Are the chemicals which would be used in such a Liquid Propellant really that nasty?  As mentioned by Neutraliser UDLP initially envisioned the XM2001 Crusader as being a liquid propellant gun but after the third instance of "Energentic Venting" and "High Speed Dissassembly" on the ordnance test bed that approach was abandoned!!!!!

 

Liquid Propellants are supposed to have toxicity similar to ANFO for the mono-propellants.  The binary propellants would presumably be selected so as to be even less hazardous until mixed.  They are most definitely NOT hypergolic.

 

The big problem with any propellant is controlling the deflagration rate so as to not exceed the allowable pressure.  In solid propellants this is done by controlling the grain size and shape and using retardant coatings.  None of these are possible with a liquid propellant, so the only solution is to introduce it into liquid propellant into the firing chamber at a controlled rate while the gun is firing.  It's a bit like a diesel engine, except everything is much bigger, much faster, and at MUCH higher pressures.

 

Inject the propellant to fast, or fail to maintain a smooth rate, and you get "Energetic Venting" (cracked breach) and "High Speed Disassembly" (explosion). 

 

How difficult is that?  Well figure you are going to have to inject 60% to 80% of the total propellant mass into the combustion chamber at 80,000 psi in less than 0.002 seconds, while preventing the detonation wave from projecting up stream into wherever the uninjected portion of the propellant charge is located.

eliminate the oxidizer problem. As for the toxicity of the other compounds, CANCER DEATH from the fumes breathed in is no joke.

Herald

 

The developmental liquid propellant gun I saw being developed for the Crusader was huge and had too many moving parts.  If I remember correctly, there was also a major corrosion problem with an internal piston. There were several microcomputers that choreographed its firings.  There was a 'rats nest' of electrical cabling.

 

The developmental gun misfired causing damage with attendant delays while it was being repaired.  It was unlikely that cannon would ever receive a safety release. 

---  CHAS