Development of Pyrogen Igniter for Kick Motor

A pyrogen igniter was designed to satisfy the required condition of kick motor system for the space launch vehicle. We analyzed the ignition characteristics and performed the combustion tests to verify the internal ballistic performance. In the design process, the arc-image test was carried out to find the sufficient heat flux as varying the initial pressure from 10 to 700kPa. The analysis indicated that the initial pressure condition would delay ignition time within a range from 100 to 500ms. The combustion test with an inert chamber was also performed to understand the ignition characteristics with the variation of the initial pressure of free chamber volume. Finally, we confirmed that the igniter could provide the acceptable energy to ignite the propellant of kick motor at the ground test. The result of the ground tests showed that the ignition delay time was within the design range at the atmospheric pressure condition.