A Review of the Bulk-Loaded Liquid Propellant Gun Program for Possible Relevance to the Electrothermal Chemical Propulsion Program
Abstract
Some findings from the phenomenological studies during the earlier bulk-loaded liquid propellant gun programs are reviewed for possible relevance to the electrothermal chemical (ETC) propulsion program. The review includes studies on the basic combustion mechanism, conditions that resulted in relatively flat pressure-time profiles, and conditions that may have contributed to catastrophic failures. The studies on the basic combustion mechanisms concluded that the hydrodynamic instabilities occurring during the interior ballistic cycle are sufficient to break-up the charge and result in complete combustion during the interior ballistic cycle. The dominant instabilities include the penetration of a gas cavity into the liquid propellant, called a Taylor cavity; and the rapid liquid break-up due to mixing at the gas liquid interface, referred to as Helmholtz mixing. The initial conditions are also summarized for tests which resulted in relatively flat pressure-time traces. For relevance to the electrothermal chemical program, it is concluded that proper control of the initial conditions will likely be critical for establishing a reasonable level of repeatability.... Thermochemical propulsion, Liquid propellants, Interior ballistics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA263143
Entities
People
- Irvin C. Stobie
- John D. Knapton
- Les Elmore
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory