A Flow Tube Reactor Study of Thermal Decomposition Rates of Nitric Oxide

Abstract

Abstract The results of an experimental investigation of nitric oxide decomposition at high temperatures are presented. Mixtures of NO in argon (0.01-5.0 percent) and NO with H2 in argon (1 percent NO, 1 percent H2) were reacted in a ceramic flow tube reactor at temperatures between 1500 K and 2100 K at atmospheric pressure. Theoretical models were developed for the chemically reacting flow and used to determine the rate constant values by parametric optimization. The rate constant for Math, was found to be Math in the temperature range between 1750 K and 2100 K and the rate constant for Math was found to be Math in the temperature range between 1750 K and 2040 K. These results compared well with those of previous workers and were incorporated into least squares curve fit analyses to yield rate constant expressions useful over a wide temperature range for both reactions.