Monopropellant droplet decomposition for large activation energies

Abstract

An asymptotic theory has been developed for the quasi-steady decompositon of a monopropellant droplet in a quiescent atmosphere, when the gas decompositon reaction is of the Arrhenius type, with an activation temperature E/R much larger than the characteristic gas temperature. By formulating the problem mathematically, it is shown how, in the limit of large activation energies, regions of near equilibrium flow or frozen flow may coexist in the flow field. The nearly frozen ignition regime is then analyzed, and complete decomposition and the partial decomposition regimes are presented.