Combustion study of HTPB–sugar hybrid fuel with gaseous oxygen

Abstract

In the present investigation, some combustion studies have been carried out with 50 % HTPB + 50 % sugar fuel grain, burning in the gaseous oxygen stream using swirl and showerhead injectors, and the regression rate has been compared. The combustion of fuel grain has been carried out for burning duration of 10 ± 1 s at four different oxidizer injection pressures, viz 1.52, 2.21, 2.76 and 3.24 MPa. The regression rates were found to increase with increasing injection pressure. Use of swirl injector exhibited higher regression rate compared to the showerhead injector. The average regression rate and fuel mass consumption rate in case of swirl injector were found to be higher than that of showerhead injector. The average regression rate for the fuel with swirl injector has been found to be 18.81, 15.11, 17.73 and 20.23 % more than that of shower head injector. The exhaust plume was also found out to be brighter and longer for a swirl injector compared to that of the showerhead injector. The thermal decomposition characteristic of fuel has been determined using differential thermal analysis and thermo gravimetric analysis techniques. The decomposition study was carried out at heating rate of 10 °C min−1 in an oxygen atmosphere. The exothermic peak indicating that major decomposition takes place at a higher temperature of 483.3 °C. Mass loss have been found using TG analysis. Residual mass of 1.262 % has been obtained in the heating range of 30–500 °C. Heat of combustion of fuel is found to be 6972.41 Cal g−1.