UCDS Unsteady Reaction Model

The UCDS process uses a rigorous theoretical model to understand the dynamics of combustion instability. In addition to predicting the amplitude of pressure oscillations, UCDS provides clear insight into why a propulsion device oscillates. To enhance and optimize UCDS for missile defense applications, GTL proposes to refine the UCDS unsteady combustion model to capture the special features of monopropellant and hypergolic combustion. To accomplish this, GTL intends to merge a new analytical chemistry model with a computational reactor model. The objective of this effort is to provide inputs to the UCDS distributed heat release model, which describes how the steady and unsteady heat release and temperature work together to feed energy into the wave motion of the chamber. With the capability to predict both the unsteady and steady heat release and temperature for complex reaction processes, it will be possible to begin to model the impact of multiphase effects, thermo-chemical processes and complex kinetics on the system dynamics. This will allow UCDS to begin to explain the available experimental data in order to reveal insight into how these processes really work in monopropellant and hypergolic propellant engines.