Advances in boron-loaded gel ramjet technologies

The boron-loaded gel propellant, made by adding boron powder, gelling agents and other modified substances into liquid fuel, is an ideal fuel providing power for limited volume propulsion devices such as ramjets. However, the application of boron-loaded gel propellant also brings new technical challenges such as preparation of high-boron-content gel propellant with excellent stability and rheological properties, controllable supply and efficient atomization of propellant, and efficient combustion organization of ramjets. The development history of boron-loaded gel propellant and related research work are summarized, and the atomization technology of gel propellant is introduced in detail. On the basis of integrating a large number of research achievements, the problems that still need to be further studied are presented. The combustion characteristics of single droplets and spray of boron-loaded gel fuel are summarized, the research work on boron-loaded gel ramjets at home and abroad reviewed, and the combustion organization characteristics of boron-loaded gel ramjets introduced. Finally, the research direction of boron-loaded gel ramjets is summarized.