Suppression of Afterburning in Solid Rocket Plumes by Potassium Salts

摘要

Results are presented of the effects of K, KO2, KOH and methyl bromide vapors on the combustion of diluted H2-CO/O2-N2 mixtures. A flat diffusion flame produced by an opposed-jet burner was scanned incrementally in the infrared wavelengths to study the combustion inhibition reactions of the mentioned additives. K inhibited the reaction of hydrogen over a range of additive concentration from 0.3 to 1320 molar ppm for lean to rich flames for stoichiometric ratios of 0.95 to 1.15. The other two potassium additives inhibited or enhanced the reaction depending on the flame mixture ratio, and for the KO2 the concentration of the additive. For lean mixtures studied, methyl bromide inhibited the combustion of H2/CO and CH4 mixtures. Keywords: Solid rocket plume; Afterburning; Flames; Infrared spectra; Flame chemistry; Potassium compounds; Methylbromide.