A Pulse-Forming Network Design for Electrothermal-Chemical (ETC) Combustion Characterization of Solid Propellants.

Abstract

The combustion of solid propellants subjected to plasma augmentation has been studied with a 300-kJ maximum stored energy Pulse-Forming Network (PFN) in the range of 1 KJ/g of electrical energy over a 1.2-ms pulse length. A closed chamber vessel is used for the combustion of these solid propellants in which the plasma is injected via a plasma generator. Since the need to characterize the effects of plasma augmentation on propellant combustion may require a greater pulse length than the 1.2 ms initially provided by the PFN used at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), a PFN upgrade providing a 2.4-ms pulse length with a 400-kJ maximum stored energy was implemented. When operated at 5 to 7% of the maximum stored energy, the PFN pr6vides augmentation in the range of 1 kJ/g of propellant. Calculations, design, and fabrication are detailed. Also discussed are plasma generator modifications dictated by the increase in pulse length and energy input needed for test firings.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1995
Accession Number
ADA302015

Entities

People

  • G. Katulka
  • H. Burden
  • I. Stobie
  • K. White
  • M. Del Guercio

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artillery
  • Assembly
  • Combustion
  • Combustion Chambers
  • Current Density
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Fabrication
  • Generators
  • Impedance
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Military Research
  • O Rings
  • Plasma Generators
  • Propellants
  • Solid Propellants
  • Three Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • ballistics.