Abstract
A new ignition system, based on a CH4/O2 torch has been developed by the Chemical Propulsion Laboratory of the University of Brasilia. Designed to ignite a hybrid rocket, this device has been improved to be used in testing of solid and liquid ramjet engines under development in our lab. The capability to provide multiple ignitions and to cool-down its combustion chamber walls by using a swirled injection of the oxidizer, along with a very low weight to power ratio, makes this device versatile. The igniter is controlled by a feedback system, developed by our group, which guarantees the possibility of operating in different design conditions enabling, therefore, complete integration with systems of different nature. The main characteristics of the igniter and the design solutions are presented including some considerations about the tests performed to evaluate the quality and performance of the ignition system.
Highlights
A torch ignition system has been developed in the Chemical Propulsion Laboratory (CPL) of the University of Brasilia in the context of a project sponsored by the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB)
The igniter is controlled by a feedback system developed in CPL which guarantees the possibility of operating in different design conditions enabling, complete integration with systems of different nature
The control system acts changing the O/F ratio by increasing or decreasing the swirled mass flow rate of oxygen; a lean mixture corresponds to an increased cooling effect on the wall as result of the combined effect of an increased layer of oxygen protecting the walls and a reduced quantity of energy delivered inside the combustion chamber
Summary
A torch ignition system has been developed in the Chemical Propulsion Laboratory (CPL) of the University of Brasilia in the context of a project sponsored by the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB)promoting design and development of a scientific payload (the SARA capsule) [1] powered during the re-entry phase by a hybrid rocket.Designed to ignite a hybrid rocket, this device has been improved to be installed and used to test other engines [2,3]. The igniter is controlled by a feedback system developed in CPL which guarantees the possibility of operating in different design conditions enabling, complete integration with systems of different nature. The oxidizer–fuel combination selected is O2 /CH4 , because it is a green, well known and highly reacting mixture, able to deliver energy at various equivalence ratios with a relatively high density. This mixture is storable in space and nontoxic, reducing costs, and complexity of storage when compared to some other, more widely used, fuel–oxidizer combinations. When operating under lean conditions, combustion products are still rich in oxygen, favoring the ignition of the propellants in the main combustion chamber
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