SBIR-STTR Award

The Phase I project objective is to develop and demonstrate the feasibility for use of an alternative process for mixing high-energy solid propellant materials that are used for gas generators in U.S. Navy strategic missile post-boost propulsion systems, other large missiles, and launch vehicles. In addition, the advanced mixing technology does not use impellers for mixing. The process selected for development is known as ResonantAcoustic Mixing, will be suitable for mixing up to 20 gallons of solid propellant.The technology proposed has a demonstrated history of safe operations for mixing a broad range of energetic materials (propellants, explosives & pyrotechnics) with many government agencies and companies worldwide.

The proposed technology is an advanced method to continuously mix propellants that shortens mixing times, improves safety, reduces costs, and environmental impact. Continuous ResonantAcoustic® Mixing (RAM) quickly mixes highly solids-loaded pastes using acoustic energy with no embedded blades or scrapers reducing the potential for accidents and waste. A RAM based Clean-in-Place process eliminates the need for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) when cleaning the equipment preventing personnel exposure to VOCs and release of the VOCs to the environment. The Continuous Acoustic Mixing (CAM) module is one component of a system required to achieve acceptable continuous mixing of propellants. Currently, the continuous RAM technology has been demonstrated in a simulated operational environment on surrogate explosive material (TRL 6). The approach to develop the technology is to design equipment and systems to continuously mix and degas surrogate propellants and continuous sense the material’s mixedness. At the end of this project, the CAM module, the systems that feed powders and liquids into the process as well as the systems downstream that measure the mixedness of the material and continuously degas the material will be developed to the point of a Phase III demonstration at an energetics processing facility on actual propellants (TRL level 7).