Timothée Pourpoint
(he/him)
Professor
University Faculty Scholar, 2020-2025
University Faculty Scholar, 2020-2025
Degrees
Ph.D., Purdue University, Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering, Dec. 2005
M.S., University of Alabama in Huntsville, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Dec. 2000
B.S., ESTACA University, Paris, France, Mechanical Engineering, July 2000
M.S., University of Alabama in Huntsville, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Dec. 2000
B.S., ESTACA University, Paris, France, Mechanical Engineering, July 2000
Contact
500 Allison Road
West Lafayette, IN 47907
West Lafayette, IN 47907
Office:
Chaffee Hall, Room 116 & ARMS 2017
Office Phone:
(765) 494-9423
Office Fax:
(765) 496-6900
Lab Fax:
(765) 494-0530
Email:
timothee@purdue.edu
Interests
Aerospace propulsion systems
Rocket engine combustors
Liquid propellant injection systems
Hypergolic propellants
High pressure and hydrogen storage systems
Rocket engine combustors
Liquid propellant injection systems
Hypergolic propellants
High pressure and hydrogen storage systems
Awards and Major Appointments
AIAA Associate Fellow
Research Areas
Professor Timothée L. Pourpoint’s research interests relate to propulsion, combustion, and energy storage.
Propulsion Research
Dr. Pourpoint research focus in propulsion is to further the understanding of storable propellant ignition and combustion through system level testing and advanced diagnostic techniques with an emphasis on novel propellant combinations. A major emphasis of his work is on the development and characterization of new chemical propellants (see: Aerospace Propulsion and Energy Conversion Systems).
Energy Storage Research
Dr. Pourpoint is developing safe and efficient ways to use hydrogen for power generation through a combination of gas and solid-state storage approaches. This research builds on the experience and testing capabilities developed in partnership with General Motors for the characterization and large-scale evaluation of high pressure metal hydrides and adsorbents. Additional details about this research can be found at: Hydrogen Systems Laboratory
Experimental Testing Facilities
As part of his work Dr. Pourpoint has been involved in designing, implementing, and operating several testing facilities at the Maurice Zucrow Laboratories. Through his research Dr. Pourpoint has gained expertise in working with high-pressure hydrogen (up to 180 gal and 10,000 psia), pyrophoric metal powders, nanoscale materials, and propellants including monomethyl hydrazine, nitrogen tetroxide, hydrogen peroxide, and red fuming nitric acid.
Propulsion Research
Dr. Pourpoint research focus in propulsion is to further the understanding of storable propellant ignition and combustion through system level testing and advanced diagnostic techniques with an emphasis on novel propellant combinations. A major emphasis of his work is on the development and characterization of new chemical propellants (see: Aerospace Propulsion and Energy Conversion Systems).
Energy Storage Research
Dr. Pourpoint is developing safe and efficient ways to use hydrogen for power generation through a combination of gas and solid-state storage approaches. This research builds on the experience and testing capabilities developed in partnership with General Motors for the characterization and large-scale evaluation of high pressure metal hydrides and adsorbents. Additional details about this research can be found at: Hydrogen Systems Laboratory
Experimental Testing Facilities
As part of his work Dr. Pourpoint has been involved in designing, implementing, and operating several testing facilities at the Maurice Zucrow Laboratories. Through his research Dr. Pourpoint has gained expertise in working with high-pressure hydrogen (up to 180 gal and 10,000 psia), pyrophoric metal powders, nanoscale materials, and propellants including monomethyl hydrazine, nitrogen tetroxide, hydrogen peroxide, and red fuming nitric acid.
