CHED 326 |
| In order to determine combustion efficiency of a hybrid rocket motor during firing, ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy was used as a non-intrusive probe to measure OH radical temperature and concentration in the exhaust plume as a function of oxidizer flow. Radiation from a xenon arc lamp is passed through the rocket plume onto the entrance slits of a monochromator equipped with an intensified charge-coupled device array detector. Absorbance is measured around 306 nm and spectra are analyzed using a curve-fitting routine. Two improvements have been introduced to allow more accurate measurements: 1) a mass flow controller for the oxidizer has been installed and 2) new optical component mounts have been fabricated and/or purchased and installed to provide a more stable radiation path during rocket motor firings. Results show that the OH concentration does increase with flow rate at low flow, levels off at intermediate flow, and decreases at higher rates. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Analytical Chemistry
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |