Comparative Study on the Damage Effects in the Deflagration Process of Typical Liquid Propellants

Abstract

AbstractTo study the damage effects caused by accidental deflagration of liquid propellants during production, storage, transportation and use, the information of the deflagration processes and the shock wave hazards of three typical liquid propellants under external flame stimulation were obtained by a high‐speed camera and a shock wave pressure acquisition system. Additionally, in the same situation, the highest temperature of the surface fireball and the law of fireball of the thermal radiation were also studied by an infrared thermal imager and heat flux test system. High‐speed video results showed that the fireball of DT‐3 developed most violently of the three liquid propellants; anhydrous hydrazine took the second place and metallized gelled MMH was the weakest. The average TNT equivalents of 18 kg anhydrous hydrazine, 18 kg DT‐3, 120 kg anhydrous hydrazine and 120 kg DT‐3 were 0.724, 0.629, 0.000375 and 0.0293 respectively. The peak values of thermal radiation flux were in the order of DT‐3>anhydrous hydrazine>metallized gelled methylhydrazine. The corresponding death radius in the accident was supposed to be 20–30 m. Experimental results indicated that package design pressure of liquid propellant had a significant effect on the intensity of the reaction response to the action of flame stimulation. Within a certain range, the package design pressure of liquid propellant should be appropriately reduced to improve its security in storage and use. The study provided a theoretical guidance for the explosion protection of liquid propellant in case of accidental deflagration.