Innovative Measurement Approaches for Harsh, Chemically Reacting Environments

In this proposal we exploit the remote sensing attributes of ultrasound to measure temperature, transient temperature and heat flux in liquid rocket combustion chambers. In previous work, we have demonstrated the capability to measure the local temperature at the inner surface of large caliber Navy guns using sensors attached to the external gun barrel surface (2.5” from the measurement point). In the proposed effort we improve the measurement methods to enable us to acquire temperature data more rapidly, modify our approach to fit the needs of the rocket combustion chamber, and enhance the analytical methods to accurately treat transients and extract heat flux from the ultrasonic data. The ability to locate sensors on the exterior surfaces of chambers removes the sensor from the chemically reactive environment and reduces the need for operation at extreme temperatures. Yet, the ability to obtain localized and instantaneous temperature data from previously inaccessible regions should enhance our ability to control and better understand liquid rocket combustion processes.