Combustion of a Liquid Metal from a Wick

Abstract

An experimental and analytical study of laminar, free-convective combustion of a liquid metal from a wick was performed, using lithium and sulfur hexafluoride as the reactant combination. Observations of the combustion process indicate a vapor-phase reaction with products condensing on the fuel surface and in the vapor phase, but not in the flame. Data were obtained for the lithium burning rate in sulfur hexafluoride as a function of: wick length, ambient pressure, and concentration of inert diluent in the ambient gas. Data were also obtained for the relationship between wick surface temperature and ambient pressure. Two theoretical models using a film-theory approximation were developed. The effect of natural convection shown by the variation of burning rate with wick length is well described by the approach developed by Spalding.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1977
Accession Number
ADA123497

Entities

People

  • Gerard M. Faeth
  • T. R. Blakeslee Iii

Organizations

  • Pennsylvania State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Boiling Point
  • Boundary Layer
  • Burning Rate
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Combustion
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Transfer
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Partial Pressure
  • Pressure Measurement
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Thermodynamics
  • Transport Properties
  • Two Dimensional
  • Vapor Pressure

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Fluid Dynamics.