AP/(H₂ + CO) gaseous fuel diffusion flame studies

Counter-flow diffusion flame experiments and modeling results were presented for a fuel mixture consisting of CO and H₂ flowing against decomposition products from a solid AP pellet. The flame zone simulated the diffusion flame structure that is expected to exist between reaction products from fine AP crystals and a hydrocarbon binder with the decomposition products from large AP crystals, characteristic of a bimodal AP propellant. Quantitative species and temperature profiles were measured for a mixture of two fuels, hydrogen and CO, and one strain rate, given a separation of 5 mm, between the fuel exit and AP surface. Species measured included CN, NH, NO, OH, N₂, O₂, CO₂, H₂, CO, HCl, H₂O. Model predictions were in good agreement with experiment and showed the type of kinetic features that may be expected to occur in propellants when AP particle size distributions are varied. Original is an abstract.