Engineering and Economic Analysis of Production Options for Ammonium Perchlorate-Based Solid Rocket Propellant Production
Cruz Arellano, Justin Warren Lugue De Leon, Muhammed Qasim, and Glen Stafford
Advisor: Felino Berdan (Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company)
We as Team Rocket have made a preliminary engineering and economic assessment for producing a Class 1.3 solid rocket propellant for our senior design project. Our team consists of senior chemical engineering students at San José State University and we are working with Felino Berdan, the Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC) project coordinator. The main goal of this project is to evaluate the feasibility of designing and operating a facility capable of producing ammonium perchlorate on-site, a key oxidizer used in solid rocket propellants, along with carrying out the solid rocket propellant mixing and polymerization process. The plant location we considered is in Utah and we will follow its state laws and regulations.
Our team developed conceptual process flow diagrams, performed material and energy balances, and identified utility needs. We also completed preliminary equipment sizing for major unit operations. Capital investment and operations cost estimates were generated using standard engineering methods, followed by an economic analysis to assess project viability. We considered safety protocols relevant to Class 1.3 explosives and explored strategies for environmental compliance, waste treatment, and recycling.
Our project supports a trade analysis for LMSSC by helping make decisions on making or buying solid rocket propellant. All designs and cost evaluations were based on publicly available data, with guidance from Felino Berdan our project coordinator. Our project will look at the technical, economic, and location-specific factors involved in domestic propellant production.
rocketfuel_4504020_82086067_Team Rocket Poster Presentation.pdf