Experimental Study of Plasma/Propellant Interactions
Abstract
The overall objective of the project was to improve our understanding of the various chemical and physical processes that occur during ignition by the plasma igniter. During the project period, electrical circuits, experimental setups were designed and manufactured, as well as data acquisition systems were acquired. The following primary findings have been obtained from this project: 1) to achieve ignition, a closed chamber configuration is needed, 2) JA2 propellant is readily ignitable, whereas nitramine-composite propellants show a two-stage mass generation behavior, 3) recovered samples from JA2 show changes in surface and sub-surface structure, in-depth melting, vaporization and chemical reactions, 4) recombination rates among plasma species are high, resulting in measurement of hydrocarbons at the surface having molecular weights from 1 to about 30 (H, H2, C, CH, CH2, etc.) and primarily NO, HCO and H2CO from propellants, 5) the radiative heat flux reaches a maximum when the electrical power conversion reaches a maximum, 6) the UV component is significant, and 7) the near-surface emission from the plasma is significantly reduced compared to peak values due to plasma expansion and to rapid heat losses by radiation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 23, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA424481
Entities
People
- Stefan T. Thynell
- Thomas A. Litzinger
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University