Flame Dynamics in the Combustion Chamber of Hybrid Rocket Using Multiangle Chemiluminescence

The flame dynamics in the combustion chamber of a hybrid rocket motor were visualized using novel chemiluminescence imaging. A multidirectional visualization system employing 3x1 endoscopes generated images based on methylidyne chemiluminescence (CH*), with one endoscope in the precombustion chamber and two in the postcombustion chamber. Images were collected with a high speed camera using a 1 ms exposure and a 1 kHz frame rate. Fuel grains having a helical or a conventional circular port structures were assessed, and combustion trials were conducted using a laboratory scale hybrid rocket motor with oxygen as the oxidizer at mass flow rates from 10.43 to 18.51 g/s: equivalent to combustion chamber pressures ranging from 0.7 to 1.24 MPa. Flame structures were observed during the ignition, combustion, and shutdown stages; and the helical grain generated a larger, more intense flame zone. A proper orthogonal decomposition analysis showed that the helical grains also produced a greater degree of turbulence and stronger oscillations. These results confirm that a helical structure increases the flow turbulence and convective heat transfer in the combustion chamber. These effects lead to higher regression rates and better mixing efficiency that may, in turn, provide greater combustion efficiency at optimized oxidizer/fuel ratios