A kerosene-based gel developed by Concordia researchers could make rocket and satellite fuels easier to store and control.
The material combines kerosene with lecithin, a combustible, naturally derived substance, and a small amount of calcium chloride. The researchers say it addresses a longstanding challenge in space propulsion: keeping fuel stable during storage while allowing it to flow efficiently when engines need it.
Liquid fuels can slosh inside tanks, complicating spacecraft control, while conventional gel fuels can be difficult to pump and spray into engines for combustion, they say. The new formulation is designed to balance these competing demands.
The researchers tested how the gel responds to force, temperature and chemical changes. They found that its viscosity drops by about 100 times as it is subjected to increasing force, making the gel flow more easily under the conditions needed for fuel injection. At rest, the gel behaves more like a soft solid, potentially reducing unwanted fuel movement and leakage.
The samples also remained stable for more than a year in sealed containers, with no visible separation.
The findings provide a detailed picture of how the gel behaves under different conditions and help identify the properties needed for reliable fuel storage and delivery. Its transparent appearance could also help researchers observe how fuel moves and burns.
The team says the work establishes a promising foundation for further development, but testing in actual propulsion systems will be needed to determine how well the material performs in spaceflight applications.
This study was produced by researcher Pranay Mudaliar and Jerin John, associate professor of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering. It was published in Langmuir.
This work received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Read the paper: "Rheology and Thermal Characterization of Lecithin-Based Kerosene Gels for In-Space Propulsion"
Learn more about Concordia's Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering.