Publications
Selected Journal Papers
Heat Exchanger Selection and Design Analyses for Metal Hydride Heat Pump Systems, A. Mazzucco, T.G. Voskuilen, E.L. Waters, T.L. Pourpoint, M. Rokni, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2016, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.01.016
Performance and Flame Visualization of Dicyclopentadiene/GOX Rocket Propellants with Metal Hydride Additives, S.C. Shark, C.R. Zaseck, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, S.D. Heister, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2016, DOI: 10.2514/1.B35853
Critical Ignition Criteria for Monomethylhydrazine and Red Fuming Nitric Acid, J.D. Dennis, S.F. Son, T. L. Pourpoint, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2015, DOI: 10.2514/1.B35541
Characterization of Ethylenediamine Bisborane as a Hypergolic Hybrid Rocket Fuel Additive, M.A. Pfeil, J.D. Dennis, S.F. Son, S.D. Heister, T. L. Pourpoint, and P.V. Ramachandran, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2015, DOI: 10.2514/1.B35386
Amine-Boranes: Green Hypergolic Fuels with Consistently Low Ignition Delays, P.V. Ramachandran, A.S. Kulkarni, M.A. Pfeil, J.D. Dennis, J.D. Willits, S.D. Heister, S.F. Son, T.L. Pourpoint, Chemistry - A European Journal, DOI: 10.1002/chem.201405224
Solid Fuel Regression Rates and Flame Characteristics in an Opposed Flow Burner, S.C. Shark, C.R. Zaseck, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2014, Vol.30: 1675-1682, DOI: 10.2514/1.B35249
A Comprehensive Approach for Alloy Selection in Metal Hydride Thermal Systems, T.G. Voskuilen, E.L. Waters, T.L. Pourpoint, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 39, no. 5, pp. 13240-13254., DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.06.119
High-Repetition-Rate Three-Dimensional OH Imaging using Scanned Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence System for Multiphase Combustion, K.Y. Cho, A. Satija, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, R.P. Lucht, Applied Optics, Vol. 53, no. 3, 2014. DOI: 10.1364/AO.53.000316
Methods for Quantifying the Influences of Pressure and Temperature Variation on Metal Hydride Reaction Rates Measured under Isochoric Conditions, T.G. Voskuilen and T.L. Pourpoint, Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 84, 115102, 2013. DOI: 10.1063/1.4828655
Phase Field Modeling of Hydrogen Transport and Reaction in Metal Hydrides, T.G. Voskuilen and T.L. Pourpoint, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 38, no. 18, pp. 7363–7375. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.04.049
Effects of Crystallinity and Morphology of Solution Combustion Synthesized Co3O4 as Catalyst Precursor in Hydrolysis of Sodium Borohydride, T.L. Pfeil, T.L. Pourpoint, L.J. Groven, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2013. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.11.104
Solution Combustion Synthesized Cobalt Oxide Catalyst Precursor for NaBH4 Hydrolysis, L.J. Groven; T.L. Pfeil; T.L. Pourpoint, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 38, no. 15, pp. 6377–6380. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.03.060
Performance of Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD)/H2O2 Based Hybrid Rocket Motors with Metal Hydride Fuel Additives, S.C. Shark, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, S.D. Heister, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 29, pp.1122-1129, 2013. DOI: 10.2514/1.B34867
Microexplosion Investigation of Organic MMH Gel Droplet with 5 kHz OH PLIF, K.Y. Cho, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, R.P. Lucht, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Online, DOI: 10.2514/1.B34853.
The Dependence of Nano-Aluminum and Water Propellant Combustion on pH and Rheology, D.E. Kittell, L.J. Groven, T.R. Sippel, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 185, no. 5, 2013. DOI:10.1080/00102202.2012.759948.
Combustion of Nanoaluminum and Water Propellants: Effect of Equivalence Ratio and Safety/Aging Characterization, T. S. Sippel, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, Vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 56–66, 2013. DOI: 10.1002/prep.201200143.
Gelled MMH Hypergolic Droplet Investigation, Y. Solomon, S.J. DeFini, T.L. Pourpoint, W.E. Anderson, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2013, Vol. 29, pp. 79-86, DOI: 10.2514/1.B34634.
Combustion of Micron-Aluminum and Hydrogen Peroxide Propellants, C.R. Zaseck, S.F. Son, T.L. Pourpoint, Combustion and Flame, Vol. 160, no. 1, pp.184-190, 2013. DOI: 10.1016/j.combustflame.2012.10.001.
Feasibility Study and Demonstration of an Aluminum and Ice Solid Propellant, T.L. Pourpoint, T. Wood, M. Pfeil, J. Tsohas and S. Son, International Journal of Aerospace Engineering, vol. 2012, Article ID 874076, 11 pages, 2012.
Investigation into the Hypergolic Ignition Mechanisms Initiated by Low Weber Number Collisions, E.M. Dambach, Y. Solomon, S.D. Heister, T.L. Pourpoint, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 29, no. 2, 2013.
