Abstract
The use of metals as high-energy fuel additives is generally compromised by the appearance of a strongly protective oxide layer that covers the fuel surface. The previous work concentrated on the elimination of the oxide layer by a global, symmetry-conserving attack, using an admixture of aggressive chemical constituents in the ambient atmosphere, a strong flux of radiation, or strongly shearing gas flows designed to intensely strain the surface layer. This paper shows that symmetry breaking leads to a different approach to ignition. For a liquid oxide layer, destabilization can be obtained via the Marangoni effect associated with longitudinal surface stress, thus breaking the translational symmetry in longitudinal directions. The thermodynamic state of the layer is described in a thin-film model, which leads to a creeping-flow approximation. Ignition by way of the Marangoni effect is then shown to result from spreading of punctures and ruptures in the oxide layer, which is a prerequisite for layer thinning or even complete layer removal. Boron-particle ignition is selected to illustrate the theory, because the well-known difficulties with boron ignitability have greatly impaired the use of boron fuel in propulsion devices. It is shown that, for ambient temperatures below 1634 K, the oxide surface layer can be destabilized by way of punctures and ruptures, owing to the peculiar property of the boron oxide, namely, positive Marangoni numbers. Previous models of boron-particle ignition insisted on conservation of symmetry and expressly excluded the appearance of punctures and ruptures. Because of this constraint, a critical ambient temperature of 1900 K for boron ignition was obtained, so that the new value of 1634 K opens up a novel approach to ignition.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
W. Zhou, R. A. Yetter, F. L. Dryer, et al., “A comprehensive physical and numerical model of boron particle ignition,” in: Proc. 26th Int. Symp. on Combustion (1996), pp. 1909–1917.
G. Mohan and F. A. Williams, “Ignition and combustion of boron in O2/inert atmospheres,” AIAA J., 10, 776–783 (1972).
A. N. Zolotko, A. M. Matsko, D. I. Poleshchuk, et al., “Ignition of a two-component gas suspension of metal particles,” Combust., Expl., Shock Waves, 16, No. 1, 20–23 (1980).
D. A. Frank-Kamenetskii, Diffusion and Heat Transfer in Chemical Kinetics, Plenum, New York (1969).
I. Glassman, F. A. Williams, and P. Antaki, “A physical and chemical interpretation of boron particle combustion,” in: Proc. 20th Combustion Symp. (1984), pp. 2057–2064.
A. L. Breiter, V. M. Mal’tsev, and E. I. Popov, “Models of metal ignition,” Combust., Expl., Shock Waves, 13, No. 4, 475–484 (1977).
V. I. Rozenband and N. I. Vaganova, “A strength model of heterogeneous ignition of metal particles,” Combust. Flame, 88, 113–118 (1992).
D. A. Yagodnikov and A. V. Voronetskii, “Experimental and theoretical study of the ignition and combustion of an aerosol of encapsulated aluminum particles,” Combust., Expl., Shock Waves, 33, No. 1, 49–55 (1997).
S. H. Davis, “Thermocapillary instabilities,” Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech., 19, 403–435 (1987).
D. Meinköhn, “Liquid oxide surface layers in metal combustion,” Combust. Theory Model., 8, 315–338 (2004).
L. M. Pismen, “Symmetry breaking and pattern selection,” in: V. Hlavacek (ed.), Chemical Engineering: Concepts and Reviews (Dynamics of Nonlinear Systems), Gordon and Breach, New York (1986), pp. 47–83.
F. A. Williams, Combustion Theory, 2nd ed., Benjamin-Cummings, Menlo Park (1985).
D. Z. Safaneev, L. Ya. Kashporov, and Yu. M. Grigor’ev, “Heat-liberation kinetics in boron-oxygen interaction,” Combust., Expl., Shock Waves, 17, No. 2, 210–214 (1981).
M. K. King, “Ignition and combustion of boron particles and clouds,” J. Spacecraft, 19, 294–306 (1982).
C. K. Law, “A simplified theoretical model for vapor-phase combustion of metal particles,” Combust. Sci. Technol., 7, 197–212 (1973).
A. Ulas, K. K. Kuo, and C. Gotzmer, “Ignition and combustion of boron particles in fluorine-containing environments,” Combust. Flame, 12, 1935–1957 (2001).
D. Meinköhn, “The ignition of boron particles,” Combust. Flame, 59, 225–232 (1985).
T. A. Brzustowski and I. Glassman, “Vapor-phase diffusion flames in the combustion of magnesium and aluminum,” in: H. G. Wolfhard et al. (eds.), Progress in Astronautic and Aeronautics, Vol. 15: Heterogeneous Combustion (1964), pp. 117–158.
M. Salita, “Deficiencies and requirements in modeling of slag generation in solid rocket motors,” J. Propuls. Power, 11, 10–23 (1995).
J. Happel and H. Brenner, Low Reynolds Number Hydrodynamics, Leyden, Noordhoff (1973).
J. P. Burelbach, S. C. Bankoff, and S. H. Davis, “Nonlinear stability of evaporating/condensing liquid films,” J. Fluid Mech., 195, 463–499 (1988).
E. E. Shpilrain, K. A. Yakimovich, and A. F. Tsitsarkin, “Surface tension of liquid boric oxide at up to 2100°C,” High Temperature (USSR), 12, 77–82 (1974).
M. K. King, “A review of studies of boron ignition and combustion phenomena at Atlantic Research Corporation over the past decade,” in: K. K. Kuo and R. Pein (eds.), Proc. 2nd Int. Symp. on Special Topics in Chemical Propulsion: Combustion of Boron-Based Solid Propellants and Solid Fuels (Boca Raton, 1993), CRC Press, pp. 1–80.
A. N. Zolotko, L. A. Klyachko, K. M. Kopeika, et al., “Critical ignition conditions for boron particles suspended in a gas,” Combust., Expl., Shock Waves, 13, No. 1, 31–35 (1977).
A. I. Grigor’ev, I. D. Grigor’eva, and V. I. Sigimov, “Oxidation kinetics of boron,” Combust., Expl., Shock Waves, 12, No. 1, 44–46 (1976).
Gmelin, Gmelins Handbuch der Anorganischen Chemie, Boron Compounds, 1st Suppl. Vol. 1, Springer Verlag (1980).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
__________
Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 39–52, March–April, 2006.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meinköhn, D. Metal-particle ignition and oxide-layer instability. Combust Explos Shock Waves 42, 158–169 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10573-006-0034-6
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10573-006-0034-6