Abstract

A cost effective, renewable ethanol-based solid fuel compound, and method of making the fuel for hybrid rocket engines. Gelling agents, preferably methylcellulose can be used in conjunction with calcium acetate or calcium acetate alone make stiff plastic out of ethanol to improve its properties for hybrid rocket engine. The increased stiffness of an ethanol-based fuel gel, increases yield stress that allows rapid acceleration of rockets. The low cost bio-fuel based on solidified ethanol rather than expensive petroleum derived substances lowers the cost of volume rocket launches, lowers the cost of access to orbit and provides safer sounding rocket flights into space. The resulting raw gel can further be mixed with a cross linking compound and water to form a stiffer material. Alternatively, the resulting raw gel can be frozen by liquid nitrogen.

Document Type

Patent

Patent Number

US 8,101,032

Application Serial Number

12/122,408

Issue Date

1-24-2012

Current Assignee

UCFRF

Assignee at Issuance

UCFRF

College

Florida Space Institute

Department

Florida Space Institute

Allowance Date

9-1-2011

Filing Date

5-16-2008

Assignee at Filing

UCFRF

Filing Type

Nonprovisional Application Record

Donated

no

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