Droplet Burning of JP-8/Silica Gels

Abstract

For future high performance rocket launchers, gelled propellants have the potential to replace conventional solid and liquid fuels by combining the individual advantages of both systems and neglecting the most disadvantages at the same time. Since gels show different atomization, spray and combustion behavior in comparison to liquid propellants, the investigation of single droplet vaporization and combustion is fundamental for the understanding of designing a gel operated injector system. Based on a rheological characterization of gelled JP-8 turbine fuel using fumed silica as a gelling agent, single droplet combustion experiments have been conducted. Combustion experiments have shown a typical d^2-law behavior with considerable influence of the gelling agent. A higher amount of gellant agent results in a reduced burning rate. Droplet size as well as droplet temperature during combustion depend strongly on the consistency of the gel