Claudio Bruno

Bio: Claudio Bruno is an academic researcher from University of Connecticut. The author has contributed to research in topics: Combustion & Supersonic speed. The author has an hindex of 21, co-authored 121 publications receiving 1616 citations. Previous affiliations of Claudio Bruno include Sapienza University of Rome & American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Using Aluminum for Space Propulsion

Abstract: The combination of aluminum and water was theoretically analyzed to assess its performance potential for space propulsion, in particular for microrocket applications and whenever a compact package is desirable. Heat of reaction, impulse density, and handling safety are features making this combination interesting for chemical thrusters, especially because thrust is higher than typical of satellite electric thrusters. Ideal specific impulse I s p , thrust coefficient, adiabatic flame temperature, and combustion products were calculated for chamber pressures 1-10 atm, nozzle area ratios 25-100, and mixture ratios O/F 0.4-8.0. I s p reaches up to 3500 m/s. Also, the effect of hydrogen peroxide addition to aluminum and water on performance was explored. This combination improves performance slightly at the expense of simplicity, making it less attractive for microrocket engines. Ignition delay times were conservatively estimated assuming that aluminum was coated with its oxide and ignition occurred after the melting of the aluminum oxide. For this purpose heating and kinetics times were evaluated, the first by a one-dimensional physical model, the second by a reduced scheme. Results indicate that the heating time of a 0.1-μm-diameter aluminum particle may be of order 0.4 μs, whereas overall kinetics takes 10 μs: thus, the Al/water combination looks practical in principle for microrocket chambers characterized by short residence times.

Material-dependent catalytic recombination modeling for hypersonic flows

Abstract: A new model to predict catalytic recombination rates of O and N atoms over silica re-entry thermal protection system is reported. The model follows the general approach of Halpern and Rosner, but adds estimates of some key physical mechanism parameters based on realistic surface potentials. This novel feature can therefore produce rate expressions for any surface for which structure is known. Testing the model for N over W, and N and O over SiO2 produces recombination probabilities in good agreement with published measurements at high surface temperature. In the case of N and O over SiO2, the model accounts for surface NO production due to O and N cross recombination.

Physics and Regimes of Supersonic Combustion

Abstract: Understanding the physics of supersonic combustion is the key to design a performing engine for scramjet-powered vehicles. Despite studies on supersonic combustion dating back to the 1950s, there are still numerous uncertainties and misunderstandings on this topic. The following questions need to be answered: How does compressibility affect mixing, flame anchoring, and combustion efficiency? How long must a combustor be to ensure complete mixing and combustion while avoiding prohibitive performance losses? How can reacting turbulent and compressible flows be modeled? Experimental results in the past have shown that supersonic combustion of hydrogen and air is feasible and takes place in a reasonable distance, which is a necessary requirement in actual hypersonic vehicles powered by supersonic combustion ramjets. These results are explained based on a theoretical analysis of the physical mechanisms driving mixing and combustion in supersonic airstreams, where they are found to be different from those in the incompressible regime. In particular, the classic Kolmogorov scaling is shown to be no longer strictly valid, and the flame regime is predicted to be significantly affected by compressibility and different from that of subsonic flames. This analysis is also supported by the results of the numerical simulations presented, showing that by generating sufficiently intense turbulence, a supersonic combustion flame is short and can indeed anchor within a small distance from fuel injectors, with the flame typically burning in the so-called flamelets-in-eddies regime.

Metal particle combustion and nanotechnology

Abstract: Metal combustion has received renewed interest largely as a result of the ability to produce and characterize metallic nanoparticles. Much of the highly desirable traits of nanosized metal powders in combustion systems have been attributed to their high specific surface area (high reactivity) and potential ability to store energy in surfaces. In addition, nanosized powders are known to display increased catalytic activity, superparamagnetic behavior, superplasticity, lower melting temperatures, lower sintering temperatures, and higher theoretical densities compared to micron and larger sized materials. The lower melting temperatures can result in lower ignition temperatures of metals. The combustion rates of materials with nanopowders have been observed to increase significantly over similar materials with micron sized particles. A lower limit in size of nanoenergetic metallic powders in some cases may result from the presence of their passivating oxide coating. Consequently, coatings, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), and the development of composite materials that limit the volume of non-energetic material in the powders have been under development in recent years. After a brief review of the classifications of metal combustion based on thermodynamic considerations and the different types of combustion regimes of metal particles (diffusion vs. kinetic control), an overview of the combustion of aluminum nanoparticles, their applications, and their synthesis and assembly is presented.

A review on hydrogen production using aluminum and aluminum alloys

Abstract: The hydrogen economy has been identified as an alternative to substitute the non-sustainable fossil fuel based economy. Ongoing research is underway to develop environmentally friendly and economical hydrogen production technologies that are essential for the hydrogen economy. One of the promising ways to produce hydrogen is to use aluminum or its alloys to reduce water or hydrocarbons to hydrogen. This paper gives an overview on these aluminum-based hydrogen production methods, their limitations and challenges for commercialization. Also, a newly developed concept for cogeneration of hydrogen and electrical energy is discussed.