated using “mixing rules”. Examples include:

M20    = (20% MMH + 80%N2H4)
MON3   = (3% NO + 97% N2O4)
FLOX70 = (70% LF2 + 30% LOX)

Note that all percentages are by weight.

MMH + N2H4

To create a mixture of MMH (monomethyl hydrazine) and N2H4 (hydrazine) in RocketProps, use a propellant name such as “M20”.

The number following th “M” indicates the weight percentage of MMH added to N2H4.

An advantage of adding MMH to N2H4 is a reduction in freezing point.

The following python code will create an M20 mixture.

from rocketprops.rocket_prop import get_prop
Pm20 = get_prop( 'M20' )
Pm20.summ_print()

and create the following output.

====== RocketProps State Point of Liquid M20 =====
Name    =       M20  (20.0% MMH + 80.0% N2H4)
T       =       527.67 degR
P       =      14.6959 psia
Pvap    =     0.300351 psia
Pc      =      1931.86 psia
Tc      =      1150.96 degR
SGliq   =     0.980694 g/cc
SGvap   =  3.16643e-05 g/cc
visc    =    0.0100714 poise
cond    =     0.270383 BTU/hr/ft/delF
Tnbp    =       686.45 degR
Tfreeze =       483.55 degR
Cp      =     0.733093 BTU/lbm/delF
MolWt   =      34.1231 g/gmole
Hvap    =      533.465 BTU/lbm
surf    =  0.000359821 lbf/in

Plots of M20 can be compared to MMH and N2H4 with the following code:

from rocketprops.plot_multi_props import make_plots
make_plots( ['MMH', 'M20', 'N2H4'], abs_T=True, Tmin=480, Tmax=600)
_images/MMH_M20_N2H4_SurfSG.png _images/MMH_M20_N2H4_TandP.png _images/MMH_M20_N2H4_CpHvap.png _images/MMH_M20_N2H4_ViscCond.png

Aerozine

The most common mixture of UDMH and N2H4 is A50, a 50-50 mixture by weight. A50 has a long flight history on Titan vehicles.

A somewhat similar mixture, UH25 (75% UDMH + 25% hydrazine hydrate) was developed for the European Ariane launch vehicles.

As with MMH/N2H4 mixtures, an advantage of adding UDMH to N2H4 is a reduction in freezing point.

from rocketprops.plot_multi_props import make_plots

make_plots( ['UDMH','A25', 'A50', 'N2H4'], abs_T=1,
            Tmin=130, Tmax=170, save_figures=True)
_images/UDMH_A25_A50_N2H4_SurfSG.png

Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen

Solutions of NO in nitrogen tetroxide sharply depress its freezing point. These solutions are called mixed oxides of nitrogen (MON). The mechanism of suppression is believed to involve the formation of N2O3.

Another side effect of adding NO is increased vapor pressure.

The following plot can be made with the code below.

from rocketprops.plot_multi_props import make_plots
make_plots( ['MON30', 'MON25', 'MON10', 'MON3', 'N2O4'], abs_T=True,
            Tmin=480, Tmax=600, save_figures=False)
_images/MON30_MON25_MON10_MON3_N2O4_TandP.png

FLOX

Mixtures of liquid fluorine and liquid oxygen have been studied and tested in the past. For example FLOX70 with Kerosene was tested in Atlas rocket engines in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

The fluorine adds Isp performance and increases propellant density. Ideally, the LOX combines with carbon in the fuel to make CO and the LF2 combines with hydrogen to make HF. A comparative plot of LF2, FLOX70 and LOX is created by the code below.

from rocketprops.plot_multi_props import make_plots

make_plots( ['LF2', 'FLOX70', 'LOX'], abs_T=1,
            Tmin=130, Tmax=170, save_figures=True)
_images/F2_FLOX70_Oxygen_SurfSG.png