Accession Number:

ADA027697

Title:

A Chemical Reaction in a Turbulent Jet.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.,

Corporate Author:

CALIFORNIA INST OF TECH PASADENA GRADUATE AERONAUTICAL LABS

Personal Author(s):

• Shea,John R. , III
• Liepmann,H. W.

Report Date:

1976-04-01

Pagination or Media Count:

139.0

Abstract:

The turbulent mixing and subsequent chemical reaction of gases is an essential part of many technological processes ranging from gas furnaces to chemical lasers. Generally the chemical kinetics are well understood, but the process of turbulent mixing is not. Knowledge of where turbulent fluid is mixed on a molecular scale is critical for predicting chemical reaction rates in the flow. In this experiment the rate of a chemical reaction in an axisymmetric turbulent jet is studied, and the results are used to determine the rate of molecular mixing in the jet. A turbulent jet containing dilute ozone in an inert mixture of nitrogen and oxygen flows into a stagnant tank of nitric oxide and nitrogen. When the gases mix on a molecular scale, the ozone and nitric oxide rapidly react to produce oxygen and nitrogen dioxide. The rate at which the mixing and chemical reaction proceeds is determined by using an ultraviolet light absorption techniques to measure the time averaged ozone concentration at points throughout the jets mixing zone. The experiment establishes a criterion for determining when a reaction of known chemical kinetics is sufficiently rapid that chemical non-equilibrium has a negligible effect on the mean reactant profile.

Descriptors:

• *REACTION KINETICS
• TURBULENT FLOW
• NITROGEN
• OXYGEN
• CHEMICAL REACTIONS
• JET MIXING FLOW

Subject Categories:

• Physical Chemistry
• Fluid Mechanics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE