Catalytic N2O Decomposition for Piloted Scramjet Ignition

Ignition, flameholding, and flame spreading is difficult to achieve in current hydrocarbon scramjet hypersonic missile designs.  This is particularly true at the end of the initial rocket boost phase when the hardware and fuel can still be very cold.  Reaction Systems proposes to develop a lightweight catalytic nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") ignition system to exothermically decompose N2O to a hot (>1400 C) 33% O2 stream to aid atomization, vaporization, and ignition of thermally stable hydrocarbons like JP-7. Preliminary calculations indicate that this hot O2 stream could easily possess a multi-megawatt effective thermal power in contrast to the multi-kilowatt levels associated with electrical plasma igniters. BENEFIT: The development of a highly active and thermally stable N2O decomposition catalyst could have applications in efficient and "green" satellite station-keeping and attitude control thrusters, and civilian and amateur hybrid rocketry.