Hydrogen Adsorption on Microporous Materials at Ambient Temperatures and Pressures up to 50 MPa, T.G. Voskuilen, T.L. Pourpoint, A. Dailly, Adsorption, Vol. 18, no. 3-4, pp. 239-249, 2012. DOI: 10.1007/s10450-012-9397-z.
Rheological Characterization of Monomethylhydrazine Gels, J. D. Dennis, T. D. Kubal, S.F. Son, O. Campanella, T.L. Pourpoint, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 29, no. 2, 2013. DOI: 10.2514/1.B34611.
Determination of the Thermal Transport Properties of Ammonia Borane and its Thermolysis Product (Polyiminoborane) Using the Transient Plane Source Technique, Y. Yang, T.G. Voskuilen, T.L. Pourpoint, D.R. Guildenbecher, and J.P. Gore, Int. J. of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 37, no. 6, pp. 5128–5136, 2012.
Temperature Estimations in the Near-Flame Field Resulting from Hypergolic Ignition using Thin Filament Pyrometry, E.M. Dambach, B. A. Rankin, T.L. Pourpoint, S.D. Heister, Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 184, no. 2, pp. 205-223, 2012.
Experimental and Theoretical Performance of High Pressure Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyst Beds, R. A. Blank, T.L. Pourpoint, S.E. Meyer, S.D. Heister, W.E. Anderson, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 28, pp. 912-917, 2012.
Selected Conference Papers
Turbopump Design, Build, and Testing at Purdue University, E. Abdou , A. Porro Carvalhar, J. Harry, P. Juangphanich, M. Klein, Cis De Maesschalck, B. McGuire, S. Otto, S. Olsavsky, A. VanWye, R. White, D. Stechmann, T.L. Pourpoint. AIAA 2017-0300.
Development and Characterization of Hypergolic Propellants at Purdue University, T.L. Pourpoint, Proceedings of the AJCPP2016, Asian Joint Conference on Propulsion and Power, March 16-19, 2016, Sunport Hall Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan. AJCPP2016-038.
Design and Analysis of a High-Pressure Turbopump at Purdue University, D. Stechmann, C. Sese, R. Duvvur, Y. Huang, M. Bilyeu, D. Goldberg, M. King, A. Zhang, T.L. Pourpoint, AIAA 2015-4216.
Effect of Water and Humidity on Hypergolic Propellant Ignition Delay, N. Zarbo, H. Belal, T.L. Pourpoint, AIAA 2015-3867.
FTIR Analysis of Triethylamine Borane and White Fuming Nitric Acid Gaseous Combustion Products, A.W. Mugenda, O. Busari, A. Benhidjeb-Carayon, T.L. Pourpoint, AIAA 2015-3755.
3D Printer for Paraffin Based Hybrid Rocket Fuel Grains, M. Creech, A. Crandell, N. Eisenhauer, S. Marx, A. Link, J. Gabl, T.L. Pourpoint, AIAA 2015-0924.
Combustion Characterization of Amine Borane Hypergolic Propellants, J.D. Willits, J.D. Dennis, A.S. Kulkarni, P.V. Ramachandran, T.L. Pourpoint, AIAA 2014-3884.
Characterization of Hypergolic Propellant Cavitation in Injector Passages, J. Chrzanowski, T. Voskuilen, J. Canino, S. Heister, T.L. Pourpoint, JANNAF Conference, May 2014.
Time Resolved FT-IR Spectroscopy of Condensed Phase Reactions Between Monomethylhydrazine and Nitric Acid, J.D. Dennis, S.F. Son, T.L. Pourpoint, JANNAF Conference, May 2014.
Hybrid Rocket Design/Build/Test Course at Purdue University, E. Miklaszewski, J. Dadson, D. Fox, D. Kees, L. Larson, J. Rideout, J. Stevens, T.L. Pourpoint, AIAA 2013-4104.
