US3021667A - Method for initiating the combustion of hydrazine - Google Patents
Method for initiating the combustion of hydrazine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3021667A US3021667A US359204A US35920453A US3021667A US 3021667 A US3021667 A US 3021667A US 359204 A US359204 A US 359204A US 35920453 A US35920453 A US 35920453A US 3021667 A US3021667 A US 3021667A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- hydrazine
- silver
- ignition
- combustion
- initiating
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- OAKJQQAXSVQMHS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrazine Chemical compound NN OAKJQQAXSVQMHS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 76
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 10
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 title claims description 5
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 title claims description 4
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- GGCZERPQGJTIQP-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium;9,10-dioxoanthracene-2-sulfonic acid Chemical compound [Na+].C1=CC=C2C(=O)C3=CC(S(=O)(=O)O)=CC=C3C(=O)C2=C1 GGCZERPQGJTIQP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000376 reactant Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 9
- 239000003380 propellant Substances 0.000 description 6
- 150000003378 silver Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 4
- 235000015842 Hesperis Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 235000012633 Iberis amara Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229940100890 silver compound Drugs 0.000 description 3
- 150000003379 silver compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- RBWNDBNSJFCLBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 7-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3h-[1]benzothiolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4-thione Chemical compound N1=CNC(=S)C2=C1SC1=C2CCC(C)C1 RBWNDBNSJFCLBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- MHAJPDPJQMAIIY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen peroxide Chemical compound OO MHAJPDPJQMAIIY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910017604 nitric acid Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- SDLBJIZEEMKQKY-UHFFFAOYSA-M silver chlorate Chemical compound [Ag+].[O-]Cl(=O)=O SDLBJIZEEMKQKY-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 101710134784 Agnoprotein Proteins 0.000 description 1
- GRYLNZFGIOXLOG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nitric acid Chemical compound O[N+]([O-])=O GRYLNZFGIOXLOG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FOIXSVOLVBLSDH-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver ion Chemical compound [Ag+] FOIXSVOLVBLSDH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000000354 decomposition reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- OJKANDGLELGDHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N disilver;dioxido(dioxo)chromium Chemical group [Ag+].[Ag+].[O-][Cr]([O-])(=O)=O OJKANDGLELGDHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000010892 electric spark Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008030 elimination Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003379 elimination reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003999 initiator Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011835 investigation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- SNICXCGAKADSCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N nicotine Chemical compound CN1CCCC1C1=CC=CN=C1 SNICXCGAKADSCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000007800 oxidant agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 1
- XQLMNMQWVCXIKR-UHFFFAOYSA-M silver bromate Chemical compound [Ag+].[O-]Br(=O)=O XQLMNMQWVCXIKR-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- NVMLBGDGWYDOBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-M silver;chlorite Chemical group [Ag+].[O-]Cl=O NVMLBGDGWYDOBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
- C06C—DETONATING OR PRIMING DEVICES; FUSES; CHEMICAL LIGHTERS; PYROPHORIC COMPOSITIONS
- C06C9/00—Chemical contact igniters; Chemical lighters
Definitions
- Our invention relates to the ignition of monopropel- .lant hydrazine by means of solid materials which are spontaneously reactive with hydrazine.
- hydrazine possesses utility as a liquid propellant for rockets and other applications. Its use as a bipropellant with liquid oxidizers such as nitric acid or hydrogen peroxide has been under investigation for several years. With such oxidizers hydrazine displays excellent self-igniting characteristics. In fact, hydrazine has been employed as a starting-fuel to ignite such fuel systems as gasoline-nitric acid by injecting a small quantity of hydrazine into the rocket motor along with or ahead of the main fuel system during start-up.
- hydrazine as a monopropellant presents a special ignition problem.
- An external source of energy may be used to initiate the monopropellant decomposition reaction. This would include an electric spark or glow-plug system, or injection of a liquid oxidizer during start-up.
