Hypersonix completes green hydrogen tests at Bulwer Island
The 3D printed DART AE technology demonstrator, launching in 2023, will feature a single SPARTAN scramjet engine.
Hypersonix Launch systems has completed all the activities covered by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources Accelerating Commercialisation (ACA) grant on time and on budget.
The grant project called for manufacturing a scramjet engine prototype SPARTAN and its hydrogen fuel system.
The company conducted high-pressure hydrogen gas flow tests through its additive manufactured (3D-printed) scramjet combustor at Bulwer Island (close to Brisbane airport [on test rigs designed by its engineering team].
The HIL (hardware in the loop) bench top tests were the final series of steps required by the Accelerating Commercialisation grant awarded to Hypersonix in 2020. The successful tests have proven that the scramjet engine fuel system is working as designed and will inform future builds of the fuel system.
Hypersonix Launch Systems 3D printed the SPARTAN scramjet engine in Australia with Amiga Engineering to Hypersonix’s precise specifications. It was delivered under its Christmas tree to undergo a series of measurements and tests using Nitrogen initially and then hydrogen, through the first quarter.
“The SPARTAN scramjet powers all of Hypersonix’s unmanned hypersonic UAVs currently under development. There is also a composite version of the SPARTAN scramjet engine currently in development”, according to David Waterhouse, Managing Director of Hypersonix.
Both the Delta Velos Demonstrator as well as the Delta Velos Orbiter will use four SPARTAN scramjet engines. The Delta Velos Orbiter is the large-scale hypersonic vehicle designed to place small satellites into Low Earth Orbit.
Ryan Whitside, Scramjet Propulsion engineer at Hypersonix said: “It was an extremely exciting and pleasing week to finally run green hydrogen through our 3D printed scramjet engine as part of the testing at Bulwer Island. “
The ACA Grant accelerated the Company’s steps to prove its technology, and allowed it to grow the team and introduce processes required to commercialise its products. The team is excited to work on their new funded projects and getting ready for the next build and growth stage of Hypersonix Launch Systems.
