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Hydrogen Energy and Space Propulsion: Materials, Performances, and Matching

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2023) | Viewed by 7255

Special Issue Editors

Hydrogen Energy and Space Propulsion Laboratory (HESPL), School of Mechanical, Electronic and Control Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
Interests: hydrogen energy; hydrogen production; hydrogen combustion; hydrogen safety; hydrogen internal combustion engines; hydrogen fuel cells; hydrogen policy; hydrogen energy storage; hydrogen catalysis
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Guest Editor Assistant
Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
Interests: graphene; advanced materials; energy conversion; batteries
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogen energy and space propulsion are highly researched in the current scientific fields and the ordinaries, of whom the developments have been considered as comprehensive reflections of a country’s economic, scientific, and technological strength. Materials play dominant roles in the development of hydrogen energy and space propulsion, such as the materials of feedstock influences the production efficiency of hydrogen gas, the materials of membranes dominate the dynamic properties of hydrogen fuel cells, the materials of propellants determine the exothermic performances of space propellers, and the spraying materials of hydrogen fuel cells and propellers affect the comprehensive performances. Therefore, studying materials, especially the effects and matching of materials to performances, is significant to the developments of hydrogen energy and space propulsion. This Special Issue is aimed at providing selected contributions on advances in the materials, performances, and matching of

hydrogen energy and space propulsion with regard to further development.

Potential topics include but are not limited to:

  • Materials of Hydrogen Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs);
  • Materials of Space Propellants;
  • Materials of Hydrogen Combustion Engines;
  • Materials of Feedstock to Hydrogen Production;
  • Performances of Hydrogen PEMFCs with the Effects/Applications of Materials;
  • Performances of Space Propellants with the Effects/Applications of Materials.

Prof. Dr. Zuoyu Sun
Dr. Jing Zhao
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • materials
  • hydrogen fuel cells
  • space propulsion
  • performances
  • matching