- Solid materials which display satisfactory self-ignition characteristics with hydrazine have advantages, over other ignition methods, when used for the ignition of monopropellant hydrazine in certain applications as monopropellant rockets, gas-generators, or liquid propellant guns.
- Silver salts are reduced by hydrazine, and their reaction with hydrazine is usually more rapid than equivalent salts of other common metals.
- the silver salts of oxidizing acids are reduced by hydrazine, and the presence of the oxidizing radical simultaneously produces a vigorous oxidation of the hydrazine with the liberation of energy. This overall reaction produces a flaming or explosive ignition of the hydrazine. The presence of the silver ion alone, or the oxidizing radical alone, is not sufficient to produce the ignition reaction described.
- one aspect of our invention is a combustible mixture containing hydrazine and also containing a silver salt of an oxidizing acid as a combustion initiator for the hydrazine, and another aspect of our invention is a new method for initiating combustion of hydrazine by admixing the hydrazine with one of the aforementioned silver salts.
- our invention finds utility in any case where an ignitor is used in conjunction with monopropellant hydrazine, for example, rockets, gas generators and liquid propellant guns.
- monopropellant hydrazine for example, rockets, gas generators and liquid propellant guns.
- a generator having a catalyst bed containing a silver sal. useful in our invention either as a top layer, dispersed through the bed, or at some other suitable location will be self-starting upon contact of the hydrazine with the silver salt. This type of starting is satisfactory for a singleshot application Where the generator is to be operated only once, as in a rocket or guided missile.
- Our invention can also be employed in a caseless liquid monopropellant hydrazine gun.
- a liquid propellant caseless gun in which the propellant is pumped directly into the gun chamber, some separate source for ignition is required, since elimination of the shell case also eliminates the conventional primer.
- the ignitor material is injected into the chamber to accomplish ignition of the monopropellant charge, it is likely that a liquid ignitor would be more suitable than a solid ignitor material.
- the ignitor charge were to be carried in or on the base of the projectile, or in some other similar arrangement, it is likely that a solid ignitor would be more suitable than a liquid.
- a small charge of one of the solid silver salts which we use can be employed in such an arrangement, causing ignition when it is contacted with the hydrazine charge.
- a method for initiating the combustion of hydrazine which comprises reacting the hydrazine with a solid silver salt of an oxidizing acid to produce a flaming ignition of the hydrazine, the reaction system consisting essentially of the reactants and the resultants of reaction.
- Audrieth The Chemistry of Hydrazine, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York (1951), pp. 135, 138, 163, 183, 189, 199, 225, 227, 228.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
Description
Unite rates atet 3,021,667 METHOD FOR INlTiATlNG THE CGMBUSTIQN F HYDRAZHNE Donald N. Griiiin, Niagara Falls, and Donald R. Feller,
Grand island, NFL, assignors to Olin Mathieson Chernical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia No Drawing. Filed June 2, 1953, Ser. No. 359,294 Claims. (1. fill-35.4)
Our invention relates to the ignition of monopropel- .lant hydrazine by means of solid materials which are spontaneously reactive with hydrazine.
It is known in the art that hydrazine possesses utility as a liquid propellant for rockets and other applications. Its use as a bipropellant with liquid oxidizers such as nitric acid or hydrogen peroxide has been under investigation for several years. With such oxidizers hydrazine displays excellent self-igniting characteristics. In fact, hydrazine has been employed as a starting-fuel to ignite such fuel systems as gasoline-nitric acid by injecting a small quantity of hydrazine into the rocket motor along with or ahead of the main fuel system during start-up.
The use of hydrazine as a monopropellant presents a special ignition problem. An external source of energy may be used to initiate the monopropellant decomposition reaction. This would include an electric spark or glow-plug system, or injection of a liquid oxidizer during start-up.
Solid materials which display satisfactory self-ignition characteristics with hydrazine have advantages, over other ignition methods, when used for the ignition of monopropellant hydrazine in certain applications as monopropellant rockets, gas-generators, or liquid propellant guns.
