AFOSR/ONR Contractors Meeting - Combustion, Rocket Propulsion, Diagnostics of Reacting Flow

Abstract : There is a strong need to improve our fundamental understanding of electrothermal arcjets with the ultimate goal of increasing both efficiency and specific impulse. A research effort using emission spectroscopy, two-color pyrometry and analytical modeling is being developed to better understand and minimize the major energy loss mechanisms in arcjet thrusters, for example; anode heat losses, viscous losses and frozen flow losses. Research in these areas will assist in optimizing the overall design configuration and thermal characteristics of arcjet propulsion devices. Keywords: Instability, Flames, Propulsion, Gas turbines, Combustions, Shear layer, Supersonic, Soot, Sprays, Boron, Lasers, Fluorescence, Rocket, Scramjet, Nitramines, Turbulence.