First I will give you my background. I am a retired Manufacturing Engineer who
has been out of the rocketry scene for over 20 years.I was a member of Tripoli
in the past and flew up to and including M size motors. I also built a
monopropellant engine for static testingback in the day. My passion however,
has always been to build a hot water/steam powered engine which I now intend to
complete.
What I am looking for is a “chemist” who can figure out what chemical(s) were
used by Glauco Partel of Italy, who in the late 1960s forhis Grillo 1 and
Grillo 2 rocketswhich used an exothermic reaction to “instantly” heat the water
to approx 600 deg F. Below are hisstated parameters from his published report:
1. Rapidity of use (the chemical reaction is fully developed within 0.3
sec) 2. Efflux independent of the production of energy (the controls for
the reaction and the efflux are independent, one from the other)
3. No need for any ground equipment 4. The prepackaged, loaded engine can
be stored for an indefinite period of time 5. No need for any
insulation of the engine walls 6. Outstanding reliability and safety in use
7. Low operating temperature (about 600 F) 8. No gas, such as hydrogen,
is produced 9. The reaction takes place in the water and generates a
reaction product entirely soluble in water.
To me, this sounds likeunobtainium but he did publish a report with those
specs and flew tworather large rockets.
Regards - John
