Hybrid Combustion Process!

A typical hybrid rocket works by burning an inert solid fuel grain in the prescence of a gaseous or liquid oxidizer. This is very similar to the way a house hold candle burns, as shown in this image:

In a hybrid rocket the oxidizer flows down a port in the solid fuel grain and reacts with the solid fuel. This produces the hot exhaust gases required to produce thrust. This process can be seen in the following image:

The oxidizer and the solid fuel are able to react, because the hot gases from the combustion process cause a small layer of the fuel to vaporize. This fuel then reacts with the unused oxidizer to produce more combustion gases. This process is shown in the following image:

An example of this combustion process at work can be seen in the following image of a test firing of the American Rocket Company's (AMROC) 250,000 lb thrust engine.

Return to Hybrid Home Page

Please send all comments to
Jeff Norr at j-norr@uiuc.edu
This Page Last Updated 10/18/96