Flashing Behavior of Ionic Liquid Propellants under Vacuum Conditions

Kurzfassung

Newly developed ionic liquid propellant blends are currently considered as alternative for hydrazine replacement in orbital thrusters. The behavior of these multi component blends during the injection process is not sufficiently investigated yet. Especially the behavior under vacuum conditions in regards to spray formation and possible decomposition effects is unknown. For this very reason experiments with saline solutions under near vacuum conditions were conducted at DLR – Institute of Space Propulsion in Lampoldshausen to help to understand the process. Different injector configurations were used as well to identify and describe possible parameters of influence.