Silver salts are reduced by hydrazine, and their reaction with hydrazine is usually more rapid than equivalent salts of other common metals. In accordance with our present invention, we have discovered that the silver salts of oxidizing acids are reduced by hydrazine, and the presence of the oxidizing radical simultaneously produces a vigorous oxidation of the hydrazine with the liberation of energy. This overall reaction produces a flaming or explosive ignition of the hydrazine. The presence of the silver ion alone, or the oxidizing radical alone, is not sufficient to produce the ignition reaction described.
We have tested the following silver compounds and have found them to be efiective in producing flaming ignition of hydrazine and various hydrazine propellant mixtures: AgClO AgClO AgClO AgBrO AgNO AgNO and Ag CrO Thus, one aspect of our invention is a combustible mixture containing hydrazine and also containing a silver salt of an oxidizing acid as a combustion initiator for the hydrazine, and another aspect of our invention is a new method for initiating combustion of hydrazine by admixing the hydrazine with one of the aforementioned silver salts.
In order to test the utility of various silver compounds as ignitors for hydrazine, we performed a series of tests involving dropping a small quantity of hydrazine or hydrazine-containing mixture onto small samples of such compounds in air. The reaction was observed visually. Table I sets forth the results obtained using a variety of silver compounds with three difierent hydrazine-containing mixtures.
ice
Table I 93% NHL, 65% X2134, 30% 62% Nzfll, 33% Sample 2% H2O M 1 0;, 2% NgHr O3, 8%
Yes. Slow e Yes. Detonates.-- Slow No Yes- No AgNOzh Yes. A AggOrO Yes Yes No.
Noru.Yes indicates prompt flaming ignition. Slow indicates flaming ignition after slight delay.
We have also conducted numerous tests in a small caliber gun in which monopropellant hydrazine charges have been ignited successfully by the injection into the gun chamber of very small quantities of the silver salts employed in accordance with our invention, particularly silver chlorate, silver perchlorate and silver bromate. In these tests the weight of the salt amounted to approximately 1 percent of the total charge in the gun chamber.
Our invention finds utility in any case where an ignitor is used in conjunction with monopropellant hydrazine, for example, rockets, gas generators and liquid propellant guns. For instance, in the ignition of a hydrazine monopropellant gas generator of the fixed catalyst bed type, a generator having a catalyst bed containing a silver sal. useful in our invention either as a top layer, dispersed through the bed, or at some other suitable location, will be self-starting upon contact of the hydrazine with the silver salt. This type of starting is satisfactory for a singleshot application Where the generator is to be operated only once, as in a rocket or guided missile.
Our invention can also be employed in a caseless liquid monopropellant hydrazine gun. In a liquid propellant caseless gun in which the propellant is pumped directly into the gun chamber, some separate source for ignition is required, since elimination of the shell case also eliminates the conventional primer. it the ignitor material is injected into the chamber to accomplish ignition of the monopropellant charge, it is likely that a liquid ignitor would be more suitable than a solid ignitor material. However, if the ignitor charge were to be carried in or on the base of the projectile, or in some other similar arrangement, it is likely that a solid ignitor would be more suitable than a liquid. A small charge of one of the solid silver salts which we use can be employed in such an arrangement, causing ignition when it is contacted with the hydrazine charge.
We claim:
1. A method for initiating the combustion of hydrazine which comprises reacting the hydrazine with a solid silver salt of an oxidizing acid to produce a flaming ignition of the hydrazine, the reaction system consisting essentially of the reactants and the resultants of reaction.
2. A method according to claim 1 in which said silver salt is silver chlorite.
3. A method according to claim 1 in which said silver salt is silver chlorate.
4. A method according to claim 1 in which said silver salt is silver perchlorate.
5. A method according to claim 1 in which said silver salt is silver chromate.
References Cited in the file of this patent Friederich et al.: Zeitschrift fur das Gesarnte Schiessund Sprengstotiwesen, vol. 21, pp. 49-52, 6569, 84-87, 103-105, 143-146 (1926).
