FLAME PROPAGATION OVER THE SURFACE OF A PLASTIC FUEL IN AN OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE.
Abstract:
A general theory of flame spreading over the surface of a solid fuel in an oxidizing atmosphere is developed in the work. This theory is of a general type and it covers flame spreading processes of very different nature. However, the theoretical study was directed to the case of flame spreading over the surface of plastic fuels in mixtures of nitrogen-oxygen and the experimental program is being carried out with these materials. With this orientation, the flame spreading process is of interest in connection with fires in spacecraft and it is also related to the problem of ignition in hybrid rockets. The process is studied by considering heating of the fuel by the flame through radiation and convection, heat conduction within the fuel, vaporization of the fuel and mixing with the gaseous atmosphere and flame propagation through this combustible mixture. An analytical solution of the problem is given which is obtained by solving in a simplified form the aforementioned partial processes. The influence of pressure and composition of the oxidizing atmosphere as well as the initial temperature of the fuel is experimentally studied, and it is shown how these influences are being theoretically studied. Author