High efficient solid composite propellant combustion by electric control

In this study, the influence of a direct-current electric field under high pressures on the burning rate and combustion efficiency of a propellant were investigated, and the results were verified by solid rocket motor (SRM) experiments. The effects of the electric field on combustion of propellant were studied at various ambient pressures (1–7 MPa) and different applied voltages (−5 to 5 kV). It was found that an applied electric field had a catalytic effect on the propellant combustion at different ambient pressures. When applying an electric field at 1 MPa, as the applied voltage increased from 0 to 5 kV, the burning rate and combustion efficiency increased from 3.390 to 3.884 mm/s, combustion efficiency increased from 95.13 % to 97.45 %, respectively. However, a high ambient pressure weakened the burning rate catalytic influence of the applied electric field. Hot firing of the SRM verified that the electric field could increase the thrust and the specific impulse of the motor by 6.1N(25.3 %) and 7.5s(3.3 %), respectively. Additionally, the forward electric field had a greater catalytic effect on the propellant combustion than the reverse electric field. The high-strength applied electric field was found to catalyze particle charge acceleration, the rupture of aluminum droplets, and ion excitation. By utilizing this phenomenon, the combustion, and energetic properties of solid rocket motors (SRMs) can be finely adjusted using an electric field. The results of this research contribute to the advancement of a more effective approach for thrust control in SRMs. Novelty and significance: This study investigates the effects of an electric field on aluminum droplets and combustion flames in propellants. An experimental setup was designed to regulate the combustion of solid propellants using an electric field, and this setup was tested in a solid rocket motor. A specialized electric field experiment apparatus and an electric field-regulated motor were designed to validate the influence of the electric field on propellant combustion. The results show that the electric field increased the propellant's combustion rate by up to 8.8 % and improved combustion efficiency by up to 1.81 %. An electric field of 1.5 kV increased the motor's thrust by 6.1 N and the specific impulse by 7.5 s. This research elucidates the impact of electric field strength and direction on propellant combustion characteristics and analyzes the underlying mechanisms from the perspective of combustion flames and aluminum particle behavior. The study provides a new approach for energy management in solid rocket motors.