Combustion Characteristics of Nanoaluminum, Liquid Water, and Hydrogen Peroxide Mixtures

Abstract

An experimental investigation of the combustion characteristics of nanoaluminum (nAl), liquid water (H2O(l)), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mixtures has been conducted. Linear and mass-burning rates as functions of pressure, equivalence ratio ( ), and concentration of H2O2 in H2O(l) oxidizing solution are reported. Steady-state burning rates were obtained at room temperature using a windowed pressure vessel over an initial pressure range of 0.24 to 12.4 MPa in argon, using average nAl particle diameters of 38 nm, from 0.5 to 1.3, and H2O2 concentrations between 0 and 32% by mass. At a nominal pressure of 3.65 MPa, under stoichiometric conditions, mass-burning rates per unit area ranged between 6.93 g/cm2 s (0%H2O2) and 37.04 g/cm2 s (32% H2O2), which corresponded to linear burning rates of 9.58 and 58.2 cm/s, respectively. Burning rate pressure exponents of 0.44 and 0.38 were found for stoichiometric mixtures at room temperature containing 10 and 25% H2O2, respectively, up to 5MPa. Burning rates are reduced above 5MPa due to the pressurization of interstitial spaces of the packed reactant mixture with argon gas, diluting the fuel and oxidizer mixture. Mass burning rates were not measured above 32% H2O2 due to an anomalous burning phenomena, which caused overpressurization within the quartz sample holder, leading to tube rupture. High-speed imaging displayed fingering or jetting ahead of the normal flame front. Localized pressure measurements were taken along the sample length, determining that the combustion process proceeded as a normal deflagration prior to tube rupture, without significant pressure buildup within the tube. In addition to burning rates, chemical efficiencies of the combustion reaction were determined to be within approximately 10% of the theoretical maximum under all conditions studied.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA546979

Entities

People

  • B. C. Tappan
  • Grant A. Risha
  • J. L. Sabourin
  • R. A. Yetter
  • S. F. Son

Organizations

  • Pennsylvania State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aluminum Oxides
  • Burning Rate
  • Chemical Reaction Properties
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Closed Bomb Tests
  • Combustion
  • Combustion Products
  • Decomposition
  • Department Of Defense
  • Energy
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Of Combustion
  • High Pressure
  • Ignition Lag
  • Measurement
  • Pressure Measurement
  • Pressurization

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Rocket Propulsion.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster