Investigation of Ionic Liquid Monopropellant Plasma using Optical Diagnostic Techniques
Abstract
The ionic liquid hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) is a promising monopropellant for various types of spacecraft propulsion systems. With regards to plasma-based electric propulsion applications, the ionic liquid is thermally and/or catalytically decomposed into a vapor and subsequently ionized. Among the various species generated from HAN decomposition is the formation of nitroxyl (HNO), an important molecule with implications in both chemical and electric propulsion applications. This work will describe the use of a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) platform to detect the HNO radical. A single-mode dye laser was used to acquire LIF excitation spectra involving threeexcitation transitions: 1A ? X 1A (100 000) at ? ~ 624 nm, 1A ? X 1A (020 000) at ? ~ 626 nm, and 1A ? X 1A (011 000) at ? ~ 642 nm. From these extended scans we determined the 1A ? X 1A (020 000), K = 1 K = 0, Q(7) ro-vibrational excitation transition to be the most optimal optical line for system diagnostics. Analysis on the production of HNO will be discuss with respect to decomposition temperature and porous heated disks used to interact with the vaporized HAN. Relationships between heated disk material composition, disk physical characteristics, and temperature dependent HNO density profiles will be discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1230307
Entities
People
- Kristina Lemmer
Organizations
- Western Michigan University