Design and testing of a paraffin-based hybrid rocket demonstrator

Activities carried out by the Italian Aerospace Research Centre, concerning studies about hybrid rocket engine technology with paraffin-based fuels, are described in this paper. The work has been performed in the framework of the HYPROB project, Demonstrators Line. Preparatory activities, including experimental firing tests on a subscale breadboard of 200 N thrust class, are first described. These tests allowed evaluating the paraffin-based grain characteristics, in terms of regression rate and mechanical properties, and validating numerical models adopted to support the demonstrator design. The hybrid demonstrator, which is a 1000 N thrust class, is later described in detail. Main results of the analyses, carried out with engineering tools and numerical codes, are presented and discussed. The status of the manufacturing activities and future works are finally reported.