Interface-Tracking Simulations of Droplet Vaporization and Burning of Hypergolic Propellants

The vaporization and burning of the N2H4 and NTO droplets were simulated with the interface-tracking method to accurately explore the auto-ignition processes and the flame structures. The N2H4 vapor plume developed behind the N2H4 droplet and reacted with the ambient NO2 gas through the hydrogen abstraction reactions. Thus, the N2H4 vapor and NO2 gas mixtures behind the droplet were preheated and reached the auto-ignition at a few ms. The auto-ignition occurred in the multiple points almost at the same time. After the ignition, the premixed flame developed around the droplet. Thus, the vaporization of the liquid N2H4 near the surface became significant. Then, the double flame structures which comprise the inner decomposition flame and oxidation flame appeared around the droplet. The NTO droplet was not auto-ignited in the computational time of the present study because little N2O4 vapor near a saturated temperature decomposed to NO2 gas which is necessary for the hydrogen abstraction reactions. When the ignition was forced, the double flames developed. The outer decomposition flame propagated to the boundaries of the computational domain, while the inner oxidation flame appeared near the droplet. Except for the propagation of the decomposition flame, the NTO droplet combustion was similar to that of the industrial fuels.