This was a very short duration design/build/test to test the thermal value of decomposing nitrous oxide in a catalyst as a potential mono-fuel thruster propellent. I heated incoming nitrous oxide using a resistance heater and then passed the heated gas through an insulated platinum ceramic catalyst. Thermal conditions were measured on each side of the chamber to quantify the energy that was released during the nitrous oxide decomposition. The heating contribution of the instrumented resistance element was double checked by running back-to-back non-decomposition test runs using carbon dioxide in place of the nitrous oxide. Thrust was not measured, and the nozzle assembly was primarily incorporated to provide chamber backpressure.
Michael Fuchs Personal Projects 