NIR Spectrometer Probe for Rocket Propellant Health
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energetic materials in rockets deteriorate due to environmental stresses, leading to potential catastrophic failures, and existing health monitoring methods are destructive and costly, requiring disassembly and bench-top tests.
Innovation Solution
A non-destructive testing system using a handheld Near-Infrared (NIR) spectrometer with an insertion tube and support sleeve assembly allows for in situ analysis of propellant health within a rocket without disassembly, employing optical fiber probes to illuminate and analyze the propellant with NIR light, identifying the percentage mass of primary ingredients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If destructive testing methods are used to monitor propellant health, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase due to disassembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical disassembly and physical sampling with optical measurement. The NIR spectrometer uses light interaction to assess propellant health chemically, eliminating the need for mechanical disruption of the propellant grain structure while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical fiber probe as an intermediary tool that transmits light into the propellant and returns spectral information. This intermediary enables non-contact measurement, avoiding direct mechanical interaction with the propellant while achieving accurate health assessment.
2Measurement precision
If destructive sampling is performed to analyze propellant composition, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming disassembly and testing procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming mechanical sampling and laboratory analysis with rapid optical spectroscopy. The NIR spectrometer provides real-time or near-real-time composition analysis without physical removal of propellant samples, dramatically increasing testing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The propellant itself serves as the measurement target without requiring external sampling infrastructure. The optical probe measures the propellant in situ, allowing the propellant to 'self-report' its chemical composition and health status through its interaction with NIR light.
3Measurement precision
If complete rocket disassembly is performed to access propellant for testing, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and increase in device complexity occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement function from the complex disassembly process. By removing the need for complete rocket disassembly and retaining only the optical access requirement, the system achieves precise propellant health measurement with minimal intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber probe acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the external measurement device and the internal propellant. This intermediary enables measurement through the existing rocket structure without requiring full disassembly, saving time and complexity.
4Reliability
If traditional destructive testing methods are used, then reliability assessment is improved, but cost increases due to sample destruction and bench-top instrument requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex bench-top analytical instruments with a more affordable handheld NIR spectrometer. The optical fiber probe is a relatively low-cost component that can be easily replaced if needed, reducing overall system cost while maintaining reliability assessment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes complex mechanical sampling and laboratory analysis equipment with a compact optical measurement system. This substitution reduces both the cost and complexity of the testing system while preserving the ability to assess rocket reliability through propellant health monitoring.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables real-time, cost-effective, and non-destructive monitoring of propellant health, reducing the risk of rocket failure by providing immediate assessment of energetic material status without disassembly or destructive sampling.
Implementation Method 1
The first probe is an optical fiber probe having a first end connected to the probe tip and a second end
Implementation Method 2
a handheld Near-Infrared (NIR) spectrometer that is configured to analyze the health of energetic materials. In these examples, the handheld NIR spectrometer illuminates a portion of the energetic material with a broad spectrum of light in the NIR region and analyzes light reflected from the energetic material
Implementation Method 3
analyzes light reflected from the energetic material to identify the health of the energetic material
Implementation Method 4
a broad spectrum of light in the NIR region
Data Source
AI summary
A non-destructive testing system for propellant for a rocket is provided. The system includes an insertion tube having a first end and a second end in addition to a support sleeve configured to mate with a casing of the rocket. The insertion tube includes a channel that extends from the first end to the second end of the insertion tube to receive a probe and also includes a probe tip generally disposed at the second end of the channel. The support sleeve includes an insertion tube opening configured to receive the insertion tube and allow the insertion tube to slide along the support sleeve.