FireDOC Search

Author
Calcote, H. F.
Title
Combustion Experiments in Orbiting Spacecraft. Final Report. June 3, 1974-December 30, 1974.
Coporate
AeroChem Research Labs., Inc., Princeton, NJ
Sponsor
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Report
TP 316, December 1974, 58 p.
Distribution
Available from National Technical Information Service
Contract
NAS7-100 CIT/JPL-953872
Keywords
spacecraft | bibliographies | combustion | space shuttle | flammability limits | burning velocity | weightlessness
Identifiers
zero gravity
Abstract
A study was carried out to determine what fundamental combustion experiments were chosen from (1) a review of the status of experimental combustion research, (2) consideration of the environment offered by the space shuttle, and (3) consideration of anticipated requirements for future combustion information. Lean combustion measurements on earth are confounded by gravitational convection effects. In addition to utilizing the zero gravity environment offered by the space shuttle, the large pumping cpacity of space would be used. It is demonstrated that future needs for increasing quantities of energy will, for many decades, be dependent upon combustion of fossil fuels, and that to efficiently use available resources and to minimize degradation of the environment better understanding of lean limit phenomena will be required. Specifically, it is proposed to (1) determine lean flammability limits as a function of temperature and pressure, (2) determine burning velocity near the lean limit, and (3) measure the product gases after ignition.