Combustion characteristics of Al/B loaded Gel fuel droplets under high temperature and pressure

This research investigates the combustion behavior of aluminum and boron loaded gel fuel droplets (10–20 wt%) under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. High-speed and color imaging captured the combustion process. The addition of gellant induces micro-explosions that enhance the burning r...

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Main Authors: Mengxiong Li, Chuxiang Sun, Qingyu Li, Qingchun Yang, Hongxin Wang, Xu Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Fuel Processing Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378382025000967
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author Mengxiong Li
Chuxiang Sun
Qingyu Li
Qingchun Yang
Hongxin Wang
Xu Xu
author_facet Mengxiong Li
Chuxiang Sun
Qingyu Li
Qingchun Yang
Hongxin Wang
Xu Xu
author_sort Mengxiong Li
collection DOAJ
description This research investigates the combustion behavior of aluminum and boron loaded gel fuel droplets (10–20 wt%) under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. High-speed and color imaging captured the combustion process. The addition of gellant induces micro-explosions that enhance the burning rate; however, increasing particle concentration weakens this effect. At high concentrations, early particle shell formation hinders gel layer development, suppressing micro-explosions. Both micro-explosions and particle shells promote liquid-phase combustion. At low concentrations, micro-explosions dominate the enhancement, while at high concentrations, larger, early-formed particle shells are the primary contributor. Increasing ambient pressure reduces micro-explosion intensity but shortens ignition delay and raises the burning rate. Under high pressure, weak micro-explosions offer less enhancement and lead to larger particle agglomerates. Aluminum and boron gel droplets show similar liquid-phase behavior, but differ in particle combustion: aluminum ignites under all conditions, while boron requires higher pressures. The combustion process of high-concentration gel droplets under elevated conditions is divided into four stages: Stable Combustion, Particle Shell Formation, Particle Agglomerate Ignition, and Molten Particle Combustion. This staged model emphasizes the dominant role of particle shells, with minor contributions from micro-explosions.
format Article
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institution DOAJ
issn 0378-3820
language English
publishDate 2025-10-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Fuel Processing Technology
spelling doaj-art-9666896fbc7b41c381d59e6b72beddc22025-08-20T02:47:35ZengElsevierFuel Processing Technology0378-38202025-10-0127610827210.1016/j.fuproc.2025.108272Combustion characteristics of Al/B loaded Gel fuel droplets under high temperature and pressureMengxiong Li0Chuxiang Sun1Qingyu Li2Qingchun Yang3Hongxin Wang4Xu Xu5School of Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; National Key Laboratory of aerospace liquid propulsion, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaDepartment of Aerospace and Geodesy, Technical University of Munich, Garching 85748, Germany; Corresponding authors at: Department of Aerospace and Geodesy, Technical University of Munich, Garching 85748, Germany.School of Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; National Key Laboratory of aerospace liquid propulsion, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Aerospace and Geodesy, Technical University of Munich, Garching 85748, Germany.This research investigates the combustion behavior of aluminum and boron loaded gel fuel droplets (10–20 wt%) under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. High-speed and color imaging captured the combustion process. The addition of gellant induces micro-explosions that enhance the burning rate; however, increasing particle concentration weakens this effect. At high concentrations, early particle shell formation hinders gel layer development, suppressing micro-explosions. Both micro-explosions and particle shells promote liquid-phase combustion. At low concentrations, micro-explosions dominate the enhancement, while at high concentrations, larger, early-formed particle shells are the primary contributor. Increasing ambient pressure reduces micro-explosion intensity but shortens ignition delay and raises the burning rate. Under high pressure, weak micro-explosions offer less enhancement and lead to larger particle agglomerates. Aluminum and boron gel droplets show similar liquid-phase behavior, but differ in particle combustion: aluminum ignites under all conditions, while boron requires higher pressures. The combustion process of high-concentration gel droplets under elevated conditions is divided into four stages: Stable Combustion, Particle Shell Formation, Particle Agglomerate Ignition, and Molten Particle Combustion. This staged model emphasizes the dominant role of particle shells, with minor contributions from micro-explosions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378382025000967Metallized gel fuelSingle dropletMicro-explosionCombustion characteristics
spellingShingle Mengxiong Li
Chuxiang Sun
Qingyu Li
Qingchun Yang
Hongxin Wang
Xu Xu
Combustion characteristics of Al/B loaded Gel fuel droplets under high temperature and pressure
Fuel Processing Technology
Metallized gel fuel
Single droplet
Micro-explosion
Combustion characteristics
title Combustion characteristics of Al/B loaded Gel fuel droplets under high temperature and pressure
title_full Combustion characteristics of Al/B loaded Gel fuel droplets under high temperature and pressure
title_fullStr Combustion characteristics of Al/B loaded Gel fuel droplets under high temperature and pressure
title_full_unstemmed Combustion characteristics of Al/B loaded Gel fuel droplets under high temperature and pressure
title_short Combustion characteristics of Al/B loaded Gel fuel droplets under high temperature and pressure
title_sort combustion characteristics of al b loaded gel fuel droplets under high temperature and pressure
topic Metallized gel fuel
Single droplet
Micro-explosion
Combustion characteristics
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378382025000967
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AT chuxiangsun combustioncharacteristicsofalbloadedgelfueldropletsunderhightemperatureandpressure
AT qingyuli combustioncharacteristicsofalbloadedgelfueldropletsunderhightemperatureandpressure
AT qingchunyang combustioncharacteristicsofalbloadedgelfueldropletsunderhightemperatureandpressure
AT hongxinwang combustioncharacteristicsofalbloadedgelfueldropletsunderhightemperatureandpressure
AT xuxu combustioncharacteristicsofalbloadedgelfueldropletsunderhightemperatureandpressure