Abstract
This research focuses on theoretically and experimentally evaluating the performance of a metallized hybrid-propellant, water-breathing ramjet. The aluminum and/or magnesium particles added to a polymeric (polyester) fuel grain are hydro-reactive, using the surrounding water as an oxidizer, in addition to a source of gas. Theoretically, the metal additives significantly increase the specific impulse of the motor, and as the percentage of the hydro-reactive ingredient increases, the theoretical performance increases as well. Additionally, aluminum is more energetic than magnesium. However, it was experimentally discovered that the addition of aluminum beyond 20% resulted in a slag formation and did not increase the specific impulse. Adding 30% of magnesium was relatively favorable to aluminum due to its better reactivity, enabling the achievement of an actual specific impulse of up to 485 s at standard conditions, approximately double the performance of common solid rockets.
Highlights
Examining Metal Additives in aOne of the concepts considered for propelling high-speed underwater vehicles is the water-breathing ramjet
All theoretical presented belowauthors are for the which maximal fuel,results as reported by these. It was theoretical discovered specific impulse is achieved, and all experimental results are at anor that the fuel grains heavily loaded with the hydro-reactive fuel
Results and Discussion measurements logged during those firings were not taken into account when analyzing In total, 32 successful experiments have been conducted with fuel grains containing the results
Summary
One of the concepts considered for propelling high-speed underwater vehicles (e.g., cruising at 150–250 knots) is the water-breathing ramjet. The fundamental physical principle, on which the water-breathing ramjet is based, is the high stagnation pressure of water at high velocities. The elevated stagnation pressure enables introducing water into the motor, due to the vehicle’s motion, without the necessity of actively operated devices (pumps). The water ingested may be used as a source of inert fluid to increase the mass flow rate, increasing the thrust and the overall impulse produced by the motor for a given quantity of propellant. The introduction of water from the surroundings can substantially increase the energetic performance, enabling an increased range and operating time without changing the amount of on-board propellant
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