PhD Studentship: Investigation of green bipropellant chemical propulsion systems

Supervisory Team: Dr Charlie Ryan, Dr Ralf Deiterding

PhD Supervisor: Charlie Ryan

Project description:

For the past 50 years the dominant rockets used in space have been hydrazine based chemical thrusters. They are robust and offer good performance. However their performance comes with a large disadvantage as hydrazine is extremely toxic and carcinogenic, complicating greatly their handling. This adds significantly to full system costs.

Over the last decade various ‘green’ (i.e. less toxic) propellants have been developed as new alternatives to hydrazine for monopropellant thrusters (where the propellant decomposes producing heat). This has focused on the development of ionic salt-based monopropellants, in particular AFM315E, and LMP-103s. These both consist of an ionic salt that is mixed with various other constituents to produce an energetic room temperature liquid mixture. These new ‘green’ propellants are revolutionising satellite and launch vehicle propulsion, offering a safer to handle alternative that has comparative performance to hydrazine.

However for bipropellant thrusters (where a fuel and oxidiser combust), hydrazine based systems still dominate. By far the most common bipropellant thruster uses mono-methyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide, both of which are toxic and carcinogenic. There is an urgent need to look for greener, safer, and maybe even better alternatives.

The key aim of this PhD is to investigate ionic liquid-based fuel and oxidiser propellants in a green bipropellant rocket engine. This will involve theoretical analysis and simulation of the complex combustion chemistry that will occur in such a thruster, and the experimental design and testing of such a large bipropellant rocket. It will be based upon previous work at the University of Southampton in hydrogen peroxide based chemical rockets for example please see:

Fonda-Marsland, E., et al. (2021). Methodology for Geometric Optimization and Sizing for Subnewton Monopropellant Catalyst Beds. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 37(5), 713-724.

Ryan, C. N., Fonda-Marsland, et al. (2020). Experimental validation of a 1-Newton hydrogen peroxide thruster. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 36(2), 158-166.

And also our recent testing of a large bipropellant chemical rocket:

https://www.tiktok.com/@unisouthampton/video/7286752652816403745

The PhD is fully funded for UK and EU nationals, and includes a very generous equipment and travel budget. It will be part of a large group of PhD students in the UK funded this year for completing research on rocket propulsion, and will form a unique opportunity to develop large rocket engines within the UK.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Dr Charlie Ryan, Astronautics Research Group, Email: c.n.ryan@soton.ac.uk.

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: 31 August 2024. 

Applications will be considered in the order that they are received, the position will be considered filled when a suitable candidate has been identified.

Funding: Funding for tuition fees and a living stipend are covered through UK Space Agency funding, as well as a very generous budget for equipment, consumables and travel.

How To Apply

Apply online, by clicking the 'Apply' button, above. 

Select programme type (Research), 2024/25, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, next page select “PhD Engineering & Environment (Full time)”.

In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor:
Charlie Ryan

Applications should include:

• Research Proposal
• Curriculum Vitae
• Two reference letters
• Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

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