Study of Hedge Ignition and Flame Propagation Characteristics of Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine and Its Metamorphosed Mixtures in a Nitrogen Tetroxide Atmosphere

Xinhui Wang, Yujia Feng, Jinchao Zhang, Ruirong Ma, Jin Wu, Ruining He, Yang Li and Jinhu Liang ()
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Xinhui Wang: School of Environmental and Safety Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
Yujia Feng: School of Environmental and Safety Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
Jinchao Zhang: School of Environmental and Safety Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
Ruirong Ma: School of Environmental and Safety Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
Jin Wu: Xi’an Aerospace Propulsion Test Technique Institute, Xi’an 710100, China
Ruining He: School of Astronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710129, China
Yang Li: School of Astronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710129, China
Jinhu Liang: School of Environmental and Safety Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-18

Abstract: Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) is a common liquid propellant widely used in rocket engines and other applications. The safety of UDMH in service is affected by its slow oxidation during long-term storage to form impurities such as dimethylamine (DMA) and formaldehyde dimethylhydrazone (FDH). How these impurities affect combustion performance is not known, and in order to assess these effects, the present experiments investigated the combustion characteristics of self-igniting fuels and carried out ignition delay time measurements and flame propagation velocity measurements of pure UDMH and its denatured mixtures in a nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) atmosphere. This experiment was carried out to measure the delay time of hedge ignition of pure UDMH and qualitative analysis of its flame propagation properties under vacuum conditions at room temperature (T = 293 K). Ignition delay time measurements and flame propagation characterization were performed under the same experimental conditions for UDMH mixed with 1%, 5% and 10% FDH, UDMH mixed with 1%, 5% and 10% H 2 O, UDMH mixed with 1%, 5% and 10% DMA, as well as for UDMH mixed with the same proportions of the three substances (1%, 5% and 10%). The flame propagation characteristics were analyzed. The results showed that the incorporation of DMA, H 2 O and FDH in different proportions could inhibit the combustion of UDMH to varying degrees and prolong its ignition delay time. It is worth noting that the introduction of FDH had the least effect on it, and the least effect was observed at a concentration of 1%. In contrast, the effect of DMA on UDMH is more obvious, and the addition of H 2 O has the largest increase in the ignition delay time of UDMH. In the flame propagation experiment, the flame of the experimental group adding H 2 O can no longer fill the whole experimental window, while the other experimental groups can still make the window full of flame. Combined with the measurements of the ignition delay time, it can be seen that the moisture content has the greatest effect on the combustion characteristics.

Keywords: unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine; hedge flame; ignition delay; flame propagation; nitrogen tetroxide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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