Abstract
Mixing solid particles has been recognized as a effective means of getting highly promoting combustion ability of hydrocarbons, which has been attempted to be used for aviation and space vehicle engines. In this study, ignition and combus-tion characteristics of a solid paritcle mixed fuel drop have been measured under normal gravity and microgravity conditions in order to get a fundamental understanding on com-bustion processes of a solid particle mixed fuel spray. The experiments were conducted in a drop tower, which has a fall of 710 m and a duration of 10 seconds of the microgravi-ty condition. A mixture of magnesium or pure carbon powder and n-Dodecane or n-Hexadecane were used for solid particle mixed fuel which has a 40‰ mixing ratio. Comparison of the experimental results between under the microgravity condition and under the normal gravity condition clarifies differences in combustion characteristics between the two. The minimum ignition temperature of the fuel droplet under micro-gravity was lower than that of under normal gravity, and the flame expansion ratio of the carbon slurry under microgravity in high ambient temperatures more than 1000K was larger than that in lower ambient temperatures.
