Investigation of Pyrolyzing Ablator in an Inductively Coupled Plasma Torch Facility

Presenter Information

Douglas G. Fletcher, University of Vermont
J. Uhl, University of Vermont
J. M. Meyers, University of Vermont
W. Owens, University of Vermont
A. Lutz, University of Vermont
M. Dougherty, University of Vermont
S. Smith, University of Vermont

Start Date

29-2-2012 4:55 PM

Description

Recent tests conducted in the 30 kW Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Torch Facility at the University of Vermont (UVM) will be presented and discussed. These tests have focused on characterization of the pyrolysis gases emitted during exposure to modest stagnation point heat flux for different plasma gas mixtures. Two sets of test results will be presented. The first comprise tests of PICA samples in nitrogen and air-argon plasma mixtures. Time-resolved emission spectroscopic measurements of the pyrolysis gas injection zone will be discussed. A second set of results will be shown for tests using the pyrolysis gas injection simulation probe developed at UVM to attempt to replicate pyrolysis for longer run times. Again, time-resolved emission spectroscopy results will be used to illustrate the results of this investigation. Results beyond those that were presented at the June, 2011 Thermophysics Conference will be shown at the Ablation Workshop.