Heat Exchanger Selection and Design Analyses for Metal Hydride Heat Pump Systems, A. Mazzucco, T.G. Voskuilen, E.L. Waters, T.L. Pourpoint, M. Rokni, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2016, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.01.016
Performance and Flame Visualization of Dicyclopentadiene/GOX Rocket Propellants with Metal Hydride Additives, S.C. Shark, C.R. Zaseck, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, S.D. Heister, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2016, DOI: 10.2514/1.B35853
Critical Ignition Criteria for Monomethylhydrazine and Red Fuming Nitric Acid, J.D. Dennis, S.F. Son, T. L. Pourpoint, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2015, DOI: 10.2514/1.B35541
Characterization of Ethylenediamine Bisborane as a Hypergolic Hybrid Rocket Fuel Additive, M.A. Pfeil, J.D. Dennis, S.F. Son, S.D. Heister, T. L. Pourpoint, and P.V. Ramachandran, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2015, DOI: 10.2514/1.B35386
Amine-Boranes: Green Hypergolic Fuels with Consistently Low Ignition Delays, P.V. Ramachandran, A.S. Kulkarni, M.A. Pfeil, J.D. Dennis, J.D. Willits, S.D. Heister, S.F. Son, T.L. Pourpoint, Chemistry - A European Journal, DOI: 10.1002/chem.201405224
Solid Fuel Regression Rates and Flame Characteristics in an Opposed Flow Burner, S.C. Shark, C.R. Zaseck, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2014, Vol.30: 1675-1682, DOI: 10.2514/1.B35249
A Comprehensive Approach for Alloy Selection in Metal Hydride Thermal Systems, T.G. Voskuilen, E.L. Waters, T.L. Pourpoint, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 39, no. 5, pp. 13240-13254., DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.06.119
High-Repetition-Rate Three-Dimensional OH Imaging using Scanned Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence System for Multiphase Combustion, K.Y. Cho, A. Satija, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, R.P. Lucht, Applied Optics, Vol. 53, no. 3, 2014. DOI: 10.1364/AO.53.000316
Methods for Quantifying the Influences of Pressure and Temperature Variation on Metal Hydride Reaction Rates Measured under Isochoric Conditions, T.G. Voskuilen and T.L. Pourpoint, Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 84, 115102, 2013. DOI: 10.1063/1.4828655
Phase Field Modeling of Hydrogen Transport and Reaction in Metal Hydrides, T.G. Voskuilen and T.L. Pourpoint, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 38, no. 18, pp. 7363–7375. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.04.049
Effects of Crystallinity and Morphology of Solution Combustion Synthesized Co3O4 as Catalyst Precursor in Hydrolysis of Sodium Borohydride, T.L. Pfeil, T.L. Pourpoint, L.J. Groven, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2013. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.11.104
Solution Combustion Synthesized Cobalt Oxide Catalyst Precursor for NaBH4 Hydrolysis, L.J. Groven; T.L. Pfeil; T.L. Pourpoint, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 38, no. 15, pp. 6377–6380. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.03.060
Performance of Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD)/H2O2 Based Hybrid Rocket Motors with Metal Hydride Fuel Additives, S.C. Shark, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, S.D. Heister, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 29, pp.1122-1129, 2013. DOI: 10.2514/1.B34867
Microexplosion Investigation of Organic MMH Gel Droplet with 5 kHz OH PLIF, K.Y. Cho, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, R.P. Lucht, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Online, DOI: 10.2514/1.B34853.
The Dependence of Nano-Aluminum and Water Propellant Combustion on pH and Rheology, D.E. Kittell, L.J. Groven, T.R. Sippel, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 185, no. 5, 2013. DOI:10.1080/00102202.2012.759948.
Combustion of Nanoaluminum and Water Propellants: Effect of Equivalence Ratio and Safety/Aging Characterization, T. S. Sippel, T.L. Pourpoint, S.F. Son, Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, Vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 56–66, 2013. DOI: 10.1002/prep.201200143.
Gelled MMH Hypergolic Droplet Investigation, Y. Solomon, S.J. DeFini, T.L. Pourpoint, W.E. Anderson, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2013, Vol. 29, pp. 79-86, DOI: 10.2514/1.B34634.
Combustion of Micron-Aluminum and Hydrogen Peroxide Propellants, C.R. Zaseck, S.F. Son, T.L. Pourpoint, Combustion and Flame, Vol. 160, no. 1, pp.184-190, 2013. DOI: 10.1016/j.combustflame.2012.10.001.
