Loading…

MODEL ENGINE FLAME SPECTRAL STUDIES. SPECTRAL RADIANCE OF ROCKET PLUMES. VOLUME I

Infrared spectral measurements were made on three combinations of rocket engine fuels and oxidizers: UDMH/nitrogen tetroxide, hydrazine/nitrogen tetroxide, and RP-1/LOX. Each combination was used in a 1000-lb thrust model engine developed for the tests. Important parameters were varied over a wide r...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kowall, T J, Tuttle, R C
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Infrared spectral measurements were made on three combinations of rocket engine fuels and oxidizers: UDMH/nitrogen tetroxide, hydrazine/nitrogen tetroxide, and RP-1/LOX. Each combination was used in a 1000-lb thrust model engine developed for the tests. Important parameters were varied over a wide range, primarily those of mixing ratios and different conditions of nitrogen purge. The objective was to produce high resolution spectra of small regions of the flame without the usual atmospheric absorption due to water vapor and carbon dioxide. A special test facility was established at the Lockheed Santa Cruz Test Base for spectral measurements, and a special model engine was developed to permit varying fuels and oxidizers. A nitrogen gas system was used to purge the spectrometer paths and to blanket the exhaust flame. The Perkin-Elmer 112 and other spectrometers, including the Block I-4 series were evaluated, but the P-E 112 was selected as the primary instrument. Ninety infrared emission spectra in the one-to-five-micron region were obtained and are published. Conversion of relative spectra to absolute radiance units is achieved by a novel technique using overlays.