Patent ID: 8337765

Claim:
A propellant reaction ignition system, comprising: a reaction chamber adapted to receive a hydroxylammonium nitrate-based liquid propellant; a non-heated catalytic bed disposed within said reaction chamber, said catalytic bed being non-electrically conductive and having a first portion and a second portion; a first electrode secured within said first portion of said catalytic bed; a second electrode having an opposite polarity from said first electrode, said second electrode secured to said second portion of said catalytic bed and disposed away from said first electrode; and a charge source electrically coupled to said first electrode and said second electrode, said charge source configured to supply a voltage potential of between 10 to about 30 volts across the first electrode and the second electrode to thereby cause electric current to flow therebetween, wherein: said electric current only flows between said first electrode and said second electrode when said liquid propellant contacts said first electrode and said second electrode, and said electric current, when flowing between said first electrode and said second electrode, causes instantaneous decomposition of said liquid propellant into decomposition products, thereby causing combustion of said liquid propellant decomposition products in said catalytic bed.