Feasibility Study and Demonstration of an Aluminum and Ice Solid Propellant, T.L. Pourpoint, T. Wood, M. Pfeil, J. Tsohas and S. Son, International Journal of Aerospace Engineering, vol. 2012, Article ID 874076, 11 pages, 2012.
Investigation into the Hypergolic Ignition Mechanisms Initiated by Low Weber Number Collisions, E.M. Dambach, Y. Solomon, S.D. Heister, T.L. Pourpoint, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 29, no. 2, 2013.
Hydrogen Adsorption on Microporous Materials at Ambient Temperatures and Pressures up to 50 MPa, T.G. Voskuilen, T.L. Pourpoint, A. Dailly, Adsorption, Vol. 18, no. 3-4, pp. 239-249, 2012. DOI: 10.1007/s10450-012-9397-z.
Rheological Characterization of Monomethylhydrazine Gels, J. D. Dennis, T. D. Kubal, S.F. Son, O. Campanella, T.L. Pourpoint, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 29, no. 2, 2013. DOI: 10.2514/1.B34611.
Determination of the Thermal Transport Properties of Ammonia Borane and its Thermolysis Product (Polyiminoborane) Using the Transient Plane Source Technique, Y. Yang, T.G. Voskuilen, T.L. Pourpoint, D.R. Guildenbecher, and J.P. Gore, Int. J. of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 37, no. 6, pp. 5128–5136, 2012.
Temperature Estimations in the Near-Flame Field Resulting from Hypergolic Ignition using Thin Filament Pyrometry, E.M. Dambach, B. A. Rankin, T.L. Pourpoint, S.D. Heister, Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 184, no. 2, pp. 205-223, 2012.
Experimental and Theoretical Performance of High Pressure Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyst Beds, R. A. Blank, T.L. Pourpoint, S.E. Meyer, S.D. Heister, W.E. Anderson, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 28, pp. 912-917, 2012.
Selected Conference Papers
Turbopump Design, Build, and Testing at Purdue University, E. Abdou , A. Porro Carvalhar, J. Harry, P. Juangphanich, M. Klein, Cis De Maesschalck, B. McGuire, S. Otto, S. Olsavsky, A. VanWye, R. White, D. Stechmann, T.L. Pourpoint. AIAA 2017-0300.
Development and Characterization of Hypergolic Propellants at Purdue University, T.L. Pourpoint, Proceedings of the AJCPP2016, Asian Joint Conference on Propulsion and Power, March 16-19, 2016, Sunport Hall Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan. AJCPP2016-038.
Design and Analysis of a High-Pressure Turbopump at Purdue University, D. Stechmann, C. Sese, R. Duvvur, Y. Huang, M. Bilyeu, D. Goldberg, M. King, A. Zhang, T.L. Pourpoint, AIAA 2015-4216.
Effect of Water and Humidity on Hypergolic Propellant Ignition Delay, N. Zarbo, H. Belal, T.L. Pourpoint, AIAA 2015-3867.
FTIR Analysis of Triethylamine Borane and White Fuming Nitric Acid Gaseous Combustion Products, A.W. Mugenda, O. Busari, A. Benhidjeb-Carayon, T.L. Pourpoint, AIAA 2015-3755.
3D Printer for Paraffin Based Hybrid Rocket Fuel Grains, M. Creech, A. Crandell, N. Eisenhauer, S. Marx, A. Link, J. Gabl, T.L. Pourpoint, AIAA 2015-0924.
Combustion Characterization of Amine Borane Hypergolic Propellants, J.D. Willits, J.D. Dennis, A.S. Kulkarni, P.V. Ramachandran, T.L. Pourpoint, AIAA 2014-3884.
Characterization of Hypergolic Propellant Cavitation in Injector Passages, J. Chrzanowski, T. Voskuilen, J. Canino, S. Heister, T.L. Pourpoint, JANNAF Conference, May 2014.
Time Resolved FT-IR Spectroscopy of Condensed Phase Reactions Between Monomethylhydrazine and Nitric Acid, J.D. Dennis, S.F. Son, T.L. Pourpoint, JANNAF Conference, May 2014.
Hybrid Rocket Design/Build/Test Course at Purdue University, E. Miklaszewski, J. Dadson, D. Fox, D. Kees, L. Larson, J. Rideout, J. Stevens, T.L. Pourpoint, AIAA 2013-4104.