INFLUENCE OF IONS ON ROCKET COMBUSTION.
Abstract
The ionization profile along the axis of a seeded, Mach 3, high altitude rocket exhaust was mapped by microwave and probe techniques. The relaxation in the jet was evaluated from the measured data. Since the ionization was found to follow the gas density profile, it was concluded that the relaxation time was at least as long as the transit time between the shock waves, and that the residence time in the shock zone was sufficient to sustain this ionization. Cases in which the residence time is less than the thermalizing time are also illustrated. The thermodynamic properties in the jet were measured by pressure and temperature probes and by line reversal spectroscopy. Unfortunately it was necessary for the probe dimensions to be comparable to the jet dimensions, thus the excursions in pressure and temperature along the profile were reduced and results are average values only. The microwave method was found to be suitable for analysis of low pressure seeded jets as long as the collosion frequency is of the order of 10-one manosecond and the electron density lies between 5 x 10 to the 11th power and 2 x 10 to the 13th power electrons/Cu Cm. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 21, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0431636
Entities
People
- T. H. Dimmock