Time Resolved Measurements and Reactive Pathways of Hypergolic Bipropellant Combustion
Abstract
This research has improved the fundamental understanding of the physical mechanisms leading to the ignition and combustion of hypergolic propellants from high-speed visualization and combustion diagnostics. The laser diagnostic system for the measurement of hypergolic droplet mixing and combustion was further developed by controlling many relevant factors. These include: droplet size, impact, and mixing; fuel/oxidizer lead; fuel/oxidizer ratio; controlled atmosphere, chemical safety, and event timing and resolution. As a result, a previous qualitative method was converted to a highly sensitive quantitative method capable of capturing subtleties in hypergolic bipropellant combustion including: effects of atmospheric air and moisture; carbon/nitrogen ratio within mixed hydrazines; oxygenation of Hydrazine/UDMH mixtures; the effect of additives on MMH, particularly the MMH/Methanol system; temperature effects on CDT; kinetic modeling of the chemical delay time, liquid reaction time, and proposed reaction mechanism for Anhydrous Hydrazine/RFNA; preliminary investigations into the liquid reaction temperature prior to combustion; and CDT data and kinetic parameters determined where possible for green fuels replacements under development by AMRDEC. Methods were developed to correlate the chemical delay time and liquid reaction times, and ultimately produced bulk kinetic data. These methods have been well received, resulting in significant technology transfer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 31, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA447247
Entities
People
- James E. Smith Jr.
Organizations
- University of Alabama in Huntsville