Abstract
Information about species involved in initiating ignition of propellents by electrothermal plasma is critical to determining any chemical effect on the enhancement of electro-thermal-chemical gun performance. An experimental study using a triple-quadrupole molecular beam mass spectrometer was conducted to measure species from plasma recombination and from plasma-induced decomposition of propellants (JA2 and M43). The mismatch between the plasma pulse and the sampling time requirement by the mass spectrometer makes direct probing plasma species difficult, requiring the use of a plasma-holding chamber to prolong the event for sampling. The secondary jet evolving from the holding chamber should represent the nature of the plasma jet as it propagates through the propellant bed in actual electro-thermal-chemical applications. Recombination species that can be consistently detected are C2H4, C2H 3, C2H2, CH4, CH3, H 2, and H for a plasma produced within a polyethylene capillary. NO, CO and CO2 are also detectable if sufficient air is present in the chamber or using a Lexan capillary. Species measurements of JA2 and M43 indicate the formation of NO and H2CO during impingement by the jet, which are typical "dark-zone" species observed for these propellants.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1353-1361 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Propulsion and Power |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1 2006 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Aerospace Engineering
- Fuel Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Space and Planetary Science
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Recombination of electrothermal plasma and decomposition of plasma-exposed propellants. / Li, Jianquan; Litzinger, Thomas; Das, Malay; Thynell, Stefan.
In: Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 22, No. 6, 01.11.2006, p. 1353-1361.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Recombination of electrothermal plasma and decomposition of plasma-exposed propellants
AU - Li, Jianquan
AU - Litzinger, Thomas
AU - Das, Malay
AU - Thynell, Stefan
PY - 2006/11/1
Y1 - 2006/11/1
N2 - Information about species involved in initiating ignition of propellents by electrothermal plasma is critical to determining any chemical effect on the enhancement of electro-thermal-chemical gun performance. An experimental study using a triple-quadrupole molecular beam mass spectrometer was conducted to measure species from plasma recombination and from plasma-induced decomposition of propellants (JA2 and M43). The mismatch between the plasma pulse and the sampling time requirement by the mass spectrometer makes direct probing plasma species difficult, requiring the use of a plasma-holding chamber to prolong the event for sampling. The secondary jet evolving from the holding chamber should represent the nature of the plasma jet as it propagates through the propellant bed in actual electro-thermal-chemical applications. Recombination species that can be consistently detected are C2H4, C2H 3, C2H2, CH4, CH3, H 2, and H for a plasma produced within a polyethylene capillary. NO, CO and CO2 are also detectable if sufficient air is present in the chamber or using a Lexan capillary. Species measurements of JA2 and M43 indicate the formation of NO and H2CO during impingement by the jet, which are typical "dark-zone" species observed for these propellants.
AB - Information about species involved in initiating ignition of propellents by electrothermal plasma is critical to determining any chemical effect on the enhancement of electro-thermal-chemical gun performance. An experimental study using a triple-quadrupole molecular beam mass spectrometer was conducted to measure species from plasma recombination and from plasma-induced decomposition of propellants (JA2 and M43). The mismatch between the plasma pulse and the sampling time requirement by the mass spectrometer makes direct probing plasma species difficult, requiring the use of a plasma-holding chamber to prolong the event for sampling. The secondary jet evolving from the holding chamber should represent the nature of the plasma jet as it propagates through the propellant bed in actual electro-thermal-chemical applications. Recombination species that can be consistently detected are C2H4, C2H 3, C2H2, CH4, CH3, H 2, and H for a plasma produced within a polyethylene capillary. NO, CO and CO2 are also detectable if sufficient air is present in the chamber or using a Lexan capillary. Species measurements of JA2 and M43 indicate the formation of NO and H2CO during impingement by the jet, which are typical "dark-zone" species observed for these propellants.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33845460276&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2514/1.17685
DO - 10.2514/1.17685
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33845460276
VL - 22
SP - 1353
EP - 1361
JO - Journal of Propulsion and Power
JF - Journal of Propulsion and Power
SN - 0748-4658
IS - 6
ER -