The Suppression of Afterburning in Solid Rocket Plumes by Potassium Salts
Abstract
The exhaust plume of a minimum-smoke solid rocket contains significant concentrations of hydrogen and carbon monoxide which when mixed with ambient air react to water and carbon dioxide producing visible flash and increased infrared radiation. Both reactions produce undesirable signatures and interference with optical guidance systems. Potassium salts have been added to propellant charges to inhibit afterburning in both guns and rockets. They have not always been effective, the inhibiting effect of the salt being related to gas composition and temperature in a complex manner which is not completely understood. Further, there is disagreement as to whether it is KOH, KO2, or K that is most important in the afterburning suppression. The results are presented here of the first year of the investigation on the efficacy of each of these on the combustion of diluted H2/CO-O2-N2 mixtures. Potassium added to the fuel-side of a H2-CO-N2-O2 flat diffusion flame at near stoichiometry is more effective in inhibiting the flame reactions than KOH added to a H2-N2-O2 flame at a stoichiometric ratio of 0.61. A description is given of burner, optical and flow metering system used in experiments. Originator supplied keywords include: Rocket plume afterburning, Combustion, and Flame spectroscopy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA151209
Entities
People
- Eugene Miller
- Scott Mitsom