Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers (한국추진공학회지)

The Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers (한국추진공학회)
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Explosive Accidents and Safe Handling of an Experimental Liquid Rocket Engine Using Nitrous Oxide as Oxidizer

아산화질소를 산화제로 사용하는 실험용 액체로켓의 폭발사례 및 안전사용방안

  • Choi, Songyi (School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Korea Aerospace University) ;
  • Park, Sukyoung (School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Korea Aerospace University) ;
  • Lee, Donggun (School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Korea Aerospace University) ;
  • Kim, Dohun (Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Korea Aerospace University) ;
  • Koo, Jaye (School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Korea Aerospace University)
  • Received : 2014.08.27
  • Accepted : 2015.03.13
  • Published : 2015.04.01
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Abstract

Nitrous oxide is known as green and safe propellant, and can be supplied by its own vapor pressure. So, many liquid propulsion research institutes and university laboratories use nitrous oxide as oxidizer of experimental liquid rocket engine. However, the unknown explosions occurred twice during hot fire experiments using subscale ethanol/nitrous oxide thruster. In this paper, we surmised that the explosions were caused by the decomposition of nitrous oxide in the injector body and the recondensation of nitrous oxide. Improvement and the safe handling methods are suggested.

아산화질소는 친환경적이고 비교적 안전하며 자발가압으로 공급될 수 있어서 다수의 액체로켓엔진 관련 연구기관 및 학교에서 산화제로 사용하고 있다. 그러나 본 연구실에서 에탄올 및 기체 아산화질소 추진제 조합을 이용한 연소시험 중 원인을 알 수 없는 폭발 현상이 다수 발생하였고, 본 논문에서는 분사기 내부에서의 아산화질소 분해 반응, 아산화질소 공급압력을 높이기 위한 탱크 가열에 따른 배관 내 아산화질소 재응축을 폭발현상의 원인으로 지목하고 해결책 및 안전한 아산화질소 산화제 사용방안을 제시하였다.

Keywords

References

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