Multi-phase and multi-species decomposition model for hydrogen peroxide in catalytic chambers

A mathematical model of the flow through a catalytic chamber to be used in rocket engines is presented. The model is based on a Lagrangian approach and a homogeneous description of the phases. The equation for the decomposition process is expanded to consider the pressure influence on the chemical reaction and the influence of the mass transfer effects (diffusion, adsorption and desorption). For the vaporization and the temperature determination the enthalpy is used. The pressure drop is calculated through a relation between the resistance coefficient and Reynolds number. Polynomial approaches are applied for the thermodynamic and transport properties. The heat transfer between the flow and the chamber wall as well as the flow and the catalytic material is considered. Finally, a comparison between the experimental test data and the simulation results is provided. The steady state values of temperature and pressure match the experimental data. The temperature data are in a range of 8 K, while the pressure data are in the uncertainty of the pressure sensors ( ± 1 bar). The transient behavior of the model shows a good agreement with the experimental data.