Vertical Propellant Mixer

Vertical Propellant Mixer Latest News

Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation has announced the successful development of a 10-tonne ‘vertical planetary mixer’, the largest of its kind for solid propellants globally.

About Vertical Propellant Mixer

• It is the largest solid propellant mixing equipment globally.
• It is developed and designed by Satish Dhawan Space Centre in collaboration with Central Manufacturing Technology Institute, a Bengaluru-based research and development organisation under the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

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Key Features of Vertical Propellant Mixer

• It has high-capacity mixing of propellant ingredients in a single batch
• It has precision and control for quality consistency & performance
• Safety and Reliability for handling highly hazardous materials
• World’s Largest: It weighs approximately 150 tonnes, and measures 5.4m (L) × 3.3m (B) × 8.7m (H).
• Advanced Technology: It is equipped with multiple agitators which are hydrostatic driven and will be remotely operated using PLC based control systems with SCADA stations.

What is a Propellant Mixer?

• A propellant mixer is a machine that mixes the ingredients of rocket propellants, specifically fuel and oxidiser, to ensure a uniform and reliable mixture for solid rocket motors.
• These mixers, such as planetary mixers, are utilised to combine the raw materials that compose rocket propellant.
• The quality of the mixed propellant directly impacts the performance and reliability of the rocket motor.

Vertical Propellant Mixer FAQs

Q1: What is the best solid propellant?

Ans: The most widely used solid rocket propellant for space applications consists of ammonium perchlorate (70%), aluminium (16%) and binder (14%).

Q2: What are the three types of propellants?

Ans: NASA and commercial launch vehicles use four types of propellants: (1) petroleum; (2) cryogenics; (3) hypergolics; and (4) solids.

Q3: What is known as an oxidizer?

Ans: Oxidizing chemicals are materials that spontaneously evolve oxygen at room temperature or with slight heating or promote combustion.

Source: TOI