The Mt. SAC 2022 liquids season is wrapping up. Major development was getting a test stand built on campus! Thanks to support from Dave Griffith from Rattworks the students have done 22x 38mm static tests (14 successful) with 6 different fuels compositions (Polypropelene, ABS, Polyethylene terephthalate, PLA, Nylon and ASA) Primary research has been in 3D printed grain geometries and characterizing the erosion rates of different 3D printed materials. The student design is based on Griffith's floating bulkhead and UC valve. The floating bulkhead is critical for the 3D printed materials as the combustion chamber length shrinks during the burn as the thrermoplastic goes through the glass transition. The Polyethylene terephthalate shows good promise as a fuel for hybrids and ease of fabrication. Two flight days with one success on the 38mm x 900mm motor. The student competition is coming up June 3-5 and they are prepping the 38mm by 1800mm motor. The students also were supported by Dave to fly a NOX / IPA biprop successfully to 11K which was a big deal for a community college team and the biprop is now on display at Norms hanger. While the larger biprop motor (75mm x 2400mm) had a failed static test(injector / preheat issues) last week, there is another test scheduled for tomorrow so that it can get flown before it gets too hot out at FAR. These students are scattering to aerospace programs all over SoCal but if the REU application is supported, the research program should continue next year.
We have gotten to know the good folks at Socal Nitrous and Race Fuels in Downey (just down the street from the old NASA plant) who have not just refilled our bottles but happily revalved and hydro tested old CO2 bottles with high flow NOX valves. We also found that no steel NOX bottles are allowed to be refilled in CA.
If anyone is planning to bring their hybrid out to FAR, let me know well in advance as I can arrange NOX and GSE.
We have gotten to know the good folks at Socal Nitrous and Race Fuels in Downey (just down the street from the old NASA plant) who have not just refilled our bottles but happily revalved and hydro tested old CO2 bottles with high flow NOX valves. We also found that no steel NOX bottles are allowed to be refilled in CA.
If anyone is planning to bring their hybrid out to FAR, let me know well in advance as I can arrange NOX and GSE.