Critical evaluation of thermodynamic design procedures for rocket motor igniters

Abstract

There are different methods that can be used for the thermodynamic design of igniters for solid rocket motors. These methods are mostly empirically based and can easily lead to an under-designed or over-designed igniter. The best-known methods are the free volume method, the surface area method, the critical pressure, the Bryan-Lawrence equation, the ignition delay-free volume method, the mass discharge coefficient method and the heat flux method.