Influence of Polyisobutylene Kerosene Additive on Combustion Efficiency in a Liquid Propellant Rocket Engine

Abstract

The combustion of kerosene with the polymer additive polyisobutylene (PIB) was experimentally investigated. The aim of the study was to measure the effect of PIB kerosene on the efficiency of combustion chamber cooling and the combustion efficiency of the liquid propellant for a rocket engine operating on kerosene and gaseous oxygen (GOX). The study was conducted on an experimental rocket engine using kerosene wall film cooling in the combustion chamber. Fire tests showed that the addition of polyisobutylene to kerosene had no significant effect on the combustion efficiency. However, analysis of the wall temperature measurement results showed that the use of PIB kerosene is more effective for film cooling than pure kerosene, which can increase the efficiency of combustion chamber cooling and subsequently increase its reliability and reusability. Thus, the findings of this study are expected to be of use in further investigations of wall film cooling efficiency.

Effect of Polymer Drag Reducer on Rheological Properties of Rocket Kerosene Solutions

“…According to this idea, the molecular structure of each component is shown in Figure 1. Experimental studies have shown that polyisobutene used in combustion chamber cooling channels can significantly reduce pressure loss [26], so polyisobutene was selected as the drag reduction agent (DRA). The polymer chains were composed of NS monomers.…”

“…Acco idea, the molecular structure of each component is shown in Figure 1. E studies have shown that polyisobutene used in combustion chamber cooling c significantly reduce pressure loss [26], so polyisobutene was selected a reduction agent (DRA). The polymer chains were composed of NS monom initial stage, Np polymer chains were randomly distributed in the simulatio polymer chains with different lengths were considered: NS = 36 and NS = 60.…”