Accession Number:

AD0258229

Title:

MECHANISMS OF PRODUCTION AND REMOVAL OF ELECTRONS IN FLAMES

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

AEROCHEM RESEARCH LABS INC PRINCETON N J

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

1960-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

1.0

Abstract:

The mechanism of ion formation and removal in hydrocarbon and some other flames was studied by Langmuir probes and RF mass spectrometry down to 1 mm Hg. A mass spectrometric technique was developed which permits ion profiles through the flame to be obtained with a high degree of spatial resolution and a minimum disturbance to the flame. The major ion is H3O , with C3H3 being next in concentration. The results were interpreted in terms of chemiionizati n, e.g., CH O yields CHO e-. The rate in ionscc x sec of ion formation in hydrocarbonair flames equivalence ratio, R equals 0.88 is about 6 x 10 to the 9th power p squared, where p is in mm Hg. This reaction is followed by the very rapid ion-molecule reaction CHO H2O yields H3OCO, so that the half-life of the initiall produced ion is about 10 to the -7th power seconds. The decay of ion concentration downstream from the flame is used to calculate the recombination coefficient which for propane-air R equals 0.88 is 2 x 10 to the -7th power ccsec and independent of pressure.

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Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE