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U.S. Department of Energy
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The burning rate of HAN-based (hydroxylammonium nitrate) liquid propellants. [Hydroxylammonium nitrate]

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5353889

To improve the understanding of the physical processes which occur during the combustion of liquid propellants (LP), a strand burner was used to study hydroxylammonium nitrate-based LP flames. By observing the combustion of LP in such an arrangement, much has been deduced of the physical processes that occur during LP ignition and combustion. Combustion experiments were performed in which mixtures of the salts hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) and triethanolammonium nitrate (TEAN) in water were ignited by an electric discharge in a vessel at pressures of up to 30 MPa. Results of experiments conducted during turbulent combustion are: (1) the combustion of HAN-based LP occurs in two stages in which the liquid phase decomposition of HAN is followed by the decomposition of TEAN, (2) the turbulent combustion rate of LP 1846 decreases with increasing pressure. This variation of apparent burning rate with pressure, a result which is not seen in single component propellant combustion, is attributed to changes in the stability of the liquid-gas interface with pressure, and (3) a model of the combustion of HAN-based liquid propellants as it occurs in bulk has been presented, showing the reaction sequence of the components of HAN-based liquid propellants. 14 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DR00789
OSTI ID:
5353889
Report Number(s):
SAND-88-8600; CONF-880802-6; ON: DE88006863
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English