Long-Term Storage of BHP for Tactical COIL Application

Abstract

Tactical COIL deployment expects an any-time, any-place operational laser system. Such a system affords a permanent availability of the operating supplies at any filling station within reach. For COIL especially a supply with basic hydrogen peroxide (BHP) is a challenge. Sufficient quantities of ready-to-use BHP have to be prepared and stored without any loss of reactivity. Since such BHP is not necessarily prepared at COIL bases, the stored BHP should be transportable to appropriate filling stations. The BHP suitability for storage is tested over several months. The BHP is stored at low temperatures. The BHP decomposition is controlled by titration. Optimum storing conditions were derived and safety aspects are developed. Long-term storing of BHP could be verified at low storing temperatures without considerable loss of reactivity. I. Introduction OR multi-kilowatt COIL operation, up to now, only the thin film reaction between gaseous chlorine Cl2, and basic hydrogen peroxide (BHP) yields the necessary flow rates of singlet-delta oxygen. The classical BHP is an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide KOH and hydrogen peroxide H2O2. The reaction between gas and liquid takes place in a layer of about 50 nm in the liquid at the gas-liquid interface. The reaction can be described in the following overall equation 1,2