Plasma ignition of LOVA propellants

Ignition experiments were performed using a gun simulator which is equipped with a burst disk. This equipment facilitates the application of propellant loading densities which are comparable to those applied in regular ammunitions. For this study the gun simulator was equipped with a plasma jet igniter. The aim of this ongoing investigation of plasma ignition is to develop a plasma ignition system which is capable to efficiently ignite LOVA propellants and to compensate for environmental and weapon conditions, like temperature and barrel wear effects. Preliminary experiments were carried out to test the new equipment. In these experiments the effect of a non-energetic ignition aid material on the ignition process was investigated. In particular the relation between ignition energy and ignition delay was studied. An RDX/CAB based LOVA propellant was used and compared to a conventional NC based propellant.