Monopropellant Droplet Microexplosions under High Pressure and Temperature

The properties of micro-explosions of monopropellant LP1846 droplets in ambient conditions of 0.2～4.0 MPa, 673～973 K were investigated using a suspended droplet apparatus and a high speed camera. Three modes of micro-explosions, i.e., slight fragmentation of droplets before ignition, part and full fragmentations of droplets during burning period, were observed under different pressure and temperature, and characteristic photographs of droplet micro-explosions were given. Micro-explosion delay time, temperature and diameter of droplets were also measured quantitatively. Droplet micro-explosion mechanisms were analyzed primarily. It is suggested that the mechanisms of the three modes are the overheating of water component for the first mode, and liquid phase reactions, respectively. The results are of reference value to control combustion stability of LP1846 and design interior ballistics of regenerative liquid propellant guns.