Absorption Spectroscopy through the Dark Zone of Solid Propellant Flames
Abstract
A windowed strand burner with a propellant feed mechanism has been used to characterize the steady-state combustion of solid propellants over a pressure environment of 0.1-2.0 MPa nitrogen. Under conditions where a line of sight measurement is meaningful, temperatures and absolute concentrations can be extracted from optical absorption spectra An arc lamp light source and spectrometer-intensified photiode array detector systems provided the means to absorption spectra for NO through the dark zone burning solid propellants. Additionally, OH absorption spectra were obtained in the luminous flame region. A least-squares fitting program applied to these absorption spectra resulted in a determination of temperature profiles and absolute NO concentrations for JA-2, M-9, and HMX2 solid propellants over a pressure range of 03-2.0 MPa. Measured dark zone temperatures ranged from about 1,300 K to 1,600 K and NO concentrations varied from about 15 to 30 mole percent depending upon the propellant type and pressure. Where possible these values are compared with literature data. Temperatures in the luminous flame computed from OH absorption spectra reached values in agreement with adiabatic flame temperatures. Video records of each propellant burn allowed a determination of the propellant bum rate and length of the dark zone as a function of pressure. absorption; solid propellant; temperature; concentration; dark zone; spectroscopy; nitric oxide.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA250033
Entities
People
- Anthony J. Kotlar
- John A. Vanderhoff
- M. W. Teague
Organizations
- Ballistic Research Laboratory