Mars in situ propellants: Carbon monoxide and oxygen ignition experiments

Conference · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6378124

Linne, D L; Roncace, J; Groth, M F

Carbon monoxide and oxygen were tested in a standard spark-torch igniter to identify the ignition characteristics of this potential Mars in situ propellant combination. The ignition profiles were determined as functions of mixture ratio, amount of hydrogen added to the carbon monoxide, and oxygen inlet temperature. The experiments indicated that the carbon monoxide and oxygen combination must have small amounts of hydrogen present to initiate reaction. Once the reaction was started, the combustion continued without the presence of hydrogen. A mixture ratio range was identified where ignition occurred, and this range varied with the oxygen inlet temperature.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6378124
• Report Number(s): N-90-26065; NASA-TM--103202; E--5607; NAS--1.15:103202; AIAA--90-1894; CONF-900720--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400800* -- Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry
ATMOSPHERES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
COMBUSTION KINETICS
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN
IGNITION
KINETICS
MARS PLANET
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
PROPELLANTS
REACTION KINETICS