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Propulsive performance of mechanically activated aluminum–water gelled composite propellant
Date Issued
01-01-2020
Author(s)
Gautham, M. G.
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
Abstract
The present study deals with the evaluation of the propulsive performance of aluminum (Al)–water gelled composite propellant. Here, Al and water have been gelled using polyacrylamide as a gelling agent. Gelled propellants were tested in a motor of 60 mm in diameter with a cylindrical port burning configuration. The average combustion efficiency of 52.83% and an average Isp of 46 s were obtained for a gelled propellant prepared with nonactivated aluminum (pyral); whereas in the case of gelled propellants prepared with mechanically activated aluminum, the corresponding values were 70% and 62.4 s, respectively, which were obtained for a convergent nozzle. If these values were extrapolated to a chamber pressure of 70 bar and with a convergent–divergent nozzle that was optimally expanded, the specific impulse obtained would be 165.3 s. The use of activated aluminum in gelled propellants increased the combustion efficiency by nearly 15%, and the corresponding average residue was reduced from 53 to 27%.
Volume
36