Chemical Kinetics Phenomena in Rocket Engines

Abstract

As part of an exploratory program of research in the chemical and physical kinetics of rocket exhaust gases, the emission spectra of rocket flames were examined with infrared, visible, and ultraviolet spectrographs of moderate dispersion. A high-speed portable grating spectrograph was constructed for observations in the visible region, and flames from rockets using ten different propellant combinations were photographed. The spectra have been analyzed and the species identified in most instances. A specially constructed infrared spectrograph disclosed a number of emission bands in the spectrum of the flame of a rocket using JP-3 and WFNA, but their identification and interpretation will require further study. Observations of the flames of rockets which will be tested in the future should be made with these instruments as well as with an ultraviolet spectrograph which is now available. A method for recording the changes in emission spectra along the axis of rocket exhaust flames was devised and tested. The method was shown to be feasible and should be applied to the study of a wide variety of rocket flames. It should be particularly valuable in determining the structure of the exhaust flame and in studying the phenomenon of exhaust flash.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1952
Accession Number
ADA076053

Entities

People

  • G. Moe
  • J. L. Nicholson
  • S. C. Burket

Organizations

  • Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption Spectra
  • Air Force
  • Cameras
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Combustion
  • Emission
  • Emitters
  • Exhaust Gases
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Measurement
  • Natural Gas
  • Optical Materials
  • Propellants
  • Rocket Engines
  • Spectral Lines
  • Spectroscopy
  • Telemetry Equipment

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Rocket Propulsion.