Audrieth: The Chemistry of Hydrazine, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York (1951), pp. 135, 138, 163, 183, 189, 199, 225, 227, 228.
Claims (1)
1. A METHOD FOR INITIATING THE COMBUSTION OF HYDRAZINE WHICH COMPRISES REACTING THE HYDRAZINE WITH A SOLID SILVER SALT OF AN OXIDIZING ACID TO PRODUCE A FLAMING IGNITION OF THE HYDRAZINE, THE REACTION SYSTEM CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF THE REACTANTS AND THE RESULTANTS OF REACTION.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US359204A US3021667A (en) | 1953-06-02 | 1953-06-02 | Method for initiating the combustion of hydrazine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US359204A US3021667A (en) | 1953-06-02 | 1953-06-02 | Method for initiating the combustion of hydrazine |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3021667A true US3021667A (en) | 1962-02-20 |
Family
ID=23412779
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US359204A Expired - Lifetime US3021667A (en) | 1953-06-02 | 1953-06-02 | Method for initiating the combustion of hydrazine |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3021667A (en) |
Cited By (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3164505A (en) * | 1962-10-25 | 1965-01-05 | Ncr Co | Gelling of hydrazine |
| US3298182A (en) * | 1964-06-24 | 1967-01-17 | James E Webb | Ignition means for monopropellant |
| US3665708A (en) * | 1969-10-01 | 1972-05-30 | Us Army | Gas generation process using metal carbonyls as additives |
| US3710573A (en) * | 1967-07-05 | 1973-01-16 | Us Army | Hydrazine monopropellant process using a gas generating bed |
| US3732693A (en) * | 1970-11-27 | 1973-05-15 | Chin Chu Ju | Controllable solid propulsion system |
| US3732694A (en) * | 1968-01-18 | 1973-05-15 | Trw Inc | Method for the catalytic decomposition of monopropellant hydrazine |
| US3734792A (en) * | 1971-05-28 | 1973-05-22 | Us Army | Method for retarding the decomposition of hydrazine rocket fuels in contact with maraging steels |
| US3757520A (en) * | 1967-07-05 | 1973-09-11 | Us Army | Catalytic gas generation using a hydrazine with an oxidizer on an inert substrate |
| US4161104A (en) * | 1968-12-16 | 1979-07-17 | Rockwell International Corporation | Ignition of hydrazine-type monopropellants |
| US4620415A (en) * | 1983-09-29 | 1986-11-04 | Rocket Research Company | Method for initiating decomposition of hydrazine fuels |
-
1953
- 1953-06-02 US US359204A patent/US3021667A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| None * |
Cited By (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3164505A (en) * | 1962-10-25 | 1965-01-05 | Ncr Co | Gelling of hydrazine |
| US3298182A (en) * | 1964-06-24 | 1967-01-17 | James E Webb | Ignition means for monopropellant |
| US3710573A (en) * | 1967-07-05 | 1973-01-16 | Us Army | Hydrazine monopropellant process using a gas generating bed |
| US3757520A (en) * | 1967-07-05 | 1973-09-11 | Us Army | Catalytic gas generation using a hydrazine with an oxidizer on an inert substrate |
| US3732694A (en) * | 1968-01-18 | 1973-05-15 | Trw Inc | Method for the catalytic decomposition of monopropellant hydrazine |
| US4161104A (en) * | 1968-12-16 | 1979-07-17 | Rockwell International Corporation | Ignition of hydrazine-type monopropellants |
| US3665708A (en) * | 1969-10-01 | 1972-05-30 | Us Army | Gas generation process using metal carbonyls as additives |
| US3732693A (en) * | 1970-11-27 | 1973-05-15 | Chin Chu Ju | Controllable solid propulsion system |
| US3734792A (en) * | 1971-05-28 | 1973-05-22 | Us Army | Method for retarding the decomposition of hydrazine rocket fuels in contact with maraging steels |
| US4620415A (en) * | 1983-09-29 | 1986-11-04 | Rocket Research Company | Method for initiating decomposition of hydrazine fuels |
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