Monopropellant combustion system

A method for operating a combustion system using a HAN-based propellant, said combustion system having a combustor having an upstream end and a downstream end, comprising:

• introducing the propellant to a reactor located substantially aft of said downstream end;
• decomposing the propellant in the reactor to dissociate at least a portion of the HAN in the propellant;
• directing an output of the reactor to the combustor;
• and
• combusting said output of the reactor in the combustor so as to combust dissociation products of said dissociated HAN with unreacted fuel in the propellant.

An apparatus comprising:

• a source of propellant said propellant comprising an ionic salt and an additional fuel;
• means for decomposing a portion of said ionic salt;
• and
• means for combusting additional fuel and decomposition products of said portion, said means for combustion having an upstream end and a downstream end and said means for decomposing located substantially aft of said downstream end.

An apparatus comprising:

• a source of propellant, said propellant comprising an ionic salt and an additional fuel;
• a combustor having an upstream end and a downstream end and discharging combustion products;
• and
• a heat exchanger located substantially aft of said downstream end and transferring heat from the combustion products to the propellant to thermally decompose a portion of said ionic salt, the combustor combusting decomposition products of said portion with said additional fuel.

An apparatus comprising:

• a source of HAN-based propellant;
• a reactor for dissociating a portion of the HAN in the propellant;
• a combustor having an upstream end and a downstream end for combusting products of the dissociation with an additional fuel in the propellant;
• and
• a nozzle downstream of the combustor, wherein the reactor is located between the combustion chamber and a throat of the nozzle.