A Ballistic Compressor-Based Setup for the Visualization of Liquid Propellant Jet Combustion Above 100 MPa.
Abstract
This report describes the components and operation of an experimental setup for the visualization of liquid propellant (LP) jet combustion at pressures above 100 MPa. The apparatus consists of an in-line ballistic compressor and LP injector. The ballistic compressor, based on a modified 76-mm gun, provides high pressure (55 MPa) clear hot gas for the jet ignition. A piston (projectile) is fired toward a test chamber beyond the barrel's end, and its rebound is arrested in a transition section between the test chamber and the barrel. The LP jet is injected once the piston is restrained, and combustion of the jet further elevates the pressure. At a preset pressure, a disk in the piston ruptures, and the combustion gas vents sonically into the barrel. If a monopropellant is used, the jet injection combustion process then resembles liquid rocket combustion, but at very high pressures (140 MPa). This report discusses the ballistics of the compression and compares experimental results to those predicted by a numerical model of the apparatus. Experimentally, a pressure of 70 MPa was achieved upon a 12.5 volumetric compression factor by firing a 10-kg piston into 1.04MPa argon, using a charge of 75g of small grain M1 propellant.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA329856
Entities
People
- Avi Birk
- Douglas E. Kooker
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory