Investigation of the Oxidizer Charge Impact Onto Energetic Characteristics Demonstrated by the Stream of Gunpowder Gas Ejected by Solid-Propellant Missile Engines

The study discloses outputs from examinations devoted to charges of oxidizers and their impact on behaviour of missile engine operation with particular attention to measures that are undertaken to counteract stall of a helicopter engine. Homogenous solid propellant for missile engines exhibits a negative oxygen balance. When a series of rocket missiles driven by means of such fuel is launched from the helicopter board there is a hazard of the engine stall effect that may lead to killing its engines. Admixture of potassium (II) sulphate (VI) that is added into the combustion chamber of a missile engine as an inhibitor of the combustion reaction favourably alters characteristics of the engine output power and, at the same time, is irrelevant to the available thrust of the engine. Application of the oxidizer as an insert into the engine substantially improves flight safety when rocket missiles are launched from an aircraft and makes it possible to avoid significant changes in the engine design. The paper outlines the results from investigations when a charge of K2SO4 was introduced into the Mk66 missile engine as a compressed bar and the working parameters of the engine were measured. The investigations on a vertical workbench comprised measurements of the engine thrust and temperature in the stream of exhaust gases. The measurement results were compared against figures sourced from the original data sheets of engines.