DSSP proposes to modifying our novel and innovative Electrically-controlled Solid Propellant (ESP) for use as an electric liquid propellant for adaptation to a high performance, high mass fraction, non-toxic, low hazard liquid DACS monopropellant system. Since DSSPs propellants are ignited by applied electrical power, simple inert electrodes and advanced energy management concepts can be substituted for the complex and heavy catalyst pack approach as well as eliminate the need for two tanks needed when using hypergolic bipropellants. Our goal is an ionic liquid Green Electric Monopropellant (GEM) DACS that will provide safe-storable options and MIL-STD-2105D IM compliance for use in the field, on land and aboard Navy ships.
Benefit: A SAFE,liquid monopropellant would provide the Navy with a new option for shipboard DACS systems. Due to safety concerns the Navy has had to rely on solid DACS which tend to be more complex/expensive and have lower performance than liquid propellant DACS used in land based systems. Commercially, a green liquid monopropellant is desperately needed to replace highly toxic hydrazine that is still in broad use.
Keywords: Insensitive Energetics, Insensitive Energetics, SM3, liquid propellant, Ionic propellant, Interceptors, Shipboard liquid DACS, electric propulsion
