ETC technology development at Soreq NRC, Israel

Melnik, Dmitry G.; Sudai, M.; Goldenburg, C.; Alimi, Roger; Perelmutter, L.; Zoler, D.; Zingerman, B.

doi:10.1109/20.738371

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The energy balance at the surface of the propellant can be described by (1) being the propellants density, specific heat, and heat of gasification, respectively, the surface temperature, and the initial temperature. is the heat feedback flux to the propellant.…”

Section: Theoretical Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temperature Compensation and Improved Ballistic Performance in a Solid-Propellant Electrothermal-Chemical (SPETC) 40-mm Gun

Alimi

Bakshi

Kot³

et al. 2007

IEEE Trans. Magn.

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A solid-propellant electrothermal-chemical (SPETC) 40-mm gun has been designed, constructed, and tested in the indoor firing facilities of the Soreq Propulsion Division Laboratory. An external injector device converts the electric energy stored in the capacitors of the pulse forming network (PFN) into a high-temperature plasma jet that penetrates the gun cartridge and boosts the whole ballistic process. However, unlike large-caliber SPETC systems, in which electric energy is limited to ignition purposes, the 40-mm SPETC gun is a genuine hybrid gun with almost equal electric and chemical contributions. There is experimental evidence that this unique feature induces a very peculiar initial propellant temperature compensation mechanism. It seems that when a significant part of the propelling energy comes from the plasma, i.e., electric energy is not only predominant at the ignition stage of the firing but also later on, then the temperature sensitivity of the propellant tends to vanish. A simple theoretical model supports the experimental findings. The large amount of electric energy is also responsible for a recorded ballistic improvement of 15% in the projectile muzzle kinetic energy. Calibrated simulations show that an optimal tailoring of the power pulse shape and suitable propellant grain geometry should further increase by 10% the muzzle kinetic energy. These modifications are in progress and results should be soon available.

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Section: Theoretical Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soreq has developed a broad experience on SPETC technology, from 60-to 120-mm gun calibers [1], [2]. In large-caliber guns it is generally admitted that electric energy can mainly be used for ignition purpose, including the temperature compensation effect [3], [4], [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature Compensation and Improved Ballistic Performance in a Solid-Propellant Electrothermal-Chemical (SPETC) 40-mm Gun

Alimi

Bakshi

Kot³

et al. 2007

IEEE Trans. Magn.

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“…B ASED on its wide experience on electrothermal (ET) and electrothermal-chemical (ETC) propulsion technology [1], [2], the Soreq Propulsion Physics Division has recently initiated the development of a small-caliber ET gun system. The potential advantages of this technology are well known: augmented muzzle energy leading to higher penetration power and improved firing ranges.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Ballistic Improvement in a Pure Electrothermal (ET) 25-mm Gun

et al. 2007

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The Soreq Propulsion Physics Division has recently initiated the development of a small-caliber pure electrothermal (ET) weapon. This paper reports the promising results obtained with a 25-mm ET gun. The currently mature gun technology based on conventional ballistic process is mostly limited because: 1) the propellant burning features dictate a curve that is entirely determined by the grain geometry and cannot be changed "online" and 2) the pressure gradient between the breech and the projectile's base strongly depends on the molecular weight of the combustion gases, which is almost propellant formulation independent. Removing the first limitation and reducing the second one is the key of the ET technology. ET guns use electric energy as the unique source of propelling energy. It is converted into a high-temperature plasma which interacts in the chamber with an inert cooling fluid that serves also as a propelling working fluid. In this study, two types of working fluids were tested: polyethylene and water. Polyethylene was found unsuitable for our purposes. Experiments, supported by simulations, show that the degree of water dissociation was enough to produce the required working fluid. Using 750 kJ of ET energy, 20% improvement in kinetic energy was obtained with a standard projectile without exceeding the maximum authorized breech pressure. It has been shown that the well-known barrel erosion issue is mostly due to the aggressive abrasion of the cartridge metal by the hot plasma jet. A new cartridge concept has been especially designed to overcome this problem. Results are very satisfactory.Index Terms-Electrothermal (ET) gun, plasma injector.

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Theoretical Analysis of Plasma Enhancement of Propellant Burning Rate

Alimi¹,

Berdichevsky²

2007

Propellants Explo Pyrotec

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A theoretical model of the combustion of a nitramine solid propellant in the presence of a plasma jet is proposed. Unlike standard double‐base compositions, nitramine propellants exhibit experimental evidence that plasma induces a burning rate enhancement. The model is based on heat transfer considerations and proposes a closed‐form solution of the enhancement of the propellant burning rate as a function of the thermophysical parameters of the system. The model provides a good qualitative agreement with experimental results.

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ETC technology development at Soreq NRC, Israel

Cited by 8 publications

References 4 publications

Temperature Compensation and Improved Ballistic Performance in a Solid-Propellant Electrothermal-Chemical (SPETC) 40-mm Gun

Temperature Compensation and Improved Ballistic Performance in a Solid-Propellant Electrothermal-Chemical (SPETC) 40-mm Gun

Experimental Ballistic Improvement in a Pure Electrothermal (ET) 25-mm Gun

Theoretical Analysis of Plasma Enhancement of Propellant Burning Rate

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