Analysis of a Hybrid Dual-Combustion-Chamber Solid-Propellant Gas Generator

Abstract

Solid-propellantgas generators (SPGGs) have a number of aerospace applications, includingmunitionsdispersion, pilot emergency escape systems, submarinemissile launching,powering actuators and valves, and short-term power supply. Recently, the increased demand for so-called smart automotive airbags has increased the need for SPGG designs capable of real-time, tailorable output. Dual-combustion-chamber gas generators provide several distinct advantagesover single-combustor units in systems where optimumperformance is needed at several operating conditions. The objective of this work is to evaluate the attainable performance characteristics of a proposed dual-combustion-chambergas generator. The work includes a simulation of the transient, thermochemical events associated with the Ž ring of an SPGG. The simulations also include the dynamics of coupled events such as ignition, heterogeneous combustion, and mass discharge. The baseline gas generator being simulated in this work is a hybrid SPGG in ator with two combustion chambers. Studies are made of the distribution of propellant between combustion chambers and the times at which the propellant within each combustion chamber is Ž red.