Contacts:
Office: DICI, Via Girolamo Caruso, 8, 56122 Pisa e DCCI Via Giuseppe Moruzzi, 13, 56124 Pisa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-palazzi-b81512142/
Cycle: 41°
Curriculum: Aerospatial Engineering
Title of the PhD Project: Development of Catalytic Beds for Ammonia Decomposition inside a Bimodal Nuclear Propulsion System
Supervisor: Angelo Pasini
Co-supervisors: Luca Labella, Simona Samaritani
Abstract of the PhD project:
Bimodal Nuclear propulsion represents a critical technology for advancing deep-space exploration, offering both high-thrust and high specific impulse capabilities. The project concerns the use of ammonia as highly dense and practical propellent for hydrogen storage and its successful application hinges on achieving efficient, reliable decomposition into hydrogen and nitrogen within the propulsion system’ s thermal-nuclear reactor. This research is conducted within the framework of the BANTER (Bimodal Ammonia Nuclear Thermal Electric Rocket) project, which is founded by the European Innovation Council and focuses on the development, optimization and characterization of novel catalytic beds specifically engineered for the high-temperature, high-flow environments characteristic of the Bimodal Nuclear systems. The primary objective is to synthesize test, and optimize heterogeneous catalysts capable of maximizing ammonia decomposition efficiency while maintaining long-term thermal and structural stability under extreme operating conditions. The work also encompasses catalyst screening, kinetic studies and the design of the catalytic bed inside the reactor.
Video link of the Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=t2kCTNhGLm4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fbanterspace.eu%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fbanterspace.eu&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY