Mixing of solid propellant by peristaltic pump based on bowel peristalsis

In recent years, the demand for rocket launching has increased due to the development of space technology. However, using inexpensive rockets is not always possible. Although the cost of solid-propellant rockets is relatively reasonable, safely manufacturing a large amount of solid propellant is difficult, and the manufacturing process is disjointed. Therefore, safe and continues manufacturing of solid propellant is necessary. On the basis of the movements of the intestinal tract, we realized that the movements required for transport and mixing of solid propellants are possible to achieve without the application of a large force. By mimicking these intestinal movements, we can safely and continuously manufacture a large amount of solid propellant. We developed a peristaltic pump, based on bowel peristalsis, using straight-fiber-type artificial muscle, and in this study, we demonstrate the usefulness of this pump for transporting the highly viscous fluids and solid-liquid mixed fluid. We consider that the peristaltic pump can also be effectively used as a mixing device. In this paper, we show that mixing one highly viscous fluid with another is possible by measuring the luminance values. In the manufacturing process, we use glass beads with the same diameter as microparticles and a sodium polyacrylate aqueous solution resembling a high viscosity fluid or hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene as the raw material in the solid propellant. We then measure the glass beads in the resulting solid-liquid mixed fluid.

I. Introduction

In recent years, as space technology development has progressed, the demand for launches of satellites and rockets to transport goods into space has increased. However, the requisition costs for rocket launches are enormous, and always using inexpensive rockets is not possible. In terms of the chemical energy, rockets are classified into solid-and liquid-propellant rockets [1]. Liquid-propellant rockets generate propulsion by burning liquid propellant. Their propulsion can be adjusted and they have precision control capability. However, the disadvantage of these rockets is the difficulty in developing and manufacturing them because of their complicated structure. Solid-propellant rockets generate propulsion by burning solid propellant. This type of rocket is less expensive because the cost of solid propellant is less than liquid propellant and the structure of the rockets is simpler [2].