Plasma-propellant interaction at low plasma energies in ETC guns

• Published in: IEEE transactions on magnetics Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 227 - 230
• Main Authors: Goldenberg, C., Zoler, D., Shafir, N., Roshu, S., Wald, S., Shapira, M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.01.2003; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemistry; Combustion. Flame; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Guns; Ignition; Magnetic levitation, propulsion and control devices; Magnetism; Miscellaneous; Plasma; Plasma density; Plasma devices; Plasma simulation; Plasma temperature; Power system simulation; Propellants; Pulse power systems; Temperature effects; Temperature sensors; Various equipment and components; Gun; Electromagnetic launchers; Ignition; Measurement sensor; Combustion; Experimental study; Plasma application; Electrothermal launchers; sensors; Solid propellant; Launching; Ignition delay; plasma
• ISSN: 0018-9464; 1941-0069
• DOI: 10.1109/TMAG.2002.805945

The ignition of solid propellants by plasma jets with high temperature and density has been suggested as an improvement over conventional primers. Plasma ignition may enable the ignition of propellant charges with high loading density and/or low sensitivity, which is difficult using conventional primers. In addition, plasma ignition can provide a better control of the ballistic process, improving repeatability and enabling compensation for the propellant temperature effect. Due to the typically large volume and weight of electrical energy storage devices and pulsed power systems, which increase with the required energy, it is important to reduce the amount of plasma energy needed for ignition. In this paper, we present and analyze experiments performed in a gun simulator as well as a series of 105-mm gun firings. The aim is to improve the understanding of the plasma-propellant interaction at low plasma energies, in order to reduce the energy needed for a proper propellant ignition and smooth ballistic process.