Phone

+61 8 6488 1135

Email

isc@uwa.edu.au

Powering Spacecraft
Propulsion and Cryogenics

The Propulsion and Cryogenics research team led by Dr Saif Al Ghafri focusses on studying the ignition, combustion and explosion characteristics of propellants used in rocket engines under different environmental conditions. They also investigate improving the efficiency, reliability and safety of long duration storage of large quantities of cryogenic fluids used for space missions.
 
Long duration storage of large quantities of cryogenic fluids is essential for space missions, including orbit transfer vehicles, upper stages of rockets, and deep space exploratory missions. This team study the effect of thermal stratification and boil-off of rocket propellant tanks which is critically important due to the impact on tank pressure, structural weight and the accompanying pressurisation system weight. Boil-off is particularly crucial during atmospheric departure and re-entry, where frictional drag forces result in substantial heat entering the containment vessel, increasing vapour temperature and pressure.
 

The non-convective, low-gravity environment (microgravity) of spacecraft strongly influences the processes of combustion and consequently fire safety. This group looks at the fundamental ignition and combustion behaviour of solid materials in low gravity that may be relevant to spacecraft fire prevention and control, and determine the effect of pressure, temperature and fuel composition on the ignition and heat release.

Finally the team look at the possibilities of utilising lunar in-situ resources to support NASA missions, instead of bringing everything from Earth. This can lead to significant reductions in launch and landing mass, crew health and mission risks, and life-cycle costs for human exploration beyond Earth’s orbit.

Researching the catalytic cracking of waste methane for H2 production to support oxygen and water production processes in space missions, inspired by methods used on the International Space Station.

Exploring Weathering on Extraterrestrial Bodies
Collaborating with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), the team is investigating the weathering processes on Saturn’s moon Titan and several Jovian moons.

Working closely with NASA, the team is focused on developing a specialized model for liquid hydrogen and LNG boil-off gas (BOG).

Partnering with ETA Space, the team is dedicated to developing a Lunar Propellant Production Plant to create cryogenic oxygen and hydrogen propellants from water sources near the Lunar poles.

Research efforts are aimed at understanding the ignition, combustion, and explosion characteristics of rocket engine propellants. Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modeling plays a key role in designing injectors and combustion chambers
Exploring fundamental ignition and combustion behaviors of solid materials in low gravity to enhance spacecraft fire prevention and control measures.
Investigating the ignition process of solid and gaseous fuels, radiative heat transfer in small-sized flames, soot formation mechanisms, and bubble formation during water electrolysis in microgravity environments.
The Propulsion and Cryogenics Team can be found at the UWA School of Engineering.
School of Chemical Engineering
UWA
Node Leader

Dr Saif Al Ghafri
dongke.zhang [at] uwa.edu.au
School of Chemical Engineering
The University of Western Australia
M050, 35 Stirling Highway
Crawley 6009 WA

Dr Saif Al Ghafri

Lead: Propulsion and Cryogenics

Arman Siahvashi

Propulsion and Cryogenics

Professor Eric May

Propulsion and Cryogenics

Associate Professor Paul Stanwix

Propulsion and Cryogenics

Professor Dongke Zhang

Propulsion and Crygenics