Unified theory of ammonium perchlorate deflagration and the low-pressure deflagration limit

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1975 · Combust. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00102207508946665· OSTI ID:7265546

Sohn, H Y

A unified theory is proposed to explain aspects of the combustion of ammonium perchlorate: burning rate, low-pressure deflagration limit, and ignition. The model incorporates the experimentally observed microstructure of the burning surface of ammonium perchlorate, which provides an intermediate heat sink in an overall adiabatic system. The theory explains the existence of the low-pressure deflagration limit of ammonium perchlorate, which has eluded previous attempts at theoretical explanation. Furthermore, the theory predicts accurately the variation of the limiting pressure with initial solid temperature, and also the nearly constant burning rate at the low-pressure deflagration limit regardless of initial solid temperature. Comparison of the theory and experiment for the low-pressure deflagration limit and burning rate of ammonium perchlorate indicates that the same reaction mechanisms prevail during deflagration and near the pressure limit, and that the extinction is due to heat loss rather than to a change in reaction mechanism. The theory also suggests a possibility of modifying the low-pressure deflagration limit by physical means. The rates of the gas-phase reactions are found to be well-represented by second-order overall kinetics. 10 figures, 4 tables, 51 references.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley
• OSTI ID: 7265546
• Journal Information: Combust. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 10:3/4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
AMMONIUM PERCHLORATES
COMBUSTION
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
IGNITION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROSTRUCTURE
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
KINETICS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERCHLORATES
REACTION KINETICS
400800* - Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry