PYROLYSIS AND COMBUSTION OF LITHIUM ALUMINUM HYDRIDE
Abstract
The slow pyrolysis of lithium aluminum hydride proceeds by a successive dehydrogenation of the fuel in three stages over a temperature range between 210 degrees and 460 degrees C. The combustion of lithium aluminum hydride follows a simular multistage process in which the pyrolytic dehydrogenation is followed by an afterburning of the metal substrate. Experimental studies were performed to determine the delay times between successive stages for solid mixtures of lithium aluminum hydride with selected oxidizers. Time resolved spectrographic techniques were used to determine the duration of these stages. Studies were performed using Li2O2 and NH4NO3 oxidizers over a particle size range between 75-300 microns and O/F mixture ratios of between 0.5 and 3.0. Ignition delay times for the initial reaction were found to vary between 5 and 40 milliseconds for the first stage and 10 to 120 milliseconds for the second stages. An analytical model was developed to describe the observed multistage combustion process. The model and resulting PARTIG computer program utilize the nodal approach with stepwise solution of the equations for heat and mass transfer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0692527
Entities
People
- Franklin I. Honea
- William H. Mclain
Organizations
- Denver Research Institute