Alcedo: Optimising hybrid propulsion

Optimising hybrid propulsion thanks to Carbon Cylinder Type 4 pressure tanks

Innovation in the aerospace sector involves the design of increasingly efficient propulsion systems and the adoption of advanced materials. In this context, Alcedo, a rocket developed by the Aerospace Team Graz, represented a significant milestone in the research of hybrid propulsion technologies.
Designed to compete in the European Rocketry Challenge 2024, Alcedo competed in the H9 category (Student Researched and Developed hybrid rockets) with the goal of reaching 9,000 meters of altitude.
Thanks to the use of advanced components and cutting-edge engineering solutions, the team achieved considerable success, reaching 2nd place overall, in addition to awards for Design, Technique and the H9 Flight Award.
A key element in the rocket design was the selection of the cylinder for storing the pressurising gas for the oxidizer, a key component to ensure the correct functioning of the propulsion system. Carbon Cylinder Srl supplied a 3L cylinder, chosen for its light weight, structural strength and operational reliability.

What is Alcedo?

Alcedo is a hybrid-propulsion rocket using nitrous oxide as oxidizer and a HTPB-based fuel grain.
During the flight days in Portugal (11-14 October 2024), the team faced adverse weather conditions, which required a rescheduling of the launch.
On 13 October, Alcedo finally made its final flight, reaching an altitude of over 6,400 metres.

Carbon Cylinder’s contribution

In the field of aerospace propulsion, mass control and component reliability are key factors. For this reason, Aerospace Team Graz chose a 3L Carbon Cylinder pressure tank to store nitrogen, an essential component for the operation of the hybrid engine.

Carbon Cylinder composite cylinders stood out for the following features:
• Structural lightness: Thanks to advanced composite materials, the cylinder guarantees a reduction in the overall weight of the rocket, improving the thrust-to-weight ratio.

• Resistance to extreme conditions: Designed to operate in conditions of strong mechanical and thermal stress, the cylinder ensures high reliability even in the critical phases of flight.

• Safety and certifications: Carbon Cylinder gas cylinders are tested according to the most rigorous standards for aerospace and industrial applications.

Alcedo’s success demonstrates how the integration of lightweight, resistant and high-performance components is essential for the advancement of aerospace technologies. Aerospace Team Graz developed an efficient propulsion system, and Carbon Cylinder’s contribution played a key role in optimising the mass and in operational safety.

Carbon Cylinder is proud to have supported this project, contributing to innovation in the aerospace propulsion sector.