Combustion Studies of MMA/GO_x for a Hybrid Rocket Motor

Abstract

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA), used as a solid fuel in hybrid rockets. PMMA undergoes pyrolysis into predominantly gaseous MMA (C5H8O2), which then undergoes combustion with an oxygen stream in the combustion chamber. Experimental studies of this combustion chamber have been performed in literature, and this study performs simulations, which can access more data in the combustion chamber. Simulations of laminar diffusion and laminar diffusion flames are performed using NGA, in a cylindrical domain, with gaseous MMA introduced through the cylinder walls. The rate of inflow of MMA is controlled by the temperature field in the combustion chamber, and the results from the 2D simulation are comparable to 1D counterflow diffusion flame simulations.