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 2507 KiB  
Article
On the Critical Condition for Flame Acceleration in Hydrogen-Based Mixtures
by Alexey Kiverin, Alexey Tyurnin and Ivan Yakovenko
Materials 2023, 16(7), 2813; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072813 - 31 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1205
Abstract
The paper presents a novel numerical approach to the quantitative estimation of the concentration limits for flame acceleration in hydrogen-based mixtures. A series of calculations are carried out for hydrogen–air and hydrogen–oxygen flames in channels. The analysis of the obtained numerical results provided [...] Read more.
The paper presents a novel numerical approach to the quantitative estimation of the concentration limits for flame acceleration in hydrogen-based mixtures. A series of calculations are carried out for hydrogen–air and hydrogen–oxygen flames in channels. The analysis of the obtained numerical results provided the value of 11 ± 0.25 % hydrogen content in the mixture as a lean concentration limit of flame acceleration that agrees well with the available experimental data. Moreover, the basic physical mechanism responsible for the transition from the steady mode of flame propagation to the accelerated one is distinguished. The mechanism is related to flame stretching in the region of interaction with the boundary layer and the competition between the joint increase in burning rate and heat losses. The novel technique for the estimation of concentration limits of flame acceleration presented here can be applied to assess combustion conditions inside combustors of energy and propulsion systems fed with hydrogen. The results are also useful in estimating explosion and fire risks in hydrogen storage, transport, and utilization facilities as parts of hydrogen energy and propulsion systems. Full article
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17 pages, 7761 KiB  
Article
Numerical Study of Flow Boiling of ADN-Based Liquid Propellant in a Capillary
by Xuhui Liu, Gaoshi Su, Zhaopu Yao, Zhuan Yan and Yusong Yu
Materials 2023, 16(5), 1858; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16051858 - 24 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1718
Abstract
During the operation of ADN (ammonium dinitramide, (NH4+N(NO2)2−))-based thrusters, the ADN-based liquid propellant, a non-toxic green energetic material, tends to flow boil in the capillary tube due to heat transfer from the wall. A three-dimensional transient numerical [...] Read more.
During the operation of ADN (ammonium dinitramide, (NH4+N(NO2)2−))-based thrusters, the ADN-based liquid propellant, a non-toxic green energetic material, tends to flow boil in the capillary tube due to heat transfer from the wall. A three-dimensional transient numerical simulation of the flow boiling of ADN-based liquid propellant in the capillary tube was carried out using the VOF (Volume of Fluid) coupled Lee model. The flow-solid temperature and the gas–liquid two-phase distribution and the wall heat flux at different heat reflux temperatures were analyzed. The results show that the magnitude of the mass transfer coefficient of the Lee model significantly influences the gas–liquid distribution in the capillary tube. The total bubble volume increased from 0 mm3 to 957.4 mm3 when the heat reflux temperature was increased from 400 K to 800 K. The bubble formation position moves upwards along the inner wall surface of the capillary tube. Increasing the heat reflux temperature intensifies the boiling phenomenon. When the outlet temperature exceeded 700 K, the transient liquid mass flow rate in the capillary tube was already reduced by more than 50%. The results of the study can be used as a reference for the design of ADN-based thruster. Full article
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18 pages, 8486 KiB  
Article
Ru Catalysts Supported on Bamboo-like N-Doped Carbon Nanotubes: Activity and Stability in Oxidizing and Reducing Environment
by Arina Korobova, Nikolay Gromov, Tatiana Medvedeva, Alexander Lisitsyn, Lidiya Kibis, Olga Stonkus, Vladimir Sobolev and Olga Podyacheva
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1465; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041465 - 9 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1483
Abstract
The catalysts with platinum-group metals on nanostructured carbons have been a very active field of research, but the studies were mainly limited to Pt and Pd. Here, Ru catalysts based on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) have been prepared and thoroughly characterized; Ru loading [...] Read more.
The catalysts with platinum-group metals on nanostructured carbons have been a very active field of research, but the studies were mainly limited to Pt and Pd. Here, Ru catalysts based on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) have been prepared and thoroughly characterized; Ru loading was kept constant (3 wt.%), while the degree of N-doping was varied (from 0 to 4.8 at.%) to evaluate its influence on the state of supported metal. Using the N-CNTs afforded ultrafine Ru particles (<2 nm) and allowed a portion of Ru to be stabilized in an atomic state. The presence of Ru single atoms in Ru/N-CNTs expectedly increased catalytic activity and selectivity in the formic acid decomposition (FAD) but had no effect in catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of phenol, thus arguing against a key role of single-atom catalysis in the latter case. A remarkable difference between these two reactions was also found in regard to catalyst stability. In the course of FAD, no changes in the support or supported species or reaction rate were observed even at a high temperature (150 °C). In CWAO, although 100% conversions were still achievable in repeated runs, the oxidizing environment caused partial destruction of N-CNTs and progressive deactivation of the Ru surface by carbonaceous deposits. These findings add important new knowledge about the properties and applicability of Ru@C nanosystems. Full article
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19 pages, 5922 KiB  
Article
Effect of Microwave Power and Gas Flow Rate on the Combustion Characteristics of the ADN-based Liquid Propellant
by Sheng Pan, Chenghao Zhao, Dechao Zhang, Yangyang Hou, Gaoshi Su, Xuhui Liu, Yusong Yu and Jiannan Shen
Materials 2023, 16(1), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010147 - 23 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1834
Abstract
As a new type of energy-containing material, Ammonium dinitramide based liquid propellant has the advantages of being green, having low toxicity, good stability, and high safety performance. Traditional catalytic combustion methods require preheating of the catalytic bed and deactivation of the catalytic particles [...] Read more.
As a new type of energy-containing material, Ammonium dinitramide based liquid propellant has the advantages of being green, having low toxicity, good stability, and high safety performance. Traditional catalytic combustion methods require preheating of the catalytic bed and deactivation of the catalytic particles at high temperatures, while microwave ignition methods can effectively solve these problems. To study the combustion characteristics of ADN-based liquid propellants during microwave ignition, the influence of microwave power and gas flow rates on the combustion process are analyzed using experimental methods. A high-speed camera was used to observe the enhanced effects of microwave power and gas flow on plasma and flame. Combined with temperature measurement, the combustion process of ADN-based liquid propellants under the action of plasma was analyzed. The combustion process in the presence of microwaves was observed by comparing parameters such as flame length, flame temperature, and radical intensity. Those results show that, with the increase in microwave power, the luminous burning area of the flame grows significantly. The microwave power is increased by 250 W each, and the flame jet length is increased by nearly 20%. The increase in microwave power also leads to an increase in propellant combustion temperature, however, this increase gradually slows down. At a gas flow rate of 20 L/min, the ADN-based liquid propellant showed the best combustion performance with a maximum jet length of 14.51 cm and an average jet length increase of approximately 85.9% compared to 14 L/min. Too much gas flow rate will hinder the development of the jet, while the high-velocity airflow will have a cooling effect on the flame temperature. The results provide a basis for the specific parameter design of microwave ignition and promote the application of ADN-based liquid propellants in the aerospace field. Full article
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