Intrinsic Burning Behavior and Flame Structure Diagnostics of Liquid Propellants

Abstract

From the combustion study of HAN-based liquid monopropellants, XM46 was found to exhibit unconventional characteristics with flashback behavior and negative pressure exponent. These characteristics are believed to be caused by the complex physical and chemical process occurring in condensed-phase region. The intrinsic burning rates of XM46 increased with pressure when P < 7 MPa, decreased for 7 < P <28 MPa, exhibited a hump-like shape when 28 < P <80 MPa, and increased again when P> 80 MPa. Luminous flame was observed only when P > 28 MPa. TEAN participates in the decomposition reactions of XM46 initiated in the liquid phase, producing dark-colored gaseous products (including NO2 and large carbon-containing species) at T^300 deg C. The major pyrolysis products of XM46 observed from a specially designed pyrolyzer were NO, N2O, N2, CO2, CO, H2O, HCN, and C2H4 for 130 <T < 540 deg C. Water evaporation appears to affect XM46 combustion, since the latent heat is about the same as the activation energies of HAN and TEAN and the heat release in the decomposition zone. The fuel ingredient in HAN-based propellant has a significant effect on burning characteristics, as demonstrated by the replacement of TEAN with glycine.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 31, 2000
Accession Number
ADA384293

Entities

People

  • E. Boyer
  • K. K. Kuo
  • Y. P. Chang

Organizations

  • Pennsylvania State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Burning Rate
  • Chemical Kinetics
  • Chemical Reaction Properties
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Combustion
  • Decomposition
  • Energy
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Of Activation
  • Heat Transfer
  • Ignition
  • Latent Heat
  • Liquid Propellants
  • Measurement
  • Nitrogen Compounds
  • Propellants
  • Pyrolysis

Readers

  • Analytical Mechanics
  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Rocket Propulsion.