Nitrous / Acrylic hybrid, injector #8

In this test the chamber is schedule 40 PVC and the grain is cast acrylic tube. This combination is translucent at the intensity of this test.

We tested acrylic to reduce the acrid smoke that comes from burning PVC. That worked, but the fuel regression rate was very low, suggesting very low specific impulse and total impulse. Our hypothesis is that clear plastic does not absorbe enough heat to boil off properly.

Mark-IIIc Hot Fire Test

This test shows the canonical Mark-III chamber design.

Pyro-Valve Testing.

This photo shows a pressurized water test of the injector / pyro-valve system. The glow is residual from the pyro-valve burn-off. The stream of low-pressure water is water that has collected above the pyro-valve and is leaking through the valve's by-pass port. This is discussed in the design/construction page on the pyro-valve.