-=> ARCHIE SWAN wrote to JAMES BRADLEY <=-

AS> Hi James,

AS> Tom's a bit adrift on this item.  Hydrogen Peroxide isn't a fuel,
AS> it's an Oxidant.  So, by itself H2O2 isn't combustible on its own
AS> - it requires a fuel.
AS> Do a small amount of research on Missile Engines (Rocket
AS> Engines).

It can be used as a fuel and has been responsible for the sinking of two 
submarines. It was used to silently propel torpedo's.

AS> It's a bit of a complicated item to explain in total.  But that
AS> "3% Hydrogen Peroxide" is quite a good demonstration.  The reason
AS> that stuff is frequently used by folks to bleach their hair -
AS> it's because that 3% H2O2 releases sufficient Oxygen to cause the
AS> hair to act as the fuel and start the burning process.

Your mistaken in thinking that a fuel is something that burns. It only
has to be a catalyst for a reaction. Hydrogen Peroxide can react with
many things (copper and aluminum) and produce a rapid gas expansion which in
turn can be used to propel a turbine. I can't remember the exact
process but the "engine" works just fine if the rate of gas expansion
is controlled by the turbine which inturn is dampered by the resistance
of the propeller labouring against the water. If however the engine
is run outside the water you get a runaway process which builds
pressure in the pipes. The pipes then start to leak and mix with
the metals in the rear of the torpedo. The result is the torpedo
bursts. I think you would probably get more accurate information
if you do a google for "Russian" "submarine"
"disaster" or some
such. 
 
L8r. :)
 
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