Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development and Testing of the Laser System of Ignition of Rocket Engines

  • Published:
Combustion, Explosion, and Shock Waves Aims and scope

Abstract

This paper describes an experimental study pertaining to laser ignition of igniters of liquid rocket engines operating on such propellants as O\(_{2g}\) + kerosene, O\(_{2g}\) + ethanol, and O\(_{2g}\) + H\(_{2g}\), and to how they ignite the propellant of a model combustion chamber. A quartz fiber based optical device is described, which allows for multiple ignition of the igniter and the combustion chamber without replacing the device. This study also touches upon possible types of pulsed lasers used in the laser ignition system, a fiber-optic laser igniter that remain hermetic and operable at a combustion chamber pressure of up to 10 MPa and more than 100 ignition cycles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Ya. B. Zel’dovich, “Theory of Ignition by a Heated Surface," Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. 9 (12), 1530–1534 (1939).

  2. N. N. Semenov, “Thermal Theory of Combustion and Explosions," Usp. Fiz. Nauk 23 (3), 251–292 (1940).

  3. Ya. B. Zel’dovich, G. I. Barenblatt, V. B. Librovich, and G. M. Makhviladze, The Mathematical Theory of Combustion and Explosions (Consultants Bureau, 1985).

  4. B. Lewis and G. Von Elbe, Combustion, Flames and Explosions of Gases (Michigan University Press, 1938).

  5. F. A. Williams, Combustion Theory: The Fundamental Theory of Chemically Reacting Flow Systems (Benjamin-Cummings Publ., Menlo Park, 1985).

  6. L. N. Khitrin, The Physics of Combustion and Explosion (Israel Prgram for Scientific Translations, 1962).

  7. P. D. Ronney, “Laser Versus Conventional Ignition of Flames," Opt. Eng. 33 (2), 510–521 (1994).

  8. O. J. Haidn, “Advanced Rocket Engines," in Advances on Propulsion Technology for High-Speed Aircraft (RTO, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, 2008). (Educational Notes RTO-EN-AVT-150.)

  9. W. H. M. Welland, B. M. J. Brauers, and E. J. Vermeulen,Future Igniter Technologies, SP 2010_1841750 (Aerospace Propulsion Products BV, Klundert, The Netherlands).

  10. N. B. Ponomarev, G. A. Motalin, A. V. Ivanov, et al., “Laser Ignition—New Method for a Liquid Propellant Engine. Characteristics and Advantages," in Relevant Issues of Planetary Expeditions: Proc. of the Sci.-Eng. Conf. (Tsentr Keldysha, Moscow, 2006).

  11. A. V. Ivanov, S. G. Rebrov, N. B. Ponomarev, et al., “Adaptation of a Laser Ignition System to Combustion Chambers of Rocket Engines," in 7th Int. Symp. on Launcher Technologies (Barcelona, Spain, 2007).

  12. A. V. Ivanov, S. G. Rebrov, N. B. Ponomarev, “A Method for Igniting Propellant Components in a Combustion Chamber of a Rocket Engine and a Device for Its Implementation (Versions)," RF Patent No. 2326263, Priority June 10, 2008.

  13. P. D. Maker, R. W. Terhune, and C. M. Savage, “Optical Third Harmonic Generation," in Proc. of the 3rd Int. Quantum Electronics Conf., 1963 (Dunod, Paris, 1964).

  14. Yu. P. Raizer, “Breakdown and Heating of Gases Under the Action of a Laser Beam," Usp. Fiz. Nauk 87 (1), 29–64 (1965).

  15. G. V. Ostrovskaya and A. N. Zaidel’, “Laser Spark in Gases," Usp. Fiz. Nauk 111 (4), 579–615 (1973).

  16. Yu. P. Raizer, Laser Spark and Discharge Propagation (Nauka, Moscow, 1974) [in Russian].

  17. A. V. Kabashin and P. I. Nikitin, “Electric Fields of a Laser Spark Produced by Radiation with Various Parameters," Kvant. Elektron. 24 (6), 551–556 (1997) [Quant. Electron. 27 (3), 536–541 (1997)].

  18. R. W. Schmieder, “Laser Spark Ignition and Extinction of a Metane–Air Diffusion Flame," J. Appl. Phys. 52 (4), 3000–3003 (1981).

  19. J. A. Syage, E. W. Fourir, R. Rianda, and R. B. Cohen, “Dynamics of Flame Propagation Using Laser-Induced Spark Initiation: Ignition Energy Measurements," J. Appl. Phys. 64(3), 1499–1507 (1988).

  20. C. Manfletti and G. Kroupa, “Laser Ignition a Cryogenic Thruster Using a Miniaturized Nd: YAG Laser," Opt. Express.21 (S6), A1126–A1139 (2013); DOI:10.1364/OE.21.0A1126.

  21. A. V. Ivanov, S. G. Rebrov, A. N. Golikov, and V. Yu. Guterman, “Laser Ignition of Oxygen–Hydrogen and Oxygen–Methane Propellants," Aviakosm. Tekh. Tekhnol., No. 2, 47–54 (2008).

  22. A. N. Golikov, V. A. Golubev, and S. G. Rebrov, “Experimental Studies of Laser Ignition of Nonhypergolic Propellants in Low-Thrust Rocket Engines," Kosmonavt. Raketostr., No. 3(60), 92–100 (2010).

  23. S. G. Rebrov, V. A. Golubev, and A. N. Golikov, “Laser Ignition of an Oxygen–Kerosene Propellant in Rocket Equipment: from Ignition Devices to Propulsion Engines," Tr. Mosk. Aviats. Inst., No. 95 (2017); http://trudymai.ru/2017.

  24. S. Soller, N. Rackemann, A. Preuss, and G. Kroupa, “Application of Laser-Ignition Systems in Liquid Rocket Engines," inSPC2016 3124877 Conf., Paper May 2016; https:// www.researchgate.net/publication/303331267.

  25. K. Hasegawa, K. Kusaka, A. Kumakawa, et al., “Laser Ignition Characteristics of GOX/GH2 and GOX/GCH4Propellants," in 39th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conf. & Exhibit, 20–23 July 2003, Huntsville, Alabama(AIAA 2003-4906).

  26. N. B. Delone, Basics of Interaction of Laser Radiation with Matter (Atlantica Séguier Frontières, 1993).

  27. V. V. Apollonov and N. V. Pletnev, “Method for Nonuniformly Deriving Free Generation Energy of Higher Transverse Vibrations from a Laser and a Laser," RF Patent No. 2239921, Priority November 10, 2004.

  28. V. V. Apollonov and N. V. Pletnev, “Formation of Extended Conducting Channels in Atmosphere," Kvant. Elektron. 42 (2), 130–139 (2012) [Quant. Electron.42 (2),130–139 (2012)].

  29. A. Yariv, Introduction to Optical Electronics(Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1971).

  30. A. W. Snyder and J. Love, Optical Waveguide Theory(Springer, 1983).

  31. Pulsed Fiber Laser. YLP-1/100/20 Model: Manual(NTO IRE-Polyus, 2002).

  32. M. I. Arzuov, A. I. Barchukov, F. V. Bunkin, et al., “Self-Ignition of Continuous Optical Charge in Gases near Solid Targets," Kvant. Elektron. 2 (5), 963–966 (1975).

  33. S. M. Pershin, “Transformation of the Optical Spectrum of a Laser Plasma When a Surface Is Irradiated with a Double Pulse," Kvant. Elektron 16 (2), 325–330 (1989) [Quant. Electron. 19 (2), 215–218 (1989)].

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    N. V. Pletnev

  2. Keldysh Research Center, 125438, Moscow, Russia

    N. B. Ponomarev, G. A. Motalin & V. F. Murashov

Authors
  1. N. V. Pletnev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. B. Ponomarev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. A. Motalin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. V. F. Murashov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to N. V. Pletnev or N. B. Ponomarev.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pletnev, N.V., Ponomarev, N.B., Motalin, G.A. et al. Development and Testing of the Laser System of Ignition of Rocket Engines. Combust Explos Shock Waves 56, 181–187 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0010508220020094

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0010508220020094

Keywords

Search

Navigation