Soot Formation in Liquid Hydrocarbon and Amine Fuel Combustion

In our Phase I project, Reaction Design took a scientific approach to modeling soot scattering and emission signatures in rocket plumes. This approach combines chemical and physical models that describe soot formation and evolution from the engine combustion chamber to the rocket plume, enabling end-to-end simulation of plume conditions for given engine-operating parameters. Phase I focused on proof-of-concept implementation of sub-models and algorithms, creating software modules that will be incorporated into engine-plume flow simulations during Phase II. In Phase II, we will take these concepts and prototypes to the next stage. This will require several major tasks. First, we will establish an equivalent reactor-network approach to coupling rocket engine/plume transport simulations into a zonal map of connected reactive regions, in which detailed soot kinetics can take place. This approach builds on the software modules developed in Phase I, but extends their use to the practical plume-simulation environment. Second, the physical and chemical sub-models will be refined, thoroughly tested, and calibrated against experimental data. Third, the software modules will be advanced while maintaining the flexible, modular nature of the programs. Deliverables will include well defined APIs appropriate to commercial software, including end-user and programmer documentation.