Ultrafine aluminium: Quench collection of agglomerates

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

Combustion of aluminized solid propellants exhibits phenomena associated with accumulation, agglomeration, ignition, and combustion of ultra-fine aluminium particles. In this study, agglomeration phenomenon of ultra-fine aluminium in solid propellant combustion is investigated using quench collection experimental technique over the pressure ranges from 2MPa to 8MPa. The ultra-fine aluminium powder synthesized by Radio Frequency Induction Plasma technique having harmonic mean size of 438nm is used for agglomeration study. The quenching distance is varied from 5mm to 71mm from the propellant burning surface to estimate the effect on agglomerate size. The morphology and chemical compositions of the collected products were then studied by using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive (SEM-EDS) method. Under the explored experimental conditions, the results confirm that ultra-fine aluminium propellant show aggregation/agglomeration with the size ranging from 11 – 21 μm in combustion products. Smaller diameter condensed phase products will likely decrease two-phase flow loss and reduce slag accumulation.

Authors

• K, TEJASVI Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• SETTY, Y PYDI Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• VENKATESWARA RAO, VEMANA Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• Solid Propellants
• Ultra-fine aluminium
• Combustion
• Quench collection
• Agglomerates
• Propulsion and Power