Aluminum alkyl derivatives - Ignition and combustion enhancers for supersonic combustors

Abstract

The work in this article was based on adapting an apparatus and procedure developed for rating the ignition quality of fuels for diesel engines. Aluminum alky Is and various Lewis-base adducts of these materials, both neat and mixed 50/50 with pure JP-10 hydrocarbon, were injected into the combustion bomb using a highpressure injection system. The bomb was precharged with air that was set at various initial temperatures and pressures for constant oxygen density. The ignition delay times were determined for the test materials at these different initial conditions. The data are presented in absolute terms as well as comparisons with the parent alky Is. The relative heats of reaction of the various test materials were estimated based on a computation of the heat release, using the pressure data recorded during combustion in the bomb. In addition, the global reaction rates for each material were compared at a selected temperature and pressure.