Application of transient burning rate model of solid propellant in electrothermal-chemical launch simulation

A 30 mm electrothermal-chemical(ETC) gun experimental system is employed to research the burning rate characteristics of 4/7 high-nitrogen solid propellant. Enhanced gas generation rates(EGGR) of propellants during and after electrical discharges are verified in the experiments. A modified 0D internal ballistic model is established to simulate the ETC launch. According to the measured pressure and electrical parameters, a transient burning rate law including the influence of EGGR coefficient by electric power and pressure gradient(dp/dt) is added into the model. The EGGR coefficient of 4/7 high-nitrogen solid propellant is equal to 0.005 MW-1. Both simulated breech pressure and projectile muzzle velocity accord with the experimental results well. Compared with Woodley's modified burning rate law, the breech pressure curves acquired by the transient burning rate law are more consistent with test results. Based on the parameters calculated in the model, the relationship among propellant burning rate, pressure gradient(dp/dt) and electric power is analyzed. Depending on the transient burning rate law and experimental data, the burning of solid propellant under the condition of plasma is described more accurately.

Mechanism of plasma ignition in electrothermal-chemical launcher

Plasma generator is a core component in an electrothermal-chemical(ETC) launcher. Its work state directly influences the launch efficiency of a system. The interaction between plasma and propellants is a very important mechanism in ETC technology. Based on the transient radiation model and open air plasma jet experiment, the mechanism of plasma ignition process is analyzed. Results show that the surface temperature of local solid propellant grain can quickly achieve the ignition temperature under the action of early transient plasma radiation. But it needs enough time to maintain the high energy flow to make self-sustained combustion of solid propellant grains. Because of the limited space characteristics of transient radiation, the near-field propellant grains can gain enough energy by the strong transient radiation to be ignited and achieve self-sustained combustion. The far-field propellant grains mainly gain the energy by the activated particles in plasma jet to be ignited and self-sustained combustion. Experiments show that plasma jet always has a high flow velocity in the area of the cartridge. Compared with conventional ignition, the solid propellant grains can obtain more quick and uniform ignition and self-sustained combustion by this kind of ablation controlled arc(ACA) plasma via energy skin effect of propellant grains, pre-heat temperature mechanism and high efficient jet diffusion.

Simulation of two-dimensional interior ballistics model of solid propellant electrothermal-chem ical launch with discharge rod plasma generator

Instead of the capillary plasma generator(CPG),a discharge rod plasma generator(DRPG)is used in the30 mm electrothermal-chemical(ETC)gun to improve the ignition uniformity of the solid propellant.An axisymmetric two-dimensional interior ballistics model of the solid propellant ETC gun(2D-IB-SPETCG)is presented to describe the process of the ETC launch.Both calculated pressure and projectile muzzle velocity accord well with the experimental results.The feasibility of the 2D-IB-SPETCG model is proved.Depending on the experimental data and initial parameters,detailed distribution of the ballistics parameters can be simulated.With the distribution of pressure and temperature of the gas phase and the propellant,the influence of plasma during the ignition process can be analyzed.Because of the radial flowing plasma,the propellant in the area of the DRPG is ignited within 0.01 ms,while all propellant in the chamber is ignited within 0.09 ms.The radial ignition delay time is much less than the axial delay time.During the ignition process,the radial pressure difference is less than 5 MPa at the place 0.025 m away from the breech.The radial ignition uniformity is proved.The temperature of the gas increases from several thousand K(conventional ignition)to several ten thousand K(plasma ignition).Compare the distribution of the density and temperature of the gas,we know that low density and high temperature gas appears near the exits of the DRPG,while high density and low temperature gas appears at the wall near the breech.The simulation of the 2D-IB-SPETCG model is an effective way to investigate the interior ballistics process of the ETC launch.The 2D-IB-SPETC model can be used for prediction and improvement of experiments.

Modeling and simulation of muzzle flow field of railgun with metal vapor and arc

During the electromagnetic railgun launching process,there will be a complex flow field with high temperature in the muzzle area because of the high-speed friction,transition and seco ndary arc-ignition.This paper models the muzzle area of railgun when the projectile is far away from the muzzle,and the dynamic simulation of the flow field with secondary arc in the muzzle area is carried out based on the magneto hydrodynamic equations.Meanwhile,a multi-component plasma transport model is used to analyze the muzzle arc plasma flow process of the mixed gas of Al vapor and the air.Furthermore,the pressure boundary conditions are fitted by the dynamic mesh simulation results.The current and voltage of the muzzle are obtained through the emission experiment of the railgun experimental prototype.We load the current data into the simulation model and the voltage of experiments and simulations are compared,which proves the accuracy of the simulation.Then the plasma temperature and the composition of Al vapor in the muzzle flow process are analyzed in-depth.

Numerical simulation on the pressure wave in a 30 mm electrothermal-chemical gun with the discharge rod plasma generator

An axisymmetric two-dimensional(2D)internal ballistic model including the transient burning rate law is used to simulate the 30mm electrothermal-chemical(ETC)launch with the discharge rod plasma generator(DRPG).The relationship between the pressure wave and the initial parameters,such as input electric power,discharging timing sequence,loading density and propellant web thickness,is researched through the change of initial parameters in the model.In the condition of synchronous discharging,the maximum of the pressure wave can be controlled while the ratio of the input electric energy to the propellant chemical energy(electric energy ratio)is less than 0.11.If the electric energy ratio is larger than 0.11,the maximum of the pressure wave increases rapidly with the electric energy ratio.With the increasing of the electric energy ratio,the change of the first negative amplitude value can be ignored.In the condition of timing sequence discharging,the allowed input electric energy ratio to control the pressure wave is proportional to the current pulse duration.At the high electric energy ratio,the maximum of the pressure wave is inverse proportional to the current pulse duration.The pressure wave increases with the increasing of the loading density.But the allowed electric energy ratio to control the pressure wave and the variation trend of the first negative amplitude wave value doesn't change.During the discharging of the DRPG,the influence of changing propellant web thickness in ETC launch can be ignored.

Design and manufacture of a 100 kA coaxial pulsed power cable for plasma generator and PPS in ETC guns

Based on our previous pulsed current and internal overvoltage test data and the experience of common commercial high power cables,a 100 kA coaxial pulsed power cable is designed and manufactured to adapt the coaxial electric energy breech transmission between the plasma generator and the pulsed power supply(PPS) in electrothermal-chemical(ETC) guns.The index parameters are analyzed and determined.Semi-conductor layers and a shield stiffener are introduced to prevent the deformation and burst of the pulsed power cable structurally.The semi-conductor layer can eliminate the air gap and balance the electric field in the cable.The shield stiffener can multiply the mechanical strength to restrain the strong electrodynamic force produced by the core dislocation of the outer conductor.The multi-coupling of electromagnetic field,stress field and thermal field analysis are established to assist in aided design of electrical strength,mechanical strength and temperature rise characteristics.Both a DC voltage withstand test and pulsed discharge tests are introduced to verify and inspect the performance and dynamic response of the pulsed power cable.The 25 kV/5 min DC voltage withstand test result shows that the sample leakage current is nearly 3 μA and no abnormal phenomena of the pulsed power cable sample occurred.The pulsed discharge tests show that the sample can sustain the 100 kA peak current.Furthermore,this 100 kA coaxial pulsed power cable can satisfy the ETC test requirements.