Concentration measurement of carbon monoxide in the combustion chamber of ADN-based thruster with QCL

Abstract

Ammonium Dinitramide (ADN) is a chemical propellant with high-performing, green, and storable characteristics. It has been used as solid propellant and liquid propellant which represents a new trend in chemical propulsion technology. The present study discussed the experimental investigations of a model aerospace thruster with ADN-based liquid propellant. The catalytic decomposition and combustion processes of the ADN-based thruster is significantly complicated. And only few literatures are focused on this topic. In this paper, based on quantum cascade laser (QCL), the combustion process in the ADN-based thruster was investigated. Carbon monoxide(CO) is a characteristic species produced during the chemical reaction of ADN-based liquid propellant. Through the measurement of CO concentration, the complicated catalytic decomposition and combustion processes was described quantitatively. These results are valuable for a better understanding of the mechanisms of the catalytic decomposition and combustion with ADN-based liquid propellant, which is beneficial to the development of green aerospace propulsion techniques.