Experimental Study of the Carbon Deposits Accumulation in the Oxygen-Methane Model Gas Path

Abstract

The paper considers mechanisms of the carbon deposits formation on the metal surface at contact with the gas phase containing products of incomplete combustion of the oxygen-methane generator gas. The first mechanism is the socalled mechanism of metal dust formation, which products remain on the wall surface and form the carbon deposits, the second is the mechanism of carbon deposits formation associated with the carbon particles in the gas flow, which are being deposited on the wall. An experimental system was developed with the working section being a model path of the oxygen-methane generator gas of the reducing composition; and accumulation of the carbon deposits was experimentally studied. When selecting performance characteristics of the experimental system, features of the liquid rocket engine gas path were taken into account; therefor, the experimental system was having characteristics closer to the expected characteristics of the full-scale gas path. Intensities of the deposit formation on samples of metallic material and reference quartz were compared. It was established that the main mechanism for the carbon deposits formation was precipitation of soot contained in the generator gas flow onto the wall of the gas path. The number of deposits was determined by weight. The range of the fuel components ratio was identified, where formation of the deposits was minimal