OH-absorption measurements in the Ethene - Dinitrogen monoxida reaction system

Abstract

Hydrazine fuel is an efficient propellant used extensively in aerospace industry, particularly to propel rocket and satellites. Its thermo-chemical and thermophysical properties and its reliability with respect to re-ignition of space propulsion systems provide enough reasons for its use up to date. However, it has big disadvantages: highly toxic, corrosive and dangerous unless handled in solution. EU-REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) had approved in the last years some regulations to restrict the use of hydrazine. So, in the near future, the use of hydrazine will be severely restricted in Europe and alternative propulsion fuels will be required. This work is related to one step of a long process to investigate the suitability of ethene as an alternative propulsion fuel for the aerospace industry. Ethene / dinitrogen monoxide fuelled propulsion systems could be one among a variety of fuels and oxidants. Thus, fundamental combustion data are required to validate reaction models used for propulsion system simulations at different design steps. Therefore, information on the OH-formation and consumption on the reaction system’s pathway towards ignition is of special interest. The goal of this study is to investigate by means of OH absorption measurements the ethene - dinitrogen monoxide reaction system.