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An Integrated Laser Based Rocket Chamber Ignition and Wall Diagnostics System

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA9300-06-C-1002
Agency Tracking Number: F051-202-3496
Amount: $749,907.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF05-202
Solicitation Number: 2005.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2005
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2006-07-16
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2008-10-17
Small Business Information
215 Wynn Dr., 5th Floor
Huntsville, AL 35805
United States
DUNS: 185169620
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: Yes
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Matthew Thomas
 Director/Propulsion&Power
 (256) 726-4800
 jls@cfdrc.com
Business Contact
 Ashok Singhal
Title: President
Phone: (256) 726-4800
Email: mva@cfdrc.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

CFDRC proposes the integration of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) with its maturing Laser Induced Spark (LIS) technology for rocket chamber and ultimately in-flight engine health monitoring. During Phase I CFDRC and the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) completed quantitative LIBS measurements of bi-propellant combustion equivalence ratio while simultaneously demonstrating detection of selected trace elements associated with internal chamber erosion. Phase II development efforts will include: (1) The creation of a LIBS property/calibration database and associated measurement procedures for O/F ratio and health monitoring (erosion rate) in an O2/CH4 bipropellant combustion environment, (2) Procurement and assembly of commercial grade laser components into a ruggedized fiber optic based LIBS/LIS system suitable for implementation into an actual launch vehicle environment, (3) Calibration and demonstration of this ruggedized LIBS system within a bi-propellant (LOx – GOx/CH4) combustion chamber; (4) Inference of hot gas wall temperature and heat flux from numerical simulation validated with LIBS atomic species measurements, (5) LIBS/LIS demonstration through single optical access into a laboratory rocket motor. This effort will culminate in the delivery and demonstration of the ruggedized fiber optic coupled LIBS/LIS system at AFRL during a week long seminar effort. CFDRC has teamed with the UTSI to complete all LIBS measurements while strategically collaborating with JP Innovations to ruggedize the Phase II LIBS/LIS system prior to delivery to AFRL. Sponsorship of an Immediate transition of this technology to launch sequence and flight demonstration is anticipated through sponsorship by CFDRC’s